Home > Paul Erich von Lettow-Vorbeck
General Paul Erich von Lettow-Vorbeck ( March 20, 1870 - March 9, 1964) was the commander of the German East Africa campaign in World War I, the only campaign of that war where Germany remained undefeated.
Born to a military family in Saarlouis, von Lettow-Vorbeck studied military science in the military officer as an artillery officer. He was posted to China in 1900 to quell the Boxer Rebellion. Afterwards, he was posted to German Southwest Africa (now Namibia) to put down the Hottentot and Herero Rebellion between 1904 and 1908. He suffered injury and was forced to recuperate in South Africa, earning the friendship of Jan SmutsJan Christiaan Smuts ( May 24, 1870 September 11, 1950) was a prominent South African statesman and soldier. He was born on the farm Bovenplaats, near Riebeeck West, in the Cape Colony. He first went to school at age 12, going to Victoria College four yea against whom he soon would fight. He also commanded the German colonial forces known as the Schutztruppe in CameroonThe Republic of Cameroon is a unitary republic of central Africa. It borders Nigeria, Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and the Gulf of Guinea. The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroons merged in 19.
1 World War I career
In 19121912 is a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar) Events January 1 Establishment of Republic of China. January 6 New Mexico is admitted as the 47th U. January 17 British polar explorer Robert Falcon Scott and a team of four begin the, von Lettow-Vorbeck was appointed the commander of the small German garrison of 3000 soldiers and twelve AskariAskari is an Arabic and Swahili word meaning "soldier". It was frequently used to describe indigenous troops in East Africa and the Middle East serving European colonial powers but also describes policemen and security guards. A good example of the use of companies in German East Africa, modern-day TanzaniaThe United Republic of Tanzania Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania in Swahili) is a country on the east coast of central Africa. It is bordered by Kenya and Uganda on the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the west, and Zambia. With the beginning of the war in August, knowing the need to seize initiative, he ignored orders from Berlin and the colony's governor Dr. Heinrich von Schnee . He promptly assembled his men and almost nonexistent supplies to attack the British railways in East Africa. He promptly prepared to repel an amphibious assault on the KenyaKenya (pronounced KEN-ya; the pronunciation KEEN-ya is archaic) is a country of eastern Africa, bordering Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and the Indian Ocean. Nairobi is its capital and largest city. Republic of Kenya ( In Detail) (Full size)n city of TangaFor other meanings, see Tanga (Portugal), Tanga (clothing) and Tanga (Movie). Tanga is both the name of the most northerly seaport city of Tanzania, and the surrounding region. A 2002 population of 242,640 makes Tanga Town one of the largest cities in the, where between November 2 and 5 of 1914Events January 4 77 seal hunters freeze to death on ice near Labrador January 5 Ford Motor Company announces an eight-hour workday and a minimum wage of $5 for a day's labor February 13 Copyright: In New York City the ASCAP (for American Society of Compos, he fought one of his greatest battles. He scored a second victory over the British at Yasini on January 18, 1915. While these victories gave him badly-needed modern rifles and other supplies, as well as critical boost to the morale of his men, von Lettow-Vorbeck also lost numerous experienced men in these pitched battles whom he could not easily replace.
As a consequence he afterwards avoided direct engagements with the British soldiers, instead directing his men to engage in guerilla raids into the British provinces of Kenya and Rhodesia, targeting British forts, railways and communications -- all with the goal of forcing the enemy to divert manpower from the main theatre in Europe. He gathered some 12,000 soldiers, most of them Askari, but all well-trained and well-disciplined. The Askari especially gained reputation for their fighting skills and loyalty. He too served as a model commander earning the respect of all men alike. He realized the critical needs of guerilla warfare in that he salvaged the German cruiser SMS Königsberg which had a capable crew under commander Max Looff , as well as numerous guns.
In March 1916, the British under Jan Smuts launched a formidable offensive with 45,000 men. Von Lettow-Vorbeck patiently used terrain, climate and terrain as his allies while his troops fought the British on his terms and to his advantage. The British, however, kept on adding more troops and forcing Lettow to yield territory. Nevertheless, he inflicted several costly defeats on the British, including one at Mahiwa in October 1917 where he lost 100 and the British, 1600.
Despite his efforts, the British inevitably seemed to win the overall war. He therefore raided south into Portuguese Mozambique where he gained men and supplies from attacking Portuguese garrisons. He reentered German East Africa in August 1918, only to turn west and attack Rhodesia which he raided. He won another marvellous victory at the principal city of Kasama on November 13, two days after the armistice. When the rumours of German surrender proved true, Lettow surrendered his undefeated army at Abercorn in present-day Zambia on November 23.
