Joachim von Heydebreck

Joachim von Heydebreck (October 6, 1861 - November 12, 1914) was a German military officer who was born in Schwedt.

He was a member of the Grenadier-Regiment Prinz Karl, and in 1893 was sent to serve in colonial German Southwest Africa. Heydebreck was in charge of an artillery division during the Herero and Namaqua Genocide, and in 1911 became commanding officer of the Schutztruppe. During the early stages of World War I, after leading German forces to success at the Battle of Sandfontein, he died from an accidental explosion of a rifle grenade in Kalkfontein-Süd. He was succeeded as commander of the Schutztruppe by Victor Franke (1865-1936).

References

• Biographies of Namibian Personalities by Klaus Dierks