Battle of Mahiwa
Mahiwa, near Lindi, southern Tanzania
What happened
German colonial forces under Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck and Kurt Wahle fought British Empire forces, including Nigerian battalions, under Lieutenant General Jacob van Deventer. In the East African campaign of the First World War, British forces tried to trap Lettow-Vorbeck's small army in the south of German East Africa. At Mahiwa the Germans held a ridge and counter-attacked over four days. The British withdrew, but the Germans were left almost without modern ammunition.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It caused the most Allied casualties in Africa since the Battle of Tanga. Running short of ammunition forced Lettow-Vorbeck to change his strategy and keep moving.
What came next
Lettow-Vorbeck left German East Africa and invaded Portuguese East Africa to capture supplies. He surrendered only on 25 November 1918, two weeks after the war ended in Europe.
Did you know?
In four days at Mahiwa, the Germans fired over 850,000 rounds of ammunition.
Timeline
- November 1914Lettow-Vorbeck wins at Tanga.
- 15-18 October 1917The Battle of Mahiwa.
- 11 November 1918The Armistice ends the war in Europe.
- 25 November 1918Lettow-Vorbeck surrenders at Abercorn.