My Reminiscences of East Africa: The Campaign for German East Africa in World War I

by Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, Thomas P. Ofcansky (Design)

The extraordinary war memoirs of Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, the brilliant German guerilla commander who kept Jan Smuts and thousands of allied troops at bay in East Africa throughout the Great War.

Genres: History, Africa, Military Fiction, World War I, Biography, Memoir, Germany

346 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1921

About the author

Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, (born March 20, 1870, Saarlouis, Rhine Province, Prussia [now in Germany]—died March 9, 1964, Hamburg), lieutenant colonel commanding Germany’s small African force during World War I, who became a determined and resourceful guerrilla leader hoping to influence the war in Europe by pinning down a disproportionately large number of Allied troops in his area.

Lettow-Vorbeck served on the expedition to put down the Herero and Hottentot rebellion (1904–07) in German South West Africa (now Namibia), during which he gained experience in bush fighting. Appointed military commander of German East Africa in 1914, he repelled a British landing at Tanga (Tanzania) in November of that year. For four years, with a force that never exceeded about 14,000 (3,000 Germans and 11,000 askaris, or native Africans), he held in check a much larger force (estimates range to more than 300,000) of British, Belgian, and Portuguese troops.

On his return to Germany in January 1919, Lettow-Vorbeck was welcomed as a hero. In July 1919 he led a corps of right-wing volunteers that occupied Hamburg to prevent its take-over by the left-wing Spartacists. He was a deputy to the Reichstag (parliament) from May 1929 to July 1930. Though a member of the right wing, he was not a Nazi and unsuccessfully tried to organize a conservative opposition to Hitler.

Reviews

[Charles van Buren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid, informing read by a real hero
November 26, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
Verified Purchase

Von Lettow was a fine soldier and a brilliant commander and leader. His actions in East Africa in WWI are considered to be a masterpiece of unconventional warfare. Unfortunately he was not a brilliant writer. These reminiscences are a solid, competent, workman-like job which should be of interest to anyone interested in von Lettow-Vorbeck, WWI in Africa, the German colonial experience and unconventional war. If you are looking for information written in a more entertaining vein, try BATTLE FOR THE BUNDU by Charles Miller.

[Charles van Buren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid, informing read by a real hero

November 26, 2018

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

Von Lettow was a fine soldier and a brilliant commander and leader. His actions in East Africa in WWI are considered to be a masterpiece of unconventional warfare. Unfortunately he was not a brilliant writer. These reminiscences are a solid, competent, workman-like job which should be of interest to anyone interested in von Lettow-Vorbeck, WWI in Africa, the German colonial experience and unconventional war. If you are looking for information written in a more entertaining vein, try BATTLE FOR THE BUNDU by Charles Miller.

This is the cover and correct page length for the Kindle Edition which I purchased.

[Laurel Petrik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Often a bit repetitive whatwith casualty numbers on certain days and an enormous amount of colonial geography for which the average person will have no frame of reference, this was nonetheless extremely informative and at time even entertaining, and shows the brilliance of one the best military minds in history, whether Lettow-Vorbeck is remembered or not.

[Joshua Upole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic and, in my opinion, reliable account of the tactics and genius displayed by the German Protective Force against insurmountable odds during WW1. Valuable accounts of the benevolent treatment of prisoners, battle tactics employed in the dense African Bush, of the interaction and cooperations with the natives, of the character of the African conscripts in the German Force, of exceptional bravery exhibited during the war, etc. The character and spirit of Paul Lettow-Vorbeck is extremely admirable.

[Tay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imperial German Army General Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck was a brilliant strategist & well respected leader. With a relatively small force of around 14,000 men, he successfully held off a much larger and better equipped 300,000 man British/Belgian/Portuguese coalition army for 4 years from 1914 - 1918 during the East African campaign. Being cut off from Germany, his forces managed to survive and equip itself by raiding the enemy's supply depots. When obliged to lay down arms due to the armistice, this upright officer and gentleman was treated with the utmost respect by the British. When he and his men finally returned to Germany, they were given a well deserved victory parade in Berlin. It must've been a memorable sight to behold.

[Muhammad Iqbal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately the map is so blurry in my reprint version.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fairly long read but it is rich in detail, so ultimately worth the effort.

[Dave Franklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck’s “My Reminiscences of East Africa” recounts the general’s service in the Imperial German Army as the commander of its forces in German East Africa. For four years, with a force of about 14,000, he stood off a force of 300,000 Allied troops. He is known for never being defeated or captured in battle.

Despite their lack of resources, the Lettow’s native Askari remained loyal, in awe of Lettow’s charisma, fluency in Swahili, and humane treatment of colonial soldiers. He promoted soldiers without respect to nationality, and considered all men equal regardless of the color of their skin.

Lettow-Vorbeck is often criticized for plundering the regions occupied by his forces, but his policies have been studied by guerilla leaders for the past century.

After capturing the town of Kasama, in Rhodesia, Lettow-Vorbeck was informed of the armistice; he agreed to a ceasefire, and marched his troops north before eventually arriving back in Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika. At the time, his force consisted of 155 Germans, 1,168 Askaris, and 3,500 porters.
In 1964,von Lettow passed away at the age of 93. While the German cause lacked legitimacy, the Lion of Africa’s accomplishments forever cemented his place in military history.

[William Corrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

While a very interesting read of a little known theatre of the Great War, Vorbeck wrote his memoirs as a "this happened, and then that" that does a terrible disservice to his force of warriors, as it turns their adventurous undertaking of heroic proportions and turns it into a dry recounting of troop movements and numbers. More insight into camp life, daily routines and more on his personal daily thoughts would have made this book so much more informative. As it is, this is what we have, and I still recommend it for anyone interested in learning about the first world war.

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great general, master of his craft. The book though is tough going at times, a bit repetitive.

[Ebook Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, the e-book version can be found at:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/add-...

[Cohen Pierce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting perspective on a fascinating area of the First World War, although very technical and not the lightest read.