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' Second Freedom War ', 11 October 1899 – 31 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, Transvaal War, [8] Anglo–Boer War, or South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer republics (the South African Republic and Orange Free State) over the Empire's influence in Southern Africa.
However, the Boer War concentration camp system was the first time a whole nation had been systematically targeted, and the first in which entire regions had been depopulated. [8] Eventually, authorities built a total of 45 tented camps for Boer internees and 64 additional camps for Black Africans.
Boer Commando in action during the First Boer War, 1881. In 1658, war erupted between the Dutch settlers at Cape Colony and the Khoi-khoi. In order to protect the settlement, all able bodied men were conscripted. After the conclusion of this war, all men in the colony were liable for military service and were expected to be ready on short notice.
It was at this point that the Boers, initially demoralised by the overwhelming numbers of British troops, began the third phase of the Second Boer War: the guerrilla campaign. [41] After regrouping into smaller units, the Boer commanders started using guerrilla tactics, destroying railways, bridges, and telegraph wires.
The Battle of Bakenlaagte in Eastern Transvaal, South Africa, occurred on 30 October 1901 during the guerrilla phase of Anglo-Boer war of 1899–1902.The battle saw the Eastern Transvaal Boer commandos of Generals Johan Grobler, Coen Brits, Piet Viljoen and Louis Botha attack the rearguard of Colonel Benson's much feared No. 3 Flying Column while it was in marching formation to its base camp.
The remnants of Boer government resolved to fight on in a guerrilla war, to try to force the British to retreat from the territory. As it became clear that military victory was unlikely, opinion among the guerrillas divided between those who wanted to secure a negotiated peace and those who preferred to fight on to "the bitter end " ( Afrikaans ...
On the Boer side, there was a feeling that an honourable end could be found to the war. Metheun escaped with his career intact, with the War Office and Kitchener taking the brunt of criticism for providing him with green troops. [1] On 9 April, Boer and British delegations convened to discuss a negotiated surrender, which was signed on 31 May.
However, the capture of Machadodorp and Roberts' proclamation did not end the war. Although the British had won the battle, Botha's main force had managed to stay intact. The Boer commandos subsequently dispersed to Lydenburg and Barberton and the next phase of the war—guerrilla warfare—started. This second phase would last even longer than ...