Prussian major general and author. Been confessed as a commander of the protective troop for German East Africa in WWI.
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Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck was a general in the Imperial German Army and commanded forces in the German East Africa campaign.
For four years, with a force of about 14,000, he held in check a much larger force of 300,000 British, Belgian, and Portuguese troops. He was remarkable among military commanders of the First World War in that he served the entire period without ever having suffered defeat. A master of guerrilla warfare, he followed a code of chivalry, respect for enemies, and humanitarian treatment of his men and civilians.
In a period where many nations discriminated against black soldiers, he treated his African Askaris no different than white Germans under his command. His fluency in Swahili earned the respect and admiration of his African soldiers, and he appointed black officers saying "We are all Africans here". He only surrendered after learning about the Armistice in 1918. The British repatriated the white soldiers but confined the Askaris in squalid camps, and he refused to leave until he had won promises of decent treatment and early release for his black troops.
Returning to Germany, he became active in politics and tried to establish a conservative opposition to the Nazis. He was able to bring some of his black officers with him to serve in the Freikorps. When Hitler offered him the ambassadorship to England, he refused in graphic terms. Repeatedly harassed by the Nazis, he survived due to his popularity as a genuine hero of the old school. He never forgot his Askaris, and campaigned to provide for their welfare.
When he died, the West German government and the Bundeswehr flew in two former Askaris as state guests so that they could attend the funeral. A few months later, the West German Bundestag voted to deliver back pay to the 350 surviving Askaris.
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Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck was a general in the Imperial German Army and commanded forces in the German East Africa campaign.
For four years, with a force of about 14,000, he held in check a much larger force of 300,000 British, Belgian, and Portuguese troops. He was remarkable among military commanders of the First World War in that he served the entire period without ever having suffered defeat. A master of guerrilla warfare, he followed a code of chivalry, respect for enemies, and humanitarian treatment of his men and civilians.
In a period where many nations discriminated against black soldiers, he treated his African Askaris no different than white Germans under his command. His fluency in Swahili earned the respect and admiration of his African soldiers, and he appointed black officers saying "We are all Africans here". He only surrendered after learning about the Armistice in 1918. The British repatriated the white soldiers but confined the Askaris in squalid camps, and he refused to leave until he had won promises of decent treatment and early release for his black troops.
Returning to Germany, he became active in politics and tried to establish a conservative opposition to the Nazis. He was able to bring some of his black officers with him to serve in the Freikorps. When Hitler offered him the ambassadorship to England, he refused in graphic terms. Repeatedly harassed by the Nazis, he survived due to his popularity as a genuine hero of the old school. He never forgot his Askaris, and campaigned to provide for their welfare.
When he died, the West German government and the Bundeswehr flew in two former Askaris as state guests so that they could attend the funeral. A few months later, the West German Bundestag voted to deliver back pay to the 350 surviving Askaris.
Prussian major general and author. Been confessed as a commander of the protective troop for German East Africa in WWI.
----------
Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck was a general in the Imperial German Army and commanded forces in the German East Africa campaign.
For four years, with a force of about 14,000, he held in check a much larger force of 300,000 British, Belgian, and Portuguese troops. He was remarkable among military commanders of the First World War in that he served the entire period without ever having suffered defeat. A master of guerrilla warfare, he followed a code of chivalry, respect for enemies, and humanitarian treatment of his men and civilians.
In a period where many nations discriminated against black soldiers, he treated his African Askaris no different than white Germans under his command. His fluency in Swahili earned the respect and admiration of his African soldiers, and he appointed black officers saying "We are all Africans here". He only surrendered after learning about the Armistice in 1918. The British repatriated the white soldiers but confined the Askaris in squalid camps, and he refused to leave until he had won promises of decent treatment and early release for his black troops.
Returning to Germany, he became active in politics and tried to establish a conservative opposition to the Nazis. He was able to bring some of his black officers with him to serve in the Freikorps. When Hitler offered him the ambassadorship to England, he refused in graphic terms. Repeatedly harassed by the Nazis, he survived due to his popularity as a genuine hero of the old school. He never forgot his Askaris, and campaigned to provide for their welfare.
When he died, the West German government and the Bundeswehr flew in two former Askaris as state guests so that they could attend the funeral. A few months later, the West German Bundestag voted to deliver back pay to the 350 surviving Askaris.
----------
Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck was a general in the Imperial German Army and commanded forces in the German East Africa campaign.
For four years, with a force of about 14,000, he held in check a much larger force of 300,000 British, Belgian, and Portuguese troops. He was remarkable among military commanders of the First World War in that he served the entire period without ever having suffered defeat. A master of guerrilla warfare, he followed a code of chivalry, respect for enemies, and humanitarian treatment of his men and civilians.
In a period where many nations discriminated against black soldiers, he treated his African Askaris no different than white Germans under his command. His fluency in Swahili earned the respect and admiration of his African soldiers, and he appointed black officers saying "We are all Africans here". He only surrendered after learning about the Armistice in 1918. The British repatriated the white soldiers but confined the Askaris in squalid camps, and he refused to leave until he had won promises of decent treatment and early release for his black troops.
Returning to Germany, he became active in politics and tried to establish a conservative opposition to the Nazis. He was able to bring some of his black officers with him to serve in the Freikorps. When Hitler offered him the ambassadorship to England, he refused in graphic terms. Repeatedly harassed by the Nazis, he survived due to his popularity as a genuine hero of the old school. He never forgot his Askaris, and campaigned to provide for their welfare.
When he died, the West German government and the Bundeswehr flew in two former Askaris as state guests so that they could attend the funeral. A few months later, the West German Bundestag voted to deliver back pay to the 350 surviving Askaris.
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