Lion of Africa

Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, a German general and colonial administrator well-known for his remarkable guerilla warfare abilities commanded Germany's modest African force during World War I. He was known as the "Lion of Africa", was nearly unbeatable in World War One, and gained notoriety by taking Mozambique from Portugal despite all odds. Vorbeck honed his talents while fighting the Boxer Rebellion in China in 1900 and leading an expedition to quell the Herero and Hottentot Rebellion in South West Africa between 1904 and 1907. He was named military commander of German East Africa when World War I started, and with a force only one-eighth as large as the enemy, he successfully resisted the British arrival at Tanzania in late 1914.

Lettow-Vorbeck was able to combat and contain a far bigger British, Belgian, and Portuguese army during the war with a force that was never more than 14,000 overall (composed of 3,000 German and 11,000 Askari (local African) men) (estimated at 300,000). Lettow-Vorbeck, who is reputed to have adhered to the warrior's code of chivalry, honor, and respect for the enemy, treated his African Askaris in the same manner as the white Germans under his command, which was unusual at the time. Additionally, he was the only German commander who managed to successfully invade imperial British territory during the conflict. He finally gave over command of his unbeaten army toward the end of November 1914, when the war came to an end.

Lifespan: March 20, 1870 – March 9, 1964

Nation: Germany