The German East Africa Campaign during World War 1. A masterclass in guerilla warfare

[@pauloakwood9208]

A true legend. In the biography I read a few years ago. There was a story that impressed me quite a lot. Towards the end of his life, he returned to East Africa as an anonymous tourist. Apparently the word had gotten out that we was coming, so that when he landed, those few remaining Askaris and hundreds of their decedents where there to meet him. All standing at attention in perfectly formed rows, and executing a very military salute. Brothers in arms.

[@Arltratlo]

he made sure, his Askari soldiers got retirement payment from West Germany after WW2!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for that interesting feedback.

[@zebra28movies]

There were even former Askaris at his funeral in Germany

[@philiprufus4427]

Read about this campaign in 1976 when I was twenty three. Man was a genius, The Shutztruppe Klasse ! The Book Was -- 'Battle For The Bundu.' Cannot now remember the author or publisher. Brother however still has the book. Rollicking good read,type of book we read from the fifties on.

[@lymanfaith1183]

A long time ago (1987), as a young Captain, I did a presentation on Lettow-Vorbeck at Squadron Officer School. Not a single member of my class of fifteen junior officers had ever heard of him.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching & your comment.

[@lymanfaith1183]

@@TheHistoryChap I really enjoy your channel. It is first class.

[@freimutschroder4538]

Great report! Thank you for your objevtive, true and non-biased comment! As nearly always you - the British - report much more objevtively and historically (rather than our own politized, onesided and always negative german way - negative towards ourselves) about history, the war(s) and esp. German army. Hardly any child in Germany today knows about Lettow-Vorbeck let alone any other soldier of WWI and WWII. So it must be the British to show those parts of history to the world and Germany. Thank you!

[@ahmednaseem3452]

Sad, this man was a true soldier, A leader of men.

[@charlieempire7733]

This part of ww1 is so underrated, and i think it deserves more recognition.

[@TheHistoryChap]

There are so many sub-stories. having said that, the war in mesopotania, Palestine & Salonika Front are all worth telling too.

[@charlieempire7733]

@TheHistoryChap I'd love to hear those sub-stories because it's a different side of the war, not just trench warfare but guerilla warfare and desert warfare and many more. But I honestly haven't heard of that Mesopotania side of the war.

[@aztecgoldmontizuma]

Or at least a Battle Field 1 expansion.

[@HenrySimple]

A story of colonial subjugation. Interesting on many levels.

[@charlieempire7733]

@@HenrySimple agreed

[@Ahornblatt2000]

The Askari were loyal because they feared the Arabs who were allied with England will have a say in their country. For centuries the Arabs took slaves and ivory from this part of Africa and they did not forget that. A little story I read in a book called "Kampf in Rufiji Delta" by R.K. Lochner it said that after the Tanga vicotry they build a memorial only with the names of white fallen soldiers on it but Lettow-Vorbeck ordered them to put the names of all fallen soldiers on this memorial cos they too had fallen for Kaiser and Fatherland

[@anon2034]

Is "Kampf in Rufiji Delta" by R.K. Lochner in English. Can't find it.

[@Ahornblatt2000]

@@anon2034 I believe its only in German I gonna look if I find something I let you know

[@anon2034]

@@Ahornblatt2000 Thank you!

[@Egr-et6ar]

@@Ahornblatt2000And Sub-Sarahan Africans didn’t forget about the Atlantic Slavye Trade. That’s why the west is bein kickd out as I am writing this.

[@Ahornblatt2000]

@@Egr-et6ar Well then please don't forget that it was your neighbour who offered and sold your folks to the white man. Last but not leat the number of Europeans takein slavery by north Africans excedes the Atlantic number

[@markpurington8659]

An excellent account! I was hoping you might mention the attempt to resupply Lettow-Vorbeck by zeppelin in 1917. That was a grueling adventure in itself and may be worthy of a later program. Thank you for your work!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed my video, & will add your suggestion to my ever growing list.

[@renameduser466]

@@TheHistoryChap Would be much interested in it, too.

[@barnabyalsop5601]

I third this comment!

[@tlezzy8252]

The German commander seems like a hell of a leader.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video

[@PepeLepew-rm9ft]

@@tlezzy8252 Seems German military academies were one of the best in Europe and must have instailled life long skills and

[@ahmednaseem3452]

Germans are warriors and leaders and that is a fact.

[@christiank1251]

German here, loved hearing the story told in such a British and masterful voice. Lettow-Vorbeck ('V' pronounced like 'F') entered German post-war lore as one of the few undefeated heroes. His quite popular own account of the events, "Heia Safari", adorned the bookshelves of many boys and young men in the 1920s and later. My Granddad (b1902) gave his copy to my Dad (b1938), who handed it on to me (b1965). Nowadays however, only a few young folks may still be familiar with the campaign, neither with its adventures nor with its tragedies. Peace!

[@whps60]

Thanks for this very clear summary of the little known war in East Africa. My great-uncle, Arthur Edwardes - born in India but resident in South Africa when the war broke out - was a lieutenant in the KAR at some point in that campaign. He survived the war and married the niece of General Louis Botha, the South African Prime Minster of the time. The South African general, Jaap van Deventer, (whose name confusingly is pronounced something like "Fun Dearfinter', not 'Van-De-Venter') who had fought against the British during the Boer War (1899 --1902) as a Boer general, apparently seldom spoke a word of English though he understood it perfectly. Congratulations on this very good and illuminating series. I am enjoying it immensely.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your interesting feedback, glad you enjoyed my video.

[@lesseirgpapers9245]

The atrocity of the english against the Boers is still revolting. Wonder why the dumb Boers fought with the english? Stockholm syndrome?

[@oc2phish07]

First-class story-telling, Chris. It is these little-known tales that make your channel so special.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks.

[@CTStatz]

Great episode and a perfect follow up to your last video. Fun fact: Because the Germans were cut off from their source of funding they had to build their own mint in Tabora. The equipment for stamping the coinage was salvaged from the Konigsberg after she was sunk by the British. The gold coin which came out of that mint is one of the most epic ever made and goes by a few different names: “15 Rupien,” “Gold Elephant,” and Tabora Sovereign.” I had never seen the “River Queen” before your last video and gave it a watch. Humphrey Bogart was fantastic in that film and now I’m down the rabbit hole of his others! Great channel and great content, looking forward to your next video.

[@TheHistoryChap]

I love going down historical rabbit holes!

[@kiwigaming1605]

This was a great documentary! I have a suggestion: The Salonika Front. It was a deadly but largely forgotten part of WWI. Thank you!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for the suggestion - my list is becoming even longer.

[@harryshriver6223]

Wow, what a history of warfare which I knew nothing about, I have to salute the German commander. He knew the terrain and how to live off the land. RIP to all of the soldiers on both sides of the conflict 🙏 Chris, my friend, you have done it again with another wonderful video about a part of history many of us knew anything about remotely. In America we are taught rudimentary facts about World War I and all of it concerns the conflict in Western Europe. It is wonderful that you're shining a light on a forgotten part of history so that we may learn from it. Bravo, amigo y vaya con Dios.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Harry, thanks for your kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@FranciscoPreira]

East Africa campaigns were a very brutal affair, specially for civilian populations, in the Portuguese case, although Portugal had a "neutral" political stance in 1914, the Germans atacked on 25th August 1914 the small frontier post of Maziúa in Moçambique, then in October, on the 18th, of the same year, they again atacked, now in the south border of Angola at Naulila and on the 31st at Cuangar, but the worst was yet to come in the following years, as Portugal declared war on Germany, Moçambique became a dire nightmare for portuguese troops until Vorbeck's surrender. Great video sir, thanks a bundle for sharing.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching and for taking the time to share additional information.

[@mrperson0140]

I got goosebumps at the end when you mentioned Old African German Askari veterans still remembering their army drills and showing respect for their old commander!!! Von Letow was a stern anti racist and treated his soldiers equally! Much respect to them all!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching & for your interesting feedback.

[@mikenorton3294]

My grandfather on my mother's side was in abercorn as a trainee tobacco planter in 1920 and related stories of former troops of van lettow voorbeck having settled in that area after the war

[@TheHistoryChap]

fascinating. Thanks for sharing.

[@stephanvogel4206]

A main reason for the success was the Germans fought on foot and systematically lured the British troops relying on horses into Tsetse areas where the horses then died of Trypanosomiasis stranding the troups with no transport, see Angela van den Driesch's 1st edition textbook on Veterinary history in German. Thanks for your channel. Enjoying it tremendously.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for your support.

[@thomasg7907]

Ein sehr interessanter, lehrreicher und objektiver Beitrag 👍

[@ronaldpoppe3774]

The movie "Shout at the devil" with Lee Marvin and Rodger Moore based on the book of the same name was a good one too. There was also a part in Out of Africa that showed this campaign. This is a very interesting forgotten campaign of WWII. Thank you for sharing this interesting and informative video. Cheers Ron

[@TheHistoryChap]

Interstingly, I have read that Karen Blixen was a fellow passenger on the ship that von Lettow-Vorbeck travelled on to Africa .

[@ronaldpoppe3774]

@@TheHistoryChap small world

[@Arltratlo]

WW1....its another war....!

[@jeanpierrechoisy6474]

THANKS ! One of the best videos on this subject. Like all great military leaders, von Lettow-Vorbeck knew how to inspire in his men a real respect that cannot be reduced to discipline, with also a respect for his men by the leader. In this very colonial context, very far from that of the armies in Europe, von Lettow-Vorbeck's African soldiers greatly appreciated the fact that he had learned several of the local languages.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed my video.

[@FenLover]

Interestingly we travelled across Namibia for 2 half months last year but never realised until we travelled around that there was a lot of commonwealth cemeteries there and we ended up visiting quite a few of them interestingly a lot of the soldiers in them died of the Spanish flue. Thank you for your stories they are brilliant and you tell them so beautifully. Best wishes Martyn Wren

[@TheHistoryChap]

Martyn, Spanish flu ripped through both armies in East Africa after the end of the war.

[@FenLover]

@@TheHistoryChap many thanks for the reply 👍

[@sharonrigs7999]

​@@TheHistoryChapI love the irony, with Spain being neutral in the war.

[@PrivatPrivat-x2e]

Another nice story. A subject i didn't see many videos talking about out there. Thank you.

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure. I find the "little" wars away from the Western Front fascinating.

[@annehersey9895]

What another great tale almost lost to history if not for others like yourself that strive to introduce them to new generations! Not only are your stories interesting but your fervor in telling them add so much to the tales. Thanks again for remembering the past!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you are enjoying them. Thanks for your support.

[@martinwarner1178]

Thank you for the telling of this part of war history. Peace and goodwill.

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@Blutgang]

I love your narrative telling of these historical events. Your delivery is very entertaining and informative.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you like them!

[@MightyFineMan]

Thanks for bringing this campaign modern recognition. I’m in long quest to learn as much about the world wars as possible; this was one incredible story to learn.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.

[@chrisstewart7420]

What a guy that German Paul and what a guy Chris for bringing us stuff we don't know about. As an aside, you, Chris, and Chris from Redcoat Military History are my two favourite youtube historians. Despite the geographical differences, you guys should get together ❤❤❤

[@TheHistoryChap]

We do chat on a reasonably frequent basis and have discussed making a joint video.

[@Arltratlo]

lol, we learned it in history class.... but also the massacre of the Indians by British troops in India 1946! some stuff they dont teach you in some countries!

[@chriscann7627]

@@TheHistoryChap bring it on! Two of the best on KZbin!

[@lindsayclubb]

Wonderful story. I'm glad we still have it in us to glory in the achievements of some of our old enemies. The casualty numbers were however horrific. Thanks so much.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your feedback

[@zacheryhernandez7298]

This is was an incredible video, you pack so much information into every video. Please never stop.

[@TheHistoryChap]

I have no intention of stopping any time soon. Too many stories to tell.

[@Music-lx1tf]

That last bit about the military drill really put it home. It changed my mind on the entire thing. These guys were well worth their backpay.

[@gordonthompson9444]

Great documentary! Thanks! My Great Grandfather served with the 25th Battalion Royal Frontiersmen. He was 41 years old when he joined. He served in East Africa but no details as to specific duty. He was transferred to the Northamptonshire Regiment in 1918 and when discharged in 1919 stated it was due to illness. I read a biography of Von Lettow-Vorbeck many years ago. In this biography there was a story that Winston Churchill respected him so much that as WWII was winding down, he asked Von Lettow-Vorbeck whether or not he should negotiate with the Nazis. The reply was "Total Germany".

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching and for your interesting feedback.

[@claywindscreenspeterjones7984]

For those who seen the film ""Out of Africa" with Robert Redford and Meryl Streep, ....The character played by Streep (Baroness Karen Blixen) was said to have encounterd and had an afair with, Paul von Vorbeck.....while on the ship taking them from Europe to East Africa.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & for your interesting feedback.

[@stefanleu9246]

Great story, thanks. I know it from reading the books of Arthur Heye, a German photographer who went to East Africa 110 years ago to shoot first pictures of wild animals just before the Great War, and got into the German army, wonderful storyteller who also mediated some real life war and nature experience. Thanks for reminding me of that. Seems his books are hard to find, especially in English, might deserve a retranslation maybe.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks so much for taking the time to share.

[@ronnyb9416]

Thanks!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for your support

[@bobisafish4983]

You’re an outstanding story teller! Looking forward to more videos.

[@TheHistoryChap]

many htnaks. Please do subscribe to my channel so you don't miss them.

[@djwritestoomuch]

nice... i came here for a brief von lettow-vorbeck fix but the anglo-sikh conflict you mentioned and the way you ended this, along with the conciseness and brevity of this video... good stuff. glad to have stumbled upon it. i subscribed.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your support and thanks for watching my video. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@richardmarahall8943]

In past comments i have supported the idea of chris telling this story. Paul Emil von Lettow Vorbeck is one of 2 german military of the 20th century who i have total respect for. Vorbeck as one of the best tacticians in history and Hans Langsdorff as a humanitarian. It is interesting to note, that when Hitler offered vorbeck an ambassador's role he refused because he was against the nazis (another reason for my respect) and as a result effectively had his bank accounts frozen, that one person who supported and bankrolled him was non other than Jan Christian smuts ( who my father once met on table mountain!) I know naval history isn't really your speciality chris, but would love to see your take on the battle of the river plate. As ever..... superb

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it, & thanks for the interesting feedback.

[@Warloo100]

Thank you very much for giving tribute to this excellent officer. Here in Germany this would be impossible.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching & for your comment.

[@chrise-ih4ix]

Why would that be?

[@HenrySimple]

-Naja- put everything into perspective (sag' ich mal). Oder ist das einer ihrer Vorfahren??

[@phillipsugwas]

Smuts admired VLV, ensuring he recieved financial and food support after the war. You did not mention that there is a Bundeswehr military school(?) named after him. Nor the sad death of Selous ,the old bushwise sniper, shot shot by a sniper. Btw those last instructions to the Askaris would have been given in German

[@brittakriep2938]

A note: German Forces in German East Africa before 1914 had been both Schutztruppe and Landespolizei ( Country Police). The Landespolizei was transformed into Schutztruppe units, when war started, and german settlers where mobilized as Reservists. So there had been at first 1100 to 1200 white german soldiers.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching & your feedback.

[@brianivey73]

Love that you explored this campaign! Well done sir!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoy it, thanks for watching.

[@nathanappleby5342]

What a story! Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck was without a doubt one of the most able officers the German Army had in the war and in it's history. He is one of many who have proved that being small can have it's advantages.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it Nathan. Thanks for commenting.

[@philhawley1219]

My great uncle served somewhere in Africa in the Great War. I'm not sure of the exact location but they never heard of the Armistice until February 1919. No email back in those days, they had to wait for their supplies to be delivered months later to receive the news, letters from home and perhaps a Christmas present if they were lucky.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your interesting family story & for watching my video

[@philmartin9615]

Three of my great uncles served as scouts for the allies. They had great respect for Von Vorbek.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & for your interesting feedback.

[@joeavent5554]

"African Kaiser" by Robert Gaudi, 2017; gives an excellent account of the East African campaign.

[@dongilleo9743]

Great book. I was going to recommend it as well. It not only covers the East Africa German campaign, but gives a good background to the German colonial history in Africa.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & for sharing details of the book

[@alanowen5379]

I have heard that after the Second World War, von Lettow-Vorbeck was struggling to get enough food. When suddenly he started to receive food packages from his old enemy Jan Smuts.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Interesting story. Thanks for sharing.

[@janlindtner305]

Super Chris👍👍👍

[@TheHistoryChap]

Many thanks.

[@Candywarhol]

Great work! Can't wait to see the upcoming vids that you mentioned.

[@TheHistoryChap]

So many stories that I want to tell.

[@shaunrobbins2954]

Very interesting and undercover topic thanks for all your hard work sir

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@e.grosse5955]

Hi Chris, thank you for you wonderful work - a topic I would love to see more about is the history of the Kings German Legion - "draft", training in Bexhill, and action in Spain etc - greetings from Hannover

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed my video. Will add your request to my ever growing list.

[@richardbradley2802]

All life is a lesson, thank you for today's, Professor!

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure. I'm glad that you found it interesting.

[@AndrewCastlemaine]

This one was an outstanding story of forgotten yet extraordinary history 👍

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed my video, thanks for watching.

[@Fred-px5xu]

Brilliant video lecture on Lettow-Vorbec . The man was true master of irregular warfare. I have read many books regarding this near forgotten German general. Thank you Sir for creating near mini masterpiece of a video lecture. I humbly await your your next video lecture.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Many thanks for your support.

[@KapitainZino]

What a great story, exceptionally well told! Thank you! 👍

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching my video.

[@kengarvin5341]

Had the privilege of living in Dar es Salaam and Iringa Tanzania in the early eighties working as a pilot. When flying from Dar to Lindi you fly over the Rifuji River delta and you still can see some of the wreckage of the German battleship. My wife was born in Tanga in 1961, the hospital was built by German forces, and is still in use

[@kennydalglish8072]

What an amazing history! Perhaps the foremost of all asymmetrical warfare leaders of all time. Well done mr. Green!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed my video, thanks for watching.

[@ingostawitz1140]

I have read the book "Geraubtes Land" (The stolen land) written by Frigate Captain Werner Schoenfeld of the Imperial German Navy who, after his ship had been sunk, fought with Lettow Vorbeck and the brave Askaris. This book was written in 1927 and is an account of how the British destroyed the once flourishing German colony by taking the plantations of German settlers and then handing them out to Italians, Greeks and Indians. The German settlers returned to Germany after 1918 and had lost everything.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & for your interesting feedback.

[@stigg333]

Thanks for that, what a story!!! Stay well.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks.

[@jackkarns2484]

Bravo, History Chap! Well done, as usual.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.

[@davidwoods7720]

Thank you so very much Chris

[@TheHistoryChap]

You are very welcome

[@josefregnat3247]

Thank you for this story. It is well-balanced and based on facts. Lettow-Vorbeck wrote a book about his time in German East Africa. The title is "Heia Safari" and it could be found at any German library. Back then it was considered a good read. I do not know what would happen today if somebody asked at a library for this book.

[@richardmarahall8943]

Id love to read a translation, but probably banned today for being imperialist

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching my video,

[@josefregnat3247]

@@richardmarahall8943 If Lettow-Vorbeck had met Lord Baden Powell over a couple of drinks, they would probably have become bestest friends for the rest of their lifetime.

[@richardmarahall8943]

@@josefregnat3247 i suspect you are right. When the nazis gained control of germany he refused to support them and as a result they took all his assets leaving him pennyless. Throughout that time he was supported by his two opponents in ww1, jan christian smuts and the british leader ( who im ashamed i can't remember his name). Vorbeck in ww1 and hans langsdorf in ww2 are two german military leaders that i have the greatest respect for. I'm sure that Chris could give us many examples of military opponents who had great respect for each other and later became friends.

[@holgernarrog962]

The German Forces in Tansania were 1914 simply in a hopeless situation. A tiny military focused on colonial missions. Thus Paul did simply act without any hesitation and fear. There was nothing to loose. I read Lettow Vorbecks book some 40 years ago lent from a military library. It was written in old German letters. The writing was completly different than today...."Unsere Gewehre krachten freudig und unsere Mooren"... our guns banged with pleasure and our Africans.... a style without any xpolitical xcorrectness. I assume that they disposed these books in the meantime.

[@phillipsmith4979]

My grandfather served in this campaign and according to my mother he took Von lettows stove as a war prize and they used it when they settled in Nyasaland.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & your interesting family story.

[@JonniePolyester]

That was brilliant! The focus on the Western Front for so many decades has left so much of WW1 pretty forgotten… after all it was a WORLD war! Great thing about YT is short length docs are now possible… now if I could just find a documentary on John Wilkes ( no not John Wilkes Booth! 😅) that’d be great.

[@coult001]

Great story again, Chris, thank you...!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@morgan97475]

Fantastic tale. Thanks for this.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@LisbonLadd]

New subscriber here. Love the vids its awesome to be able to learn about lesser know theatres of both wars for free. Cheers!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your sub. Much appreciated.

[@lajoszlatos3285]

Whoaaa! It's a great story about a theatre we don't know! Maybe a story about the Selous Scouts in the future? You have the best history channel all around! Thank you very much for your hard work! Long God Save the King!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Very kind of you. Like your idea about the Selous Scouts. Please subscribe (if you haven't already).

[@kw19193]

As usual another superb video. Very well done mate. I would love to see you do a video(s) on the nineteenth century explorers in Africa, Burton, Baker, et al . . . Any chance . . ? Cheers!

[@TheHistoryChap]

My aim is to tell one 19th century story each week, plus another from WW1/2 or Napoleonic periods.

[@ProfessorM-he9rl]

Thank you for this post, most revealing.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching & your comment

[@maxreed2343]

YES, you fulfilled our wishes on the intent of a video (which I believe you did promise in the first one of your four videos done while I was out there in Kefalonia, Chris old bean, being the aweing one telling of the Battle of Lake Tanganyika itself) about THIS, the section of WW1 that, as someone else has quite rightfully pointed out, is SO underrated, as EVERYTHING ya hear about that war makes ya think instantly of only the horrors of the trenches in Europe, don't it, and damn right I'd say in accordance agreement that it deserves more recognition. Cos WOW, forget about the trenches and our terrible costly battles in Europe against the mad withered armed cripple of Kaiser Wilhelm II, THIS story, a four year long jungle warfare and guerilla conflict which certainly I knew absolutely NOTHING, zero, zilch, about, until YOU finally brought it to light, our British military history KZbin superstar Chris dear chap, I would give ANYTHING for a film or TV series, either proper or just documentary, about much more than the continuously tiresome giving of just Europe and the trenches. Hats off and salutes to the German commander Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, commanding a small army of German colonial troops and African allies who successfully held out against a multi-national Allied army, consisting of us Brits, the Belgians, the Portuguese AND African nations allied to/with us, who surrounded him and German East Africa and was nearly 10x his size for the entire 4 years of the Great War, and finally did surrender TWO WEEKS after the armistice of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 was signed... WHAT an incredible fete by him for sure, as he certainly knew the terrain and how to live off the land. And of course, RIP to all of the soldiers on both sides of the conflict, the MANY many thousands, civilians too, who succumbed to all sorts of dreadful causes, and not just German bullets. Seriously, Chris old bean, you've done yet it again with another wonderful video about a part of history many of us knew anything about either remotely or absolutely NOTHING at all, the latter applying to me personally, THIS was the big video I coulda needed to welcome me back from my now sadly over two weeks in the paradise of Kefalonia, my return from there being last Sunday of course. Another video on this, the German East Africa Campaign, I'd totally be up for from ya, our superstar figure

[@TheHistoryChap]

Max, I really do love reading your missives. Thanks for your support.

[@richardmarahall8943]

Here here

[@UKnowWhoBadbish]

N

[@adifreitag8579]

The German Empire's guilt for the outbreak of the First World War is a propaganda lie by the victorious powers of the time, which was written down in the so-called Treaty of Versailles in 1919. This lie is still being spread today. The fact is, however, that all warring states are responsible for the outbreak of the war. In France, for example, there was an influential political group that sought war against the German Empire as revenge for the French defeat in 1870/71. France therefore formed a war alliance with Russia and financed Russian armaments in order to militarily encircle the German Empire in the event of war. Russia wanted to expand its influence in the Balkans and saw Austria-Hungary as a rival. Great Britain saw the German Empire as a rival for world domination. Great Britain wanted to eliminate this rival through war. The American politician Henry Kissinger correctly recognized the motives of Germany's war opponents: "Ultimately, two world wars were fought to prevent Germany from playing a dominant role." I also recommend reading the book "The Sleepwalkers" by the Australian historian Christopher Clark. In this book, he examines the history of the First World War. He comes to the conclusion that none of the warring states wanted to prevent a war.

[@williaminnes6635]

Thank you sir!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching.

[@ronnyb9416]

Excellent summary of the conflict in German East Africa.

[@berndhofmann752]

Thanks a lot for this Video. I'm German and interested in African history. ❤❤❤

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed my video

[@apolloniapythia9141]

There is also an airforce history to this campaign: in November 1917 a German Navy Airship L59 - special designed for this operation - tried to reach the Germans around Mount Kilimandscharo - about the level of the second Nile catarct the got the order to return to Bulgaria - their starting piont - because the British announced the German capitulation in Deutsch-Ostafrika. L59 traveled about 4,200 miles (6,800 km). This would be the founding idea of the oversea travel by German Zeppelins till the Hindenburg desaster.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & for your very interesting feedback.

[@Mad_ox8]

Keep up the great content!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks, will do!

[@rgriffinRETIRED_SHEEPDOG]

Excellent story!!!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.

[@HarryWHill-GA]

Bravo Zulu Chris. Another fine video. I'm just finished up "Redcoat" which I spotted on your shelf. I'm currently rereading "A game of Birds & Wolves" about the Western Approaches Tactical Unit. Brilliant work by Captain Roberts and his Wrens. Any suggestions for books on Royal Navy history?

[@buckgulick3968]

Fascinating! Well told. In fact due to your telling me what the movie was about, I'm going to watch "Shout at the Devil" tonight.

[@TheHistoryChap]

I watched it too on Thursday night ( whilst ironing!)

[@admiraltiberius1989]

Always love your work sir, i know this video will be to your usual high standards. The best thing about Lettow was he told Hitler to go do something inappropriate with himself. But according to another individual, Lettow's actual response to Hitler's offer wasn't so polite. Shame about both his sons dying in WW2, I cant imagine how much that tore at him.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Yes, a gentleman in the old sense.

[@hansulrichboning8551]

Somewhere I read a funny anecdote about Lettow-Vorbeck. Some years after WW2 he convinced Chancellor Adenauer to pay pensions to his former Askari-Sodiers in Tansania.The german officials who should find out surviving members of his force feared betrayers. So they took an old drill manual and shouted commands to the persons who demanded a pension. The guys you reacted properly to the commands got their pension.

[@jamesr792]

It really is unfortunate how so many native troops in so many conflicts were basically forgotten.

[@johnhopkins4012]

We still remember our African and European dead during that campaign to this day.. The Rhodesia Native Regiment.

[@jamesr792]

@@johnhopkins4012 The Rhodesians had a special respect and admiration for their black troops for sure. It’s a pity they just get written off as a bunch of racists these days.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video.

[@dirkl9689]

Another gem of forgotten history

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed my video, thanks for watching.

[@drexelringbloom7731]

Really enjoyed your story on Lettow-Vorbeck. Can you do one on the Siege of Kut?

[@timber750]

Years ago I read the paperback version of Lion of Africa which presented an account of Vorbeck's exploits.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video.

[@Anaris10]

I've read some of this History! FASCINATING!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video.

[@Anaris10]

@@TheHistoryChap I think it was in Liddell-Hart's WWII. My stepfather threw all my books in the dump when my mother died so it's been some years.

[@ernstschrandt3676]

Splendid presentation!!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed my video.

[@andrewwedgner3486]

Many thanks for a nice summary of a very little known part of WW1.

[@robertcoleman580]

Another great video. There are so many stories relating to von Lettow-Vorbeck. Let me mention a few. You mentioned he was vehemently anti-Hitler. Apparently, he was approached about the prospect of becoming German ambassador to the UK during the Nazi period. He reputedly replied; "tell Hitler to go f**k himself". When he was asked about this in later years he denied having been so polite. When, many years later, he returned to Tanganyika / Tanzania, he was met at the port by his former comrades in arms who carried him shoulder-high. I also read, a long time ago, an auto-biography by a coloured man who had grown up in Nazi Germany. Near the end of the war this young man was accosted by an SS officer and under threat of being arrested when a sympathetic German intervened and shouted that the young man's father had fought with von Lettow-Vorbeck in WWI. The mere mention of that name caused the SS man to back off.

[@abeedhal6519]

He was absolutely not against the great ah. What you claim there reads like typical leftist anglophile drivel.

[@greenhorn6582]

_"Apparently, he was approached about the prospect of becoming German ambassador to the UK during the Nazi period. He reputedly replied; "tell Hitler to go f**k himself". "_ Who told you this nonsense? He spoke on many demonstrations and memorial events expecially about the recovery of the former German colonies. He was seen as an example for a German soldier who never surrendered and fought until the last. It was his view that also black Africans could become "Germanized" which set him in opposite to the Nazi ideology and expecially to the Minister for Propaganda Goebbels who seemed to have hated vLV. Goebbels finally forbade him any public speeches while during the course of WW2 the revival of the German colonies became more an more unimportant.

[@rupertmcnaughtdavis3649]

As a South African, I'm ashamed to say I knew very little about Smuts's involvement in this campaign. Thanks for elucidating me!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & for the comment.

[@SilvanoBertora]

conoscevo un po' la storia di questa campagna africana ma la tua esposizione mi ha insegnato molto.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you very much for watching my video and for your kind comment

[@kennethgosch5638]

Thank you for the Video Sir

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video.

[@christinae30]

No payment for two years, and they were still loyal, says it all.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video.

[@chrise-ih4ix]

Still honored their former leader well after the war while already under a different colonial powers rule. So much for the eternal huns.

[@danieloehler2494]

You should have mentionend the attempt to resupply Lettow-Vorbeck's men with Zeppelin LZ_104_(L_59) in late 1917 by an air lift across half of Africa. This trip of 6,800 km in 95 hours is still the longest non-stop military airship flight in history (see Wikipedia for more)

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your feedback.

[@spencerross5159]

This was great. Many important reasons to study war in Africa. Thanks

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed my video.

[@cedric3973]

Thanks for the Amazing video, the story telling was fantastic. I am actually going to do some more reading on the subject now. I had read about the German Zepplin that was sent with weapons and men and made to turn around ( that still stands as the longest air mission in history). Its great to get more persepctive on the subject.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it.

[@billgoodwin8013]

My grandfather, who was with the Natal Carbineers nearly died of black water fever. My father in law was in the South African Flying Corps, crashed in a rubber plantation in the Belgian Congo. Thank you for your video!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching & for your interesting family story.

[@AlbertComelles1970]

Beautifully explained, once again. I only missed the letters exchanged between Von Letow and Smuts, if they are real at all!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed my video.

[@farinatty]

Excellent episode Chris. Is there any where that one can source the service records of those who fought in this campaign?

[@TheHistoryChap]

You could try UK. Forces War Records.com/ Imperial War Museum/ National Army Museum/ or www.gov.uk/get-a-copy-milatary-records-of-service. Hope you have success.

[@thomasmccart9970]

In the movie Out of Africa the scenes showing men and wagons hauling supplies which were destined for Lettow-Vorbeck because he was so popular with everyone.

[@TheHistoryChap]

i remember that scene too.

[@HTM95]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed my video, thanks for watching.

[@shanemossmoss]

Another excellent video thank you

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Better_Clean_Than_Green]

Paul proved that his moustache is the most powerful weapon. Jokes aside, I didn't know there even was a war in German East Africa. Thanks Chap for the video👍

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & your comment.