Paul Erich von Lettow-Vorbeck

General Paul Erich von Lettow-Vorbeck (March 20, 1870 - March 9, 1964) was the commander of the German East Africa campaign in World War I, the only colonial campaign of that war where Germany remained undefeated.

Early life

Born to a military family in Saarlouis, von Lettow-Vorbeck studied military science as an artillery officer. He was posted to China in 1900 to quell the Boxer Rebellion. Afterwards, he was posted to German South-West Africa (now Namibia) to put down the Hottentot and Herero Rebellion between 1904 and 1908. He suffered an injury to his left eye and was forced to recuperate in South Africa, earning the friendship of Jan Smuts, against whom he would fight in World War I. He was the commander of the II. Seebataillon of the Kaiserliche Marine-Infanterie (German Marines) from January 1909 until January 1913. He also commanded the German colonial forces known as the Schutztruppe in Cameroon.

Related Topics:
Saarlouis - 1900 - Boxer Rebellion - German South-West Africa - Namibia - Hottentot - Herero Rebellion - 1904 - 1908 - South Africa - Jan Smuts - 1909 - 1913 - Schutztruppe - Cameroon

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