COLONIAL WAR AND THE WAR IN THE
MIDDLE EAST
Image 1: The Map of the World 1914
BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
Africa
 Germany’s new policy of Weltpolitk changed the balance of the major
powers
 Germany now also wanted their “place in the sun”
 Before World War 1 Germany had acquired colonies all over the world, but
did not match the empires of France and especially Britain
 However, German Generals were sure that with a War in Africa they could
keep a multitude of British troops away from the Western Front
Middle East
 After the Balkan Wars and conflicts with Russia the Ottoman Empire had
lost over one third of their Empire
 The Young Turk movement sought to modernize the Ottoman Empire and
after their revolution in 1908 they had gained considerable power
 The new Ottoman Empire saw Germany as a potential ally and Kaiser
Wilhelm the second saw himself as a friend to the Muslim World
AFRICAN THEATRE OF WAR
1.
2.
Three Main Campaigns
1.
West Africa Campaign
(Togoland and Kamerun)
2.
East Africa Campaign (German
East Africa: Modern day
Tanzania, Rwanda and
Burundi)
3.
South West Africa Campaign
(German South West Africa:
Modern day Namibia)
The Main Belligerents
1.
2.
German Empire and the Boers
United Kingdom (South Africa
and Australia), France, Belgium,
Italy, Portugal, Liberia.
Image 2: Map of Colonial Africa Before World War 1
WEST AFRICA CAMPAIGN
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The German colonies of Togoland and Kamerun were completely surrounded and poorly equipped.
However they held strategic importance (4 long wave radio transmitters used in naval warfare and coal
refueling points)
The small colony of Togoland was conquered by British and French troops in only 20 days. (August 7th to
August 27th 1914) Only 44 European forces died (all French and British) but over 2500 Africans
The Fight for Kamerun was much more difficult
The British attack from Nigeria had failed on all three attempts (guerilla warfare was favored by German
troops all over Africa as they were outnumbered and outgunned)
With the assistance of Belgian and French troops they were able to capture the capital in 1914
The War in West Africa was pretty much over by November after German troops fled to the neutral Spanish
colony of Guinea
Image 3: African troops fighting for Germany
SOUTH-WEST AFRICA CAMPAIGN
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British Troops tired to invade German South West Africa on the 25th of September 1914 but were
defeated and pushed back.
A Second attack was stopped short after the Boers revolted
Over 12 thousand rebels under Maritz, supplied and supported by Germany rose up against the
British colonialists.
It took nearly half a year until the British could silence the rebellion but by February 1915 the
leading Boer rebels had been arrested.
In the March of that year the second and final offensive on German South-West Africa began
The German troops were completely outnumbered (only around 3000 troops supported by 7000
citizens verse over 67,000 south African troops)
The capital of Windhoek was captured on the 12th of May but fighting continued until the German
forces surrendered at Khorab on the 9th of July 1915.
Britain would rule this German territory for over 75 years
Image 4: 7 Inch naval Gun of South African troops
EAST AFRICA CAMPAIGN
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Colonel Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck was the leading German commander and a military
genius
Completely outnumbered and out gunned (all supply routes to East Africa were cut after March
1916) he was still able to withstand the enemy forces for the duration of the war.
The Germans fought a guerilla war (raids, hit and run attacks and ambushes)
British troops started the fighting on the 5th of August 1914 assaulting the coast with multiple
naval attacks
The battle in East Africa would never see a German defeat even though they had never more
than 18 thousand troops and the allies over 5 times that.
The British troops could not deal with the harsh conditions of the jungle, (loosing over 50,000
horses to the tsetse fly) and the harsh terrain slowed their progress greatly.
They hired over 1 million Africans to carry their supplies, one fifth of them would die due to
mall nutrient and disease.
Von Lettow had hoped to keep British forces away from the western front and keep them
focused in East Africa. However this did not work. Most of the British troops were Indian (India
would supply over 1 750 000 troops over the course of the entire war) or South African.
The German surrender on the 14th of November 1918 marked the end of the east African
Campaign. Von Lettow surrendered on the 25th of November with out a single major defeat
and was celebrated as a German war Hero.
Image 5: German troops crossing a river in the jungle of
East Africa
AFTER THE WAR
The end of the African campaigns marked the end
of German colonialism and Weltpolitik
 Britain, France and Belgium would split up the
African colonies they had taken from the Germans
 However Allies dependency on their colonies and
the devastation of African land brought up cries for
independency
 African nationalism would arise and many colonies
would gain their independence after the 2nd world
war
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MIDDLE EAST THEATRE OF WAR
1. Five Main Campaigns
1. Sinai and Palestine Campaign
2. Mesopotamian Campaign
3. Caucasus Campaign
4. Persian Campaign
5. Gallipoli Campaign
2. The Main Belligerents
1. Ottoman Empire, German
Empire, Austria- Hungary,
Azerbaijan Democratic
Republic
2. Russian Empire, British
Empire, France, Armenia and
Italy
Image 6: Map of the Middle East before World
War 1
FIRST YEAR OF THE WAR 1914
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The Ottoman Empire signed
a secret treaty with Germany
and entered the war on the
side of the Alliance
The major Battles were
fought between Ottomans
and Russians in the
Caucasus
Ottoman troops advance
through the Persian empire
but must re organize their
troops due to the fighting in
the Caucasus.
The Battle of Sarikamish
(Caucasus) costs over
100,000 lives. Neither army
is willing to budge.
Image 7: Russian soldiers in the Forest of
Sarikam
SECOND YEAR OF WAR 1915
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British and French troop start the Gallipoli Campaign in order to
capture Istanbul and secure a sea route to and from Russia. It
last from the 25th of April to the 20th of December 1915. There
were over 500,000 casualties.
This campaign allowed the Russian Army to regroup and relieve
the pressure on the British Western front.
In late February of 1915 the Ottoman Empire tries to seize the
strategically important Suez canal. Britain however is well
prepared and stops the advance.
Britain is successful in Mesopotamia, defeating the Ottomans
on multiple occasions. However the good new is overshadowed
by losses in Gallipoli.
Ottoman troops are weak and badly organized in the Caucasus.
The Battle of Gallipoli is sucking major resources while the
Russians are able to reinforce their troops.
Arabian Rebels join forces with the British. They seek a united
Arabia with out Turkish influence and a independent Palestine,
which Britain promises to both them and British Jews at home.
On the 20th of December 1915, British troops started to flee
from the Battle of Gallipoli. The Evacuation of the troops had
been completed by January 1916.
Image 8: Mustafa Kemal,
leader of Turkish troops in
Gallipoli
THIRD YEAR OF WAR 1916
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Image 9: Sharif Hussein bin Ali of
Mecca
The Turkish troops cannot withstand the
Russian Offensive. Russians enter
Northeastern Turkey in early 1916.
Sharif Hussein bin Ali of Mecca (One of the
most powerful people in all of Arabia) Is
convinced to start a revolt against the
Ottoman Empire.
T.E. Lawrence (more commonly known as
Lawrence of Arabia) assists this revolt. The
reports of this solider serve as a great
moral boost back at home.
The Turkish forces desperately try to attack
the Suez canal (objective is either to
capture it, or destroy it). This second
attempt fails and they are forced to retreat
to Palestine.
British troops follow and starts two
offensives against Gaza both are
unsuccessful. Britain sees the need to
send in new reinforcements.
THE FINAL YEARS OF WAR 1917-1918
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After the failed attempt to take Gaza, British troops reorganize and take Baghdad in March.
With the help of Arabian rebels the British troops are able to dominate the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.
On the 9th of November 1917 they take Gaza in their third attempt
The Russians and the Ottoman Empire sign the Armistice of Erzincan on the 16th of December 1917 after the
communist revolution in Russia.
The British troops capture Jerusalem just before Christmas. This is used as a propaganda tool to keep the population
happy. While the British are winning in the Middle east they are in a stale mate on the western front.
A final Offensive against the Ottoman empire is delayed. The Spring Offensive of the Germans requires full attention
of the British troops. However after reinforcements arrive from India, Britain defeats the Ottoman Empire in the Battle
of Megiddo. (September, 1918)
Though the Ottomans win multiple battles verse the newly created Armenian state (Battle of Baku) it become clear
they can’t win the war. After the loss of Damascus on the 1st of October and the loss of Aleppo on the 26th they sign
the Armistice of Mudros on the 30th of October 1918, marking the end of the war in the middle east.
Image 10:
British
troops
around
Jerusalem
AFTER THE WAR
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Britain looses over 550,000 troops in the Sinai and Palestine
campaign alone. (90% percent of which die to battle unrelated
causes) Turkish troops lost over 2 million.
After the signing of the armistice, British and French troops occupy
Istanbul. (13th of November, 1918)
The Paris Peace Conference in 1919 split up the old Ottoman Empire.
Britain and France take the majority of the land for themselves,
creating protectorates and mandates. The Arabian rebels were
denied their own free state.
The Ottoman empire would wage a further war, for its independence.
The four year long war would lead to the establishment of a
Independent Turkish republic on the 29th of October, 1923.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Image 1: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__C-FrnvFfFk/SD_420ArzJI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/K_mnfLzYewY/S1600R/KISH_25_578.gif
Image 2: http://www.anandarooproy.com/images/portfolio/slide/image/57/31-Africa-1914-v2.jpg?1152870772
Image 3: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Cameroonian_troops_in_World_War_I.jpg
Image 4:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/British4.7InchNavalGunPercyScottCarriageSWAfricaSandWW
I.jpg
Image 5: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Bundesarchiv_Bild_105-DOA3100%2C_DeutschOstafrika%2C_Artillerie.jpg
Image 6: http://unimaps.com/mideast1914/mainmap.gif
Image 7:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sarikam.jpg
Image 8: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GMK_Gallipoli.jpg
Image 9: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Sharif_Husayn.jpg
Image 10: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Capture_of_Jerusalem_1917d.jpg
Online sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Eastern_theatre_of_World_War_I#1918
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_theatre_of_World_War_I
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/
BBC documentary “The First World War” (watched on YouTube)