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Driving into Aus in southern Namibia from the western side, you may wonder about this strange dome in the landscape. The story is interesting and dates back to World War One.
When the German troops retreated eastward from LΓΌderitz on the arrival of the Union of South Africa forces, they entrenched themselves at Aus (120km away) and prepared for battle. They built fortifications in the Aus hills, some of which are still visible at Klein-Aus Vista today.
They also built this concrete platform from which to mount a heavy gun. It was stabilised with sandbags, as seen in the old photograph.
A hundred-and-ten years later the weapon is long gone, but the concrete dome still stands, testament to the time.
The anticipated confrontation between the forces never took place as the Germans, finding themselves outnumbered by Union soldiers approaching from several directions, moved north and evacuated their stronghold at Aus. A peace accord was later signed at Khorab on 9 July 1915.
(Can anyone identify the gun in the photo?)
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