HISTORY: How WWI broke out in East Africa

German soldiers move to the front line during the First World War in East Africa in 1914. PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • Dar was bombed from the sea on August 8, 1914 and a week later, 200 German troops and ‘askaris’ invaded Kenya
  • UK academic disputes a widely held perception that the war is generally regarded as a colonial or white man’s war and that local or black participation tends to be regarded as ‘puppet’-like

Few people in Tanzania, young and old, can tell with precision the events that led to the outbreak of World War I (1914-1918).   Even fewer know about the participation and the role that Africa and Tanzania played and the impact it has on the social and economic aspect of their lives.

For example: How many know that the war in East Africa started on August 8, 1914 when the British ship HMS Astrea bombed the wireless station in Dar es Salaam in then German East Africa? Or did you know an estimated 95,000 black support service men died in that war, the majority, and 41,000 from German East Africa?

That was the sheer disbelief, awe and excitement when a visiting British academic, Ms Anne Samson, recounted, stage by stage, events from the day the war started to the end.

It was a presentation as part of lined activities to commemorate 100 years since the break  out of the WWI. Ms Samson took gathered foreign dignitaries, members of the government and intellectuals through what she has found out after many years of researching on Africa’s participation in the epic war.

Ms Samson has made a huge attempt to dig out the important discoveries about the involvement of people of this part of the world in the Great War.

Acting British High Commissioner Penny Smith hosted the talk at her Dar es Salaam residence with the German and Belgian Ambassadors to Tanzania Mr Egon Kochanke and Mr Koenraad Adam respectively.

One important thing was clear at the end of his presentation; that so many stories about Africa’s participation and role in the war have not been told because enough has not been done to research on that. And even the little which is known is yet to be fully acknowledged.

What the WWI meant for EA

Ms Samson disputes a widespread perspective that the war is generally regarded as a colonial or white man’s war and that local or black participation tends to be regarded as ‘puppet’-like.

But she did not fall short of making it known that most of the recorded history of the war is that of the white man or woman.

“There are few voices available which give the local voice and I have drawn on these as appropriate,” she says.

The war begins

War between the British and German empires broke out on August 4, 1914. Before British forces had even arrived in Europe, the war in Africa had begun with action in Togoland on the 6th.

The war in East Africa began, here in Dar es Salaam, on August 8 when the British Ship Asteria bombed the port to push the wireless station out of action. Soon after, on August 15 German troops prompted by General Paul von Lettow Vorbeck ventured into British East Africa at Taita/Taveta and were to occupy the only British territory of the First World War for 20 months.

When two bulls clash, the grass suffers: World War 1 in East Africa.

Few people are aware that the longest campaign of the First World War was fought over the territory which is today Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. Although the first shot and death of the war is attributed to Togoland, German East Africa, as the three territories (Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi) were collectively known, was not far behind.

Dar es Salaam was bombed from the sea on August 8, 1914 and a week later, August 15, 1914, 200 German and askari troops invaded British East Africa (Kenya) at the Holili/Taveta border. Here the first soldier in East Africa was killed, a corporal of the Maragoli tribe.

The war was fought on the land and on the water - Lakes Nyasa, Victoria and Tanganyika all saw action. MV Liemba, previously the German ship Graf von Gotzen and now 100 years old, was scuttled by the Germans to prevent it falling into British hands.

There was action on the seas, HMS Pegasus was sunk in Zanzibar Harbour, and in the Rufiji Delta where the SMS Konigsberg was put out of action. Although there were no air battles, aeroplanes were used for sighting the enemy and dropping messages and bombs.

The war saw men from British East Africa, Congo, Uganda, Nyasaland (Malawi), Northern and Southern Rhodesia (Zambia and Zimbabwe), South Africa and the protectorates (Bechuanaland, Swaziland, Basotholand), Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique), India, Britain, Germany, Belgium, China, Sierra Leone, Gold Coast (Ghana), Nigeria, Seychelles, Gambia, Jamaica, Australia and America fight.

Between 1914 and 1916, the fighting was mostly conducted by white and Indian troops whilst from 1916 to the end of the war, it was mostly black troops who fought. Over the period of the war, the German forces consisted of approximately 3,000 whites and 12,000 black and Arab troops. They were opposed by approximately 126,972 British troops including white, Indian, black and Arab. Of these, 11,189 died during the war, whilst 10,811 were incapacitated by disease and wounds. More men died of disease and starvation than of battle wounds.

Pushed south

The German East Africa troops being the only force to occupy British territory in World War 1 were eventually pushed south into Portuguese East Africa in 1917 before they returned to German East Africa to invade Northern Rhodesia where they surrendered on November 25, 1918. The last battle on African soil was fought on November 13, 1918.

However, none of the soldiers would have achieved what they did without the work of the porters, carriers and labourers, many of whom were volunteered by their communities or were commandeered by the armies as the need arose.

In all, it is estimated that over one million men served as porters, carriers and labourers in East Africa. Accurate numbers are difficult as some armies did not keep records. An estimated 95,000 black support service men died, the majority, 41,000 from German East Africa.

In addition to the supply of manpower, where men carried loads of up to 60 pounds, the German East African population provided all the fighting forces with food - initially paid for but later commandeered, and what was not eaten or carried away was burned to prevent the enemy from getting it.

As the war came to an end, some of the worst droughts on record added to the shortage of food and this was made worse by the outbreak of influenza which resulted in more deaths than those during the war.

It is estimated that four per cent of the population of East Africa died from the flu. The end of the war and the peace discussions saw German East Africa split into British Tanganyika, Belgian Rwanda and Burundi. This led to further changes as new forms of administration were introduced.

Despite all the horrors of war, there were some positives: employment opportunities improved for some, the value of organisation became apparent and the mixing of cultures led to a sharing of ideas and knowledge which was to have an impact on the future political developments of all the territories involved.

Speaking before the presentation, Mr Kochanke said we remember that the people of East Africa, particularly Tanzania took part and played crucial role in the Great War. His Belgian counterpart Mr Adam said the commemoration was crucial for his country which was the colonial power in Congo and had an army that helped to mount the war in Africa.

“There is a military history linking our country with Tanzania,” said Mr Adam.