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Interesting lecture. Left a lot out due to time constraints. IMO was complementary but very much from a Britischer perspective.

Of course the comments about the German colonial administration and genocide of natives. In SW Africa and Tanganyika. The British annexation of Zanzibar was of course positive and only to save it from the Germans.

One of the attendees claimed the Germans used trickery to illegally claim ownership of the territory of Tanganyika. An adventurer using trickery to trick it away from native chiefs. I wonder how the Brits gained "legal" ownership of Kenya. The Portugese, French for their colonies as well. The club host mentioned it was funny how all these other countries stole the land, committed genocide, but never the Btish for their colonies ... Of course he was being sarcastic,

I would have liked to hear about the hardships on the campaign trail. It was mentioned their fine uniforms were in tatters and rags by the end. Nothing about hippo hide boots or sandal soles. Raw hide webbing etc.

The Konigsberg was mentioned. It's actions. The British attempts to find and destroy it. The British lacking channel information couldn't sail a major ship up the Ruifa delta. But a flat bottomed barge with artillery on it aided by spotter aircraft eventually destroyed the Konigsberg. The Captain scuttling the ship where it's hulk allegedly still lies in the river. I'd like to see it oneday. It's crew and naval guns were salvaged and used by von Lettow-Vorbeck.

The Governor of Tanganyika tried to claim neutrality. Under the Congo Treaty where European African colonies would stay neutral. Von Lettow-Vorbeck disagreed, And wished to divert as many British forces as possible away from European campaigns.

300,000 British troops were eventually used in Tanganyika. And huge numbers of porters. The German forces were 2700 white officers, soldiers, sailors, settlers and about 13,000 black Askaris. Many thousands of porters. The greatest death tolls were from disease. The death toll among the porters was in the tens of thousands. Some 50,000 porters dying on the British side.

Interesting given this alleged neutrality British Navy ships several times shelled German coastal ports early in WW1.

The Brit sea landing invasions at several coastal ports and towns were mentioned. Most were failures.

I didn't realise how far South in Mozambique the Schutztruppe campaigned.

The campaign was largely a "Guerilla" war per the speaker.

The speaker mentioned missing the Lake sea battles and battles inland due to speaking time constraints.

Von Lettow-Vorbeck surrendered after the German surrender in Europe.

He returned home a hero. Many statues were erected, and streets named after him. Sadly the Marxist cancel culture of modern leftist globalist woke Germany has tried to cancel him as an evil colonist. Streets renamed. Statues removed. The German language Wikipedia page is supposed to be full of Cancel Culture BS. Cancel Culture needs to be cancelled.

Von Lettow-Vorbeck was involved in right wing politics after WW1, but was never a NAZI and was opposed to Hitler.

He attended at least one British anniversary event in the UK as a guest of honour.

He was blind in one eye, his other eye also partially blinded during the campaign. His feet were a mess and he could wear boots. Hecwss very thin. But kept on marching. An inspirational example to his men. His Askaris fought for him, even though they were not paid for two years. Later they were given German pensions. Sometimes identified by the order barked, "Attention". The old guys were snapped to attention got a pension. Paperwork having been lost by the Askaris not surprisingly.

Von Lettow-Vorbeck observing the British camp could have had General Jan Smuts sniped. But thought it improper. Jan Smuts was discussed. Meinitzhagen was mentioned, he was more a "gentleman adventurer" than I realised. Often sacked and removed from campaigns in Africa and Arabia.

Von Lettow-Vorbeck, an honourable man. A gentleman, Who fought honourably, as much as modern warfare allows. A mini 20th Century Caesar IMO.

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John aka NitroX

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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"