Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck

1870–1964

Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck was a German Army officer best known for commanding the Schutztruppe in German East Africa during the First World War. Born in 1870, he served in imperial campaigns before taking command in East Africa shortly before 1914. With relatively small forces composed largely of African askari under German officers, he conducted a highly mobile campaign against larger British, Belgian, Portuguese and South African forces.

Lettow-Vorbeck sought to tie down Allied troops and resources rather than defend every part of the colony, retreating into Portuguese Mozambique and Northern Rhodesia as the campaign continued. He did not surrender until after receiving news of the European armistice in November 1918. Celebrated in Germany after the war, he later served briefly in the Reichstag and participated in conservative politics. His military reputation must also be viewed alongside the severe civilian suffering, requisitioning and labour demands produced by the East African campaign.

John Wilcox’s Dust Clouds of War makes Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck the formidable opponent whose mobile campaign forces Simon Fonthill and British troops into a prolonged pursuit across German East Africa. Wilbur Smith’s Shout at the Devil uses the same East African theatre to bring Lettow-Vorbeck into a story of irregular warfare, colonial rivalry and private revenge, with his strategy of keeping Allied forces tied down far from the main European fronts shaping the military world around the fictional characters.

Periods

Periods linked to Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck

World War I1914–1918 CE

Series

Historical novels and book series featuring Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck (1 series)

Simon Fonthill in Order

by John Wilcox 13 books 4.2(4,074)

The Simon Fonthill series follows an unconventional British officer and intelligence scout through the wars and crises of the late Victorian and Edwardian empire. Beginning in southern Africa in 1879, Simon Fonthill and his Welsh comrade ‘352’ Jenkins move from regular army service into scouting, diplomacy and irregular…