Battle for the Bundu - The First World War in East Africa

Perhaps the most bizarre campaign of the First World War was fought in the bundu-the barely explored wilderness of thorn scrub and dense forest of eastern Africa. This last 'gentleman's war' was waged under a code of honor-sometimes; or under guerilla tactics adopted from African tribal fighters. The German commander was the legendary Colonel von Lettow-Vorbeck, who was worshipped by his men and respected by his enemies. With good cause, for he led a handful of askaris-native soldiers-so superbly that they engaged the full attention of nearly 250,000 Allied troops for four years. "Harass, kill, but don't get caught," he told his officers. Jan Smuts, perhaps the most able leader on the opposing side, attempted to envelop von Lettow-but the tiny force would not allow itself to be trapped. Similarly, Meinertz-Hagen, organizer of the efficient British intelligence service, was no match for the quick-moving Germans. In Battle for the Bundu Charles Miller has a wonderful story to tell. Wasted by disease and the struggle against climate, terrain and danger, both sides engaged in feats of heroism and endurance. Among these was the daring scheme to gain control of Lake Tanganyika which inspired C.S. Forester's The African Queen.