Background

To 4. and 5 August 1914 Great Britain explained to the German Reich the war, after German troops had attacked neutral Belgium. With it the fight for the colony German East Africa began also immediately (today Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi). It accepted substantially larger extents in the largest and most densely populated German colony than in the remaining so-called protected areas. The colony had two railway lines for troop shifts as well as natives a population, which faced the German loyal extensive natural resources. All these factors made it for the German colonial force possible to withstand the far superior allied opponents until 1918.

The German colonial force consisted to beginning of war of 267 officers and NCOs as well as 4,612 native Askari. Commander was an energetic general Paul von Lettow Vorbeck.

In the morning 5 of August 1914 Daressalam the message of the British declaration of war was received in the coastal radio station. The governor at that time Dr. Schnee explained immediately the state of war for the colony and arranged the mobilization. The British imposed a sea-blockade and cut the German submarine cables.

Three days later the British cruiser appeared HMS Pegasus and took the radio tower of Daressalam unsuccessfully under fires. 23 August the same cruiser tried to destroy the Telegrafenstation of Bagamoyo by artillery bombardment. The Pegasus was finally placed and sunk on 20 September 1914 by the German small cruiser SMS king mountain before Sansibar.

The battle

On 2 November 1914 began first combined attack of the British. In the proximity of the port of Tanga a British corps under the guidance went from general Aitken ashore. The troops consisted of a British Northlancashire regiment and eight Indian regiments (Kashmir Rifles), altogether 8,000 men. The Indian soldiers were badly trained reserve units. At this time only some courses of the German colonial force in Tanga faced the Britisher. Some federations from the interior as well as freiwillige the contactor corps from Usambara hurried the German defenders up to the evening to assistance. The bulk of the German troops under general Paul von Lettow Vorbeck was shifted in quick marches after Tanga and reached the city at the night on 4 November. Finally in three-day-long embittered fights it succeeded to the Germans (approx. 1,100 men) to strike the British supremacy destroying and at the ships back urge.

The British had 650 pleasures and a still larger number on wounded and prisoners to deplore.

The German losses amounted to 64 men, under it 48 Askari.

16 machine guns, 600,000 shot ammunition as well as extensive other equipment were captured by the Germans.

See also

• The First World War at colonial scenes

Articles in category "Battle with Tanga"

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