South African War
The South African War, or the Diamond War, was a conflict between the Kingdoms of Great Britain and Holland over Cape Colony. The war ended in a surprise Dutch victory, and reaffirmed Dutch rule in the northern territories of South Africa. Following the war, Holland and Britain would be at diplomatic odds for decades.
The Conflict
Prelude
The Dutch originally colonized South Africa through their Cape Colony. During the Napoleonic Wars, Britain had seized control of all Dutch colonies. Upon Napoleon's defeat, Louis I of Holland attempted to regain all of the seized territories. Britain returned most of them, but notably kept Cape Colony for themselves as a way to defend their sea route to India. Britain originally agreed to allow Dutch colonization to the North, believing it held little value and the native African tribes would drive them away. However, after the Dutch Queen Hortensia invited Karl Marx to court in 1847 and implemented reforms in Africa as a social experiment, the Dutch's interactions with the natives improved. The finding of diamonds, gold, and other precious metals in Dutch controlled regions beginning in 1867 further stressed the issue, and British companies attempted to circumvent the agreement and gain mining rights.
Deployment
The British were favored to win due to the might of the British navy and the financial resources of the British Empire. However, The Dutch quickly allied with the Zulu tribes, outfitting them with modern weaponry. Seeing the Dutch as the better alternative, most South African tribes sided with Holland.
The number of European forces involved were small, consisting of the military personnel currently stationed in the region. The bulk of the fighting forces came from the African allies and militia. The Dutch militia alone heavily outnumbered the British regulars. Holland was also supported by Germany, who wished to see the dominance of Britain in Africa diminished.
Battlefield
Many of the open battlefields favored the British military. Though often outnumbered, British training and tactics proved decisive against disorganised militia and native irregulars. However, against the Dutch military, the odds were evened.
The Engagement
Having been defeated in the open field, Dutch commanders and their African allies began favoring ambush tactics. The decisive battles including at Liang Nek and Ingogo turned the tide of the war in the Dutch's favor considerably.
Outcome
A formal border between the British Cape Colony and Dutch Transvaal Colony was establisherd. Britain attempted to send reinforcements, but were pressured by the other European Great Powers to sign a peace deal rather than risk a conflict similar to the Seven Years War. This however had the added effect of Holland not being able to expell the British entirely from South Africa.
The tensions that had been growing between the working class and the monarchy had greatly eased during the conflict as patriotism swept across the Dutch colonial empire.
Aftermath
The border between the colonies consisting of South Africa were formalized. Britain retained control of Cape Colony in the south, as well as Northern and Southern Rhodesia to the north. Holland gained recognition of Transvaal and Bechuanaland. Britian was also forced to surrender their claim over the region of Zululand, which in turn became a Dutch protectorate.
Britain's Cape to Cairo plans were abandoned, and they were forced to reinforce their holdings in Egypt and Sudan. Britain also gained a portion of Portugal's Mozambique territory so as not to be encircled by rival colonies. This strained relations between Portugaal and Britain, though the former relied on the alliance between the two.
The expansion of the Dutch colonies following the war put Holland at odds with the Portuguese desires in the region. The diplomatic situation remained tense, though neither side had a desire to risk open warfare.
Historical Significance
Legacy
The war, though brief and small in scale, had the potential to lead to a world war. Britain and Holland would maintain a rivalry long afterwards. Holland would lend its ships to Germany in order to assist in the latter's naval arms race against Britain.
Britain still attempted to Anglify the Dutch colonies by sending settlers to the area. Holland responded by revoking voting rights to those of Dutch descent.
Following the Great War, Holland managed to invade and annex the Cape Colony for a time. Upon the fall of Holland to communism, the region became the site of a cold war.
Technological Advancement
The might and technological advances in the British Royal Navy proved ineffective in the mostly land warfare.
Conflict Type
War
Battlefield Type
Land
Start Date
1880
Ending Date
1881
Conflict Result
Close Dutch Victory
Belligerents
Holland
Britain
Strength
Casualties
Objectives
Initially to stave off British incursion into the Transvaal region, but then evolved into a desire to reclaim Cape Colony.
To gain a monopoly on mining and economic rights in the South African region.
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