When Elephants Clash: A Critical Analysis of General Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck in the Great War

by Thomas A. Crowson

For over four years during World War I, Lieutenant Colonel (Later Major General) Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck, commander of the German Schutztruppe led the men of the British East African Expeditionary Force on a chase over some of the most inhospitable terrain imaginable. As the commander of German forces in East Africa, he was the author of one of the most successful guerrilla fights in history. His innovative and creative solutions to daily problems proved to be the undoing of a succession of British commanders, allowing him to bleed Allied forces from European fronts. Although he never had more than 3,000 European and 15,000 native soldiers, von Lettow-Vorbeck consumed the efforts of over 250,000 Allied (mostly British) soldiers. Von Lettow-Vorbeck and the men of the Schutztruppe are little known outside of Germany, but they were never defeated and have the distinction of being the only Germans of World War I to occupy British soil. Despite their successes, their exploits remain obscured in the greater tragedy of the Great War.

Genres: History, Africa

146 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Jared Nies · Rating 5 out of 5]

KEEPS YOUR ATTENTION, GREAT SUMMARY,

fast read, just covers the interesting parts. Worth your time highly recommended. Has store humor in it as well. great buy

[Eric Remole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written account of a fascinating and important part of the history of WW1 that has been essentially forgotten.