R. G. Gladding

The Kaiser's Last General

The East Africa Campaign and the Hunt for Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, 1914-1918

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

At the outbreak of World War I, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck, military commander of Germany's East African Colony, planned to divert British troops from Europe to East Africa. Knowing he could not defeat them in pitched battle, he led a small force--never more than 15,000 men--familiar with bush-fighting and the harsh environment, on raids into British territory. A gifted tactician, von Lettow-Vorbeck attacked only when odds were in his favor, then fought defensive withdrawals into the German Colony, maintaining short lines of supply while drawing the enemy deeper into hostile territory. The British and their allies committed 160,000 troops in East Africa. He led them in a game of "catch me if you can," punishing them for every mistake. Promoted to major-general by the Kaiser in 1917, von Lettow-Vorbeck led the only undefeated German force to surrender to the Allies, well after the end of hostilities in Europe. This history follows what began as a campaign of conquest and devolved into a hunt for a single general and his small, loyal command.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: McFarland
• Seitenzahl: 232
• Erscheinungstermin: 17. Februar 2022
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 229mm x 152mm x 14mm
• Gewicht: 383g
• ISBN-13: 9781476685991
• ISBN-10: 1476685991
• Artikelnr.: 64185841

Autorenporträt

R.G. Gladding is an ex-serviceman having served in both the Navy and Army for a period of 23 years. He was also the technical and safety training manager of the Australian Railroad Group and chair of the West Australian Air, Maritime, Road and Rail Transport Industry Training Council. He lives in Chester, England.

Inhaltsangabe

Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
One. East Africa, 1914
Two. Disaster at Tanga
Three. Operations in the Rufiji Delta
Four. The Action at Jasin and Early Operations in the West and Northwest
Five. The Destruction of the Königsberg
Six. The Bukoba Raid and the Action at Saisi
Seven. The Naval Africa Expedition
Eight. Operations on the Northern and Northwestern Frontier
Nine. The Battle of Kilimanjaro
Ten. Portugal Enters the War and the Allied Offensive Begins
Eleven. Into German East
Twelve. The Long Pursuit
Thirteen. Mahiwa, Lukuledi Mission and Withdrawal to the Rovuma
Fourteen. Portuguese East Africa
Fifteen. The Last German General
Appendix I. British Order of Battle, January 1916
Appendix II. British Order of Battle, March 1916
Appendix III. Versailles Treaty-Articles Regarding German Overseas
Territories
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index