Customer Reviews

The Forgotten Front: The East African Campaign 1914-1918 (Revealing History)

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I had high hopes for this book. However, after reading it I found that there was very little new information added to the subject matter and most was from the British point of view. There are already numerous other books which covers World War One in German East Africa and they are more entertaining. I came away from the book with the question if the Gen. Lettow Vorbeck and the schutztruppe were never victorious, then why did it take the Allies four years to defeat them? Anderson's first book on the Battle of Tanga was more informative and added new information which was missing from the other sources. However, in closing the book is well researched and documented and a new reader of the subject would well be advised to have it in their library.

Overall a very good book. But keep in mind this is pretty
much heavy on the British view of things. I was disappointed
because we now know more about what had gone on in Africa during
the Great War. The Germans were successful in spite of being virtually cut
off of their logistical supply lines. They had inspiring leadership and colonials
who supported them unlike the English. If you are new to the subject area I would
buy the book but seek out other sources for a more balanced view. Gen. Von Vorbeck
was not defeated he only stopped fighting when news of the armistice came to him.

The first world war began in East Africa in 1914 and didn't end until 1918: its impact would change a world, and was the largest of its times on African soil - yet the East African campaign would remain largely under-stated and nearly forgotten were it not for Ross Anderson's in-depth study THE FORGOTTEN FRONT. Surprisingly, THE FORGOTTEN FRONT is the first full-length history of this campaign, providing in-depth coverage of events and politics as well as military strategy analysis. It is these elements which make for an exceptional history for World War I scholars.