The East Africa Campaign 1914–18

Von Lettow-Vorbeck’s Masterpiece

The East Africa Campaign 1914–18 cover

Description

A fascinating, beautifully illustrated study of the daring war in East Africa waged by German colonial forces under Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck against the wide array of colonial and expeditionary forces of the Allied Powers.

The East African Campaign in World War I comprised a series of battles and guerrilla actions which began in German East Africa in 1914 and spread to portions of Portuguese Mozambique, northern Rhodesia, British East Africa, the Uganda Protectorate, and the Belgian Congo. German colonial forces under Lieutenant-Colonel Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck attempt to divert Allied forces from the Western Front. Despite the efforts of the Allied forces, Lettow-Vorbeck's troops remained undefeated at the end of the war.

In this fascinating work, David Smith documents how a wide array of British, Indian, South African, Belgian, Portuguese and local native forces invaded German East Africa and slowly ousted the German forces, a process made tortuous by Lettow-Vorbeck's masterful management of the campaign. Among the events covered in this work are the Battle of Tanga, the scuttling of the Königsberg, the German railway campaign, and the battles at Salaita Hill, Kondoa-Irangi, Mahenge, Mahiwa and Namacurra. Colourful period and specially commissioned illustrations bring to life a wide-ranging and eventful campaign in which a high price was extracted for every inch of ground given up.

Table of Contents

ORIGINS OF THE CAMPAIGN
CHRONOLOGY
OPPOSING COMMANDERS
British
German
South African
OPPOSING FORCES
Orders of battle
OPPOSING PLANS
THE EAST AFRICA CAMPAIGN
Part I: The British offensive
Part II: The railway war
Part III: The South African offensive
Part IV: The Germans withdraw
Part V: The final stage
AFTERMATH
THE BATTLEFIELDS TODAY
FURTHER READING
INDEX

Product details

Published Jun 23 2022
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781472848925
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations Colour illustrations throughout, including 2d maps, photographs, 3d diagrams, and battlescene artworks.
Series Campaign
Short code CAM 379
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

David Smith

David Smith has studied in both the United States…

Illustrator

Graham Turner

Graham Turner is a leading historical artist, spec…

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