HG0010

Aus begraafplaas

HOTA Number HG0010
Province Namibia
Town Aus
Year 1915
Did You Know?

The Aus begraafplaas (cemetery) is located in the small settlement of Aus in the ǁKaras Region of southern Namibia. The site dates to 1915, a pivotal year during World War I when South African forces invaded German South West Africa (now Namibia). Aus was a key railway stop on the line between Lüderitz and Keetmanshoop, and the area saw significant military activity, including skirmishes and the movement of troops. The cemetery likely contains graves of soldiers and civilians who died during this period, though specific burial records are not widely published. Contextually, the 1915 campaign in German South West Africa ended with the surrender of German forces at Khorab on July 9, 1915. The region around Aus, including the nearby Garub railway station, was part of the harsh desert terrain where water was scarce, and many soldiers suffered from thirst and disease. The cemetery reflects the broader pattern of military and colonial-era burial grounds established across Namibia during the early 20th century. Today, the Aus begraafplaas is a modest, unmarked or minimally marked historical grave site, not a major tourist attraction. It serves as a quiet reminder of the human cost of the South West Africa campaign, which involved German, South African, and local African combatants and laborers. No comprehensive official heritage listing or detailed grave inventory is readily available for this specific site.

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Coordinates -26.6768722200, 16.2888000000
Activations (1)
11 Dec 2021 First Activation
ZR3JB
8.67 pts