General Paul von Lettow Vorbeck

General Paul von Lettow Vorbeck The life and times of General Paul von Lettow Vorbeck. Born 20th of March 1870 in Saarlouis Germany.
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The Schutztruppe (Protection Troops) having returned from their long voyage from Africa, march into Berlin and are greet...
03/06/2026

The Schutztruppe (Protection Troops) having returned from their long voyage from Africa, march into Berlin and are greeted by the public on Pariser Platz, on the 2nd of March 1919.

This is a rare photo, as most of the photos taken of this historic event feature General Paul von Lettow Vorbeck, and Governor Heinrich Schnee. Nice to see the foot soldiers being remembered too ~

These soldiers never knew they were marching into postwar chaos, as revolutionaries were fighting over the carcass of the German Empire. Soon they would be called to uphold order, as revolution had already spread like a cancer throughout Germany 🇩🇪

Photo shared courtesy of ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images ~

03/06/2026

War Ensign of the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy) The Imperial German Navy was the navy of the German Colonial Empire, which existed between 1871 and 1919.

This flag was often used in the German colony of East Africa, and other protectorates of the German Empire across the world.

History of the Kaiserliche Marine on the link below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_German_Navy

02/06/2026

Kreuzer Königsberg ~ At the outbreak of World War I in August of 1914 Königsberg initially attempted to raid British and French commercial traffic in the region, but only destroyed one merchant ship in the course of her career. Coal shortages hampered her ability to attack shipping. On 20 September 1914, she surprised and sank the British protected cruiser HMS Pegasus in the Battle of Zanzibar.

Königsberg then retreated into the Rufiji River to repair her engines. Before the repairs could be completed, British cruisers located Königsberg, and, unable to steam into the river to destroy her, set up a blockade. After several attempts to sink the ship during the Battle of Rufiji Delta, the British sent two monitors, Mersey and Severn, to destroy the German cruiser. On 11 July 1915, the two monitors got close enough to severely damage Königsberg, forcing her crew to scuttle the ship. The surviving crew salvaged all ten of her main guns and joined Lieutenant Colonel Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck's guerrilla campaign in East Africa. Königsberg was partially broken up in 1963–65 for scrap, and the remains sank into the riverbed ~

Click on the link below for her service history:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_K%C3%B6nigsberg_(1905)

02/06/2026

Das Buch von unsern Kolonien (The Book of Our Colonies) written by Ottomar Beta. Originally published in 1908 by Ferdinand Hirt & Sohn in Leipzig.

This book addresses historical perspectives on German colonial endeavors.

Illustration shared courtesy of the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives ~

Fascinating article on the history (with photos and illustrations) of the German Colonial Empire
https://blog.library.si.edu/blog/2015/02/25/ein-wunderbarer-duft-von-farben-a-wonderful-bouquet-of-colors/

German officers and NCOs with the African Askari in German East Africa circa 1900. Note Askari military musician band on...
02/06/2026

German officers and NCOs with the African Askari in German East Africa circa 1900. Note Askari military musician band on the left with drums and trumpets, with Askari troops lined up on the right.

Note they carry the distinctive white naval flag. Why did they carry this naval flag when they were a colonial infantry unit?

*Detail on this flag is in first comment ~

Photo shared courtesy of M-Verlag Berlin/United Archives/Universal Images Group via Getty Images ~

This illustration was created by artist Fritz Grotemeyer in 1918 as an official wartime poster for the Kolonial-Krieger-...
02/06/2026

This illustration was created by artist Fritz Grotemeyer in 1918 as an official wartime poster for the Kolonial-Krieger-Spende (Colonial Warriors' Donation fund)

Fritz Grotemeyer (1864–1947) was a well known German artist who had travelled extensively, yet never as far as Africa. The illustration depicts General Paul von Lettow Vorbeck alongside local Askari soldiers during the East African Campaign of the First World War.

The image was widely published and distributed, to solicit public charity donations supporting veterans, colonial troops and their families.

The original poster layout featured the heading "Kolonial-Krieger-Spende" at the top and a facsimile of Lettow-Vorbeck’s signature at the bottom.

Learn more on the life and times of Fritz Grotemeyer in the link below:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Grotemeyer

Is this portrait of Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck taken before his deployment to German East Africa, as his Schulterklappen (s...
01/06/2026

Is this portrait of Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck taken before his deployment to German East Africa, as his Schulterklappen (shoulder boards) potentially indicate Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel)

Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck was promoted to Major General in late 1917, following his successful and against-the-odds victory at the Battle of Mahiwa in October of that year.

Life and times of General Paul von Lettow Vorbeck on the link below:
https://grokipedia.com/page/lettow

https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/learning-resource-files/2018-01/east-africa-teachers-notes.pdf

*Please note original photo colourised! 👍🏻

01/06/2026

Plaque & inscription on the house in the Silberherzstraße in Saarlouis, the birth place of Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck.

Thank you for sharing Ulrich!

Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck was born into the Pomeranian minor nobility, while his father was stationed as an army officer at Saarlouis in the Prussian Rhine Province. He was educated in boarding schools in Berlin and joined the corps of cadets at Potsdam and Berlin-Lichterfelde. In 1890, he was commissioned a Leutenant into the Imperial German Army and was assigned to the Great German General Staff ~

Click on the link below for his early life & military career:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_von_Lettow-Vorbeck

The amazing story of L59 the Zeppelin airship sent to German East Africa, with supplies for General Paul von Lettow Vorb...
01/06/2026

The amazing story of L59 the Zeppelin airship sent to German East Africa, with supplies for General Paul von Lettow Vorbeck and the Schutztruppe.

Illustrated are the Tropical Schutztruppe uniforms as worn by the crew of L59 under their flight gear. These were required, since the men were expected to be absorbed into the German colonial army after landing. Courtesy of the Tobias Weber Collection - www.buddecke.de

Also illustrated, L59 ascends off the landing field in Yambol, Bulgaria. From Göbel, Afrika zu unseren Füßen - Africa at our feet, copy in author's collection.

Order your copy today and join the crew onboard L59 as they embark on their epic voyage to Africa on the link below:
https://schifferbooks.com/products/the-africa-ship

Askaris, the African troops of the German Colonial Empire in East Africa circa 1910.Askari, derived from Somali, Swahili...
01/06/2026

Askaris, the African troops of the German Colonial Empire in East Africa circa 1910.

Askari, derived from Somali, Swahili, and Arabic عسكري, ʿaskarī, meaning 'soldier' or 'military', also 'police' in Somali. These were local soldiers serving in the armies of the European colonies in Africa.

Learn more on the history of the Askari on the link below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Askari

Photo shared courtesy of Haeckel collection/ullstein bild via Getty Images ~

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