User:Marileneboshoff

boshoff (talk) 14:21, 4 October 2012 (UTC)marilene boshoff/212034367boshoff (talk) 14:21, 4 October 2012 (UTC)--boshoff (talk) 13:37, 4 October 2012 (UTC)marilene boshoff/212034367 Alte FesteFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search

Alte Feste
The Alte Feste in October 2012

to serve as headquarters of the imperial German Schutztruppe (colonial military force) during German colonisation of South-West Africa. This deserted and completely destroyed location of Windhoek, was chosen because the Germans felt it would serve as a buffer zone between the Nama and Herero tribes.As the relationship between those two tribes where not very plesant. The fort was, however, never involved or attacked by any military action.

The foundation was laid on 18 October 1890 by then Schutztruppe private Gustav Tünschel. The building was redesigned multiple times during the first years; its final layout was only completed in 1915.[1] It consists of an inner courtyard with high walls for protection and accommodation for the troops on the inside, as well as four towers. Alte Feste is the oldest surviving building in the city which subsequently developed around it into to the biggest and most independant city in Namibia.

After the World War I the German surrender in South-West Africa Windhoek was occupied by the South African Army[2] in March 1915. Alte Feste now served as military headquarters for the South African Union troops.

In 1935 the fort was used for a more peaceful purpose when it was converted into a hostel for the adjacent Windhoek High School .[3][not in citation given] Already severely dilapidated, it was declared a National Monument in 1957. The building was renovated extensively in 1963, and since then accommodates the Windhoek State Museum.[4]

Since 2010 the Reiterdenkmal, Windhoek's well-known equestrial monument, is placed in front of Alte Feste.[5]