Friday, March 19, 2010

Outjo

Name: Outjo

Outjo lies on the junction of the C39 and the C38. The C38 leads to the Etosha National Park. The Okaukuejo entrance lies about 100 kilometres away from Outjo.

The town was founded by the Schutztruppe. Major Leutwein had a small military base erected here in 1897, for expeditions into the, then unknown, north; mainly to Ovamboland. Viktor Franke, promoted to Major after his military success in Omaruru, led these expeditions some years later. The house where he lived, is today a little museum of local history.

Near the post office you still find the Impalila monument, commemorating the "Assault of Impalila". In October 1914 - the First World War had already broken out and the German Schutztruppe was under threat by the South African and British troups in the south - a German delegation went across the Angolan border to the Portuguese Fort Naulila to negotiate a non-aggression treaty. However, the men were shot and consequently, the 4th field company under the command of Viktor Franke went on a punitive expedition. Fort Impalila was conquered. The majority of the troups retreated to the south again, while smaller campaigns against the Portuguese lasted until 1915.

More: http://www.namibia-travel.net/centralnamibia/outjo.htm

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