The War memoirs of Commandant Ludwig Krause were written during the
Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902 by Commandant Ludwig Krause while he was serving as
a prisoner of war after being taken prisoner by the British forces.
Krause’s memoirs are very interesting for the fact that it sheds light on the politics of the war. It also gives valuable information on a great number of incidents that took place during the war. Commandant Krause was a very important and influential figure in the Boer army, especially at the start of the guerrilla phase of the war.
After the fall of Bloemfontein and Pretoria in 1900, the governments of the two Boer republics, namely the South African Republic and the Orange Free State, were in shambles. Krause played a very important part in trying to keep peace and order going, by being involved in the judicial process during the war.
In his memoir, however, Krause is very critical. Not only is he very critical of the British, for their ‘unholy’ war against the Boers, but Krause is also very critical of his own people, the Boers. He points out many of the poor decisions taken by the government of Paul Kruger. The South African Republic was never united on the question of war, and the opposition to witch Krause belong, never wanted the war to take place and suggested that president Kruger accept the demands of Britain and the ‘uitlanders’ (foreigners). But, the Krugerites wanted war, because war united the Boers behind Kruger and gave the opposition and their followers the disgraceful (but false) tag of being on friendly terms with the opposition, thereby isolating them. The war was all about power, and the innocent victims were hardly considered.
The War Memoirs of Commandant Ludwig Krause further goes on to point out how the Kruger government employed the worst kind of leaders in their ranks, simply on the basis of them being loyal to Kruger. In the end, even though this memoir was written with the war still going full throttle, the British forces were too numerous and professional, and also too brutal, for the Boers to have ever stood a chance, and the whole unnecessary affair that was the Anglo-Boer war ended with thousands of innocent victims.
A great aspect of this memoir is the fact that it leaves us also with great cultural information regarding the way of life on the Boer commando.
The War Memoirs of Commandant Ludwig Krause is an important part of our heritage. It is highly recommended and should be taken up by anybody with an interest in the history of South Africa.
Krause’s memoirs are very interesting for the fact that it sheds light on the politics of the war. It also gives valuable information on a great number of incidents that took place during the war. Commandant Krause was a very important and influential figure in the Boer army, especially at the start of the guerrilla phase of the war.
After the fall of Bloemfontein and Pretoria in 1900, the governments of the two Boer republics, namely the South African Republic and the Orange Free State, were in shambles. Krause played a very important part in trying to keep peace and order going, by being involved in the judicial process during the war.
In his memoir, however, Krause is very critical. Not only is he very critical of the British, for their ‘unholy’ war against the Boers, but Krause is also very critical of his own people, the Boers. He points out many of the poor decisions taken by the government of Paul Kruger. The South African Republic was never united on the question of war, and the opposition to witch Krause belong, never wanted the war to take place and suggested that president Kruger accept the demands of Britain and the ‘uitlanders’ (foreigners). But, the Krugerites wanted war, because war united the Boers behind Kruger and gave the opposition and their followers the disgraceful (but false) tag of being on friendly terms with the opposition, thereby isolating them. The war was all about power, and the innocent victims were hardly considered.
The War Memoirs of Commandant Ludwig Krause further goes on to point out how the Kruger government employed the worst kind of leaders in their ranks, simply on the basis of them being loyal to Kruger. In the end, even though this memoir was written with the war still going full throttle, the British forces were too numerous and professional, and also too brutal, for the Boers to have ever stood a chance, and the whole unnecessary affair that was the Anglo-Boer war ended with thousands of innocent victims.
A great aspect of this memoir is the fact that it leaves us also with great cultural information regarding the way of life on the Boer commando.
The War Memoirs of Commandant Ludwig Krause is an important part of our heritage. It is highly recommended and should be taken up by anybody with an interest in the history of South Africa.
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