World War I in Africa: The Forgotten Conflict Among the European Powers

The First World War in German Southern and East Africa was fought in extremely different circumstances to the war on the Western Front. Very little has been written on the South West Africa campaign whilst, conversely, much attention has been granted to the military aspects of the East Africa campaign. This book returns the spotlight to both of these campaigns, seeking to understand the impact which policy decisions and the interplay of individuals made on the course of the war in East and Southern Africa. The author illuminates the roles of two key players: General Jan Christian Smuts who led the army of South Africa to take on German forces in East Africa in 1915, and the undefeated Lettow-Vorbeck, famed for being the only German general to occupy British territory. The study, using primary and secondary material from Britain, South Africa and other countries involved, seeks to undermine Clemenceau's claim that war should not be left to the Generals. Had it not been for the ill-informed decisions of individual politicians, a great proportion of the 102,260 deaths would have been prevented and a total war debt of £95 million avoided.