Black, White, and Khaki: Lettow-Vorbeck and the African Askari

On battlefields that stretched for miles across the savanna in shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, to palm-shaded beachheads and dense tropical forests, forces German East African Schutztruppe under command Lieutenant Colonel Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck engaged Allied far-flung Africa during First World War. Few units Imperial Army resembled Schutztruppe, it was mostly made up black askari, led by a small white German/European officer corps. In addition heading transformation unit from counter-insurgency force meant quell native uprisings, one could defeat European colonial forces, Lettow-Vorbeck’s leadership allowed survive against hundreds thousands troops sent it, without regular assistance Germany. Ultimately, never fully subdued war, only surrendered when informed general armistice late November 1918. This paper will use primary secondary sources examine status askari before, then seeking prove able effectively fight campaign using guerilla warfare strategies tactics learned before War I, combined with highly rigorous “Prussian”- style training loyalty himself introduced shortly conflict.