Customer Reviews

World War I: The African Front: An Imperial War on the Dark Continent

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4 star:		(1)
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2 star:		(2)
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The Great War in Africa has very few books to define it, and in some cases the better books are just windows into particular experiences. Not so with Paice's book... it treats the war in Africa as the epic that it was and deals with it in all its shades.

During the 19th Century the continent of Africa was almost entirely divided up amongst the European powers (and the Ottoman Empire) and so when the Great War broke out in 1914 and caused all the European powers to be drawn in as well it was inevitable that the conflict would also involve the colonies of the belligerents. The book mostly centers around the war as it was fought in German East Africa, as the small but tenacious army of that colony continued the war right up to the armistice, but it does not neglect the fighting in the Sahara, conflicts in Abbyssinia and other skirmishes on the continent. Aspects such as the prewar "gentleman's agreement" which stated that colonies would not become battlefields in order to preserve European domination, propaganda, the role of Islam in the war and the complicated South African political situation are all dealt with in this book.

The very best part of this book, however, is the collection of maps which actually make the fighting understandable without having to refer to an old atlas every five minutes. This is the only book I've seen so far which actually lays out many of the key battles rather than relying on a written description of them. I would have like to have seen more photos included but those that are in the book are excellent.

I can't recommend this book highly enough!

It was called a 'World War' because it seemed that for the first time in recorded human history, the battlefield extended to every corner of the globe. Written by former Cambridge history scholar Edward Paice, World War I The African Front: An Imperial War on the African Continent is an in-depth historical chronicle of the East African front of World War I. Though British troops quickly overwhelmed the threat of German naval bases in Africa, the land war would prove to be much more deadly to troops and civilians alike. The in-depth discussion of the horrors of war provides not only an meticulously objective description of the battlefront, but also a visceral understanding of why veterans of the war in France claimed to prefer life in the trenches to serving in East Africa. A handful of black-and-white photographs enhance this worthy addition to World War I history shelves. Especially recommended for public and college library collections.

For the World War I history buff, this is a fascinating book. It deals primarily with the campaign in German East Africa, which lasted from Day 1 of WWI to after the signing of the armistice. Unlike the trench warfare on the European Continent, this was a war ranging over wide distances, of overcoming unbelievable obstacles to man and beast, and displaying amazing imagination on both sides in the pursuit of the battles for their colonies. For example, whole ships were carried piece by piece overland to the lakes claimed by the Belgians, British and the Germans; a zeppelin air ship was built to relieve the German troops 3600 miles away.

There are players and places of significance whose names crop up again during and after World War II.

The book is well written, has some excellent reference material plus useful maps. It is helpful for the reader to scan and print the maps to avoid having constantly to go back to look up places the reader may never have heard of before.

This book is detailed but disappointing. The maps in the front are excellent, the German order of battle information in the appendices likewise. But the nuggets of new or insightful information in between are not worth the effort of digging them out! The author writes "this happened, then this happened, then this happened." There is no background, no progressive development to a dramatic conclusion, none of the colorful anecdotes found in other accounts, little military analysis, and NO literary style whatsoever! Paice has achieved the goal of many an academic historian - making exciting and inspiring history dull! He writes almost entirely from the British perspective, but even their official history (Military Operations in East Afrcia Vol I, by Hordern, cited in Paice's bibliography) makes better reading. The best complete account remains Charles Miller's Battle for the Bundu, also cited, as are Anderson's Forgotten Front, Hoyt's Guerilla, and Gardiner's German East. Not cited, Byron Farwell's Great War in Africa is less detailed, but an easier read, and it covers other aspects of the African Front as well. (Paice's title should more accurately be the EAST African Front.) Likewise, the best account of the Konigsberg is Hoyt's The Germans Who Never Lost. And though Paice takes issue with it, Von Lettow's Reminiscences of East Africa is also available in English.

Interesting, if one-sided account of WW1 in Tanganyika (German East Africa). Bumbling Brits, Belgians and Portugese chase Paul Von Lettow-Vorbeck around for almost 5 years without catching him. Great testament to Von Lettow-Vorbeck's creativity and preserverance against overwhelming odds. The title is a misnomer, as this book only covers East Africa.

Very clearly written account of a little known portion of the First World War -- the fight between Britain (with Belgium) against Germany for control of modern Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi. Excellent on the military campaign, but could have used more detail on the civilian aspects (white and black). Also would have liked clearer maps with some of the story, and a better analysis of the diplomatic wrangling at the Paris peace conference in 1919.

For anyone interested in WWI outside of the European theater, Edward Paice's work is highly recommended. His account of the entire war in German East Africa is highly detailed, with accounts of all the major movements and actions. The book includes appendices in the back of each side's order of battle and other useful information. I was fascinated with the history of the innovative campaign fought by Col Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck against his British/South African/Portuguese counterparts. The campaign reads more like a work of fiction than history with its many personalities and curious and slightly anachronistic battles which took place. Paice doesn't gloss over the bad things which happened, such as the high price paid by the native populations for the war waged on the land, and the forced induction of many of their men into service as carriers or fighters. In summary, this highly detailed and entertaining book should satisfy anyone interested in this part of WWI history.

Edward Paice book is just like his last. It seems to be more concerned with proving the rightness of the British cause and damning the Germans. While I will state that it appears to be well researched, however, it also appears that Paice uses his information in a very self serving way. In the first forty pages Paice again and again condemns the Germans and trying to illustrate how noble the British cause in Africa is. I was truly hoping for a better book from a Cambridge scholar. Now as I continue to struggle through his book all his information must be questioned and makes it a hard read. The war is over and the Allies stoled the German Colonies what more does Paice what. If my six years of studying Colony history in college has proven anything, it is none of the Colonial Powers were there for the well being the natives.

I wanted to give this more stars for he does an admirable job in covering with excellent detail this largely unknown campaign. The numerous maps are a plus although not all place names in the text are on the maps (or I could not locate them.) Orders of battle are apparently complete and the descriptions of the unit actions serviceable, if not very inspiring. Like many a British apologist however he slips badly in his repeated attempts to paint the 'Empire' (you know which one) in a comparatively favorable light...vis-a-vis the 'evil' Germans. He begrudgingly acknowledges the superior performance of the German officers and their outstanding aksari. But only by painting them first as heartless exploiters of native peoples, in contrast to the far more humane and enlightened world administered by the good old Empire. Given the huge discrepancy in available resources (Britain of course having complete sea control) it it little wonder that perhaps a greater percentage of native carriers died under the Germans. Yet the massive numerical advantages enjoyed by the Commonwealth troops also ensured that they used many more carriers, many of whom died. He cites the German suppression of native rebellions before the war as particularly cruel and there is little doubt they were. I am so sick of British Empire lovers and apologists condemning other colonialists (Belgian, Portuguese as well come under his strict disapproval), while smugly extolling the virtues of life for natives under the heel of the Britain. While he concludes with a few more well-aimed barbs at the savage Germans we get no sense that he has even heard of the British concentration camps in the Boer War, the Mau-Mau rebellion gulags, the bloody suppression of the Sepoy rebellion, the semi-deliberate extermination of Irish people, etc, etc. Get OFF your high-horse Englishman!

Fair at best, The author loves to use obscure words. Without Kindle I would have needed to have a dictionary with me at all times. I found the lack numbers annoying. Any results of battles or disease or anything was 1 in 5, 1 in 20, not a straght number. Other than the information in the appendices there is little to recommend this volume.