Battles & Campaigns · 1916
Battle of Tabora
Tabora, Tanzania (then German East Africa)
What happened
The Force Publique of the Belgian Congo under General Charles Tombeur fought German colonial forces under Kurt Wahle. In the First World War, a Belgian colonial army advanced east from the Congo into German East Africa. Following the railway, the Belgians fought their way toward Tabora, the largest inland town of the German colony. After the German army retreated south-east, the town's civilian officials surrendered on 19 September 1916.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It gave the Allies control of the central railway line.
What came next
Wahle's forces retreated toward Mahenge. Fighting in East Africa went on until the end of the war.
Did you know?
Tabora began as Kazeh, a trading settlement founded by Swahili and Omani traders in the 1850s.
Timeline
- 1850sTraders found Kazeh near present-day Tabora.
- 28 July 1916Belgian forces take Kigoma.
- 8 September 1916The battle for Tabora begins.
- 19 September 1916Tabora surrenders to Belgian forces.