The Berlin Conference of 1884/85, carves up Africa for European domination. 1 March 1885 Bismarck announced that Germany had granted an imperial charter to the German East Africa Company under Karl Peters. Peters had surreptitiously gone to East Africa and concluded enough treaties with local chiefs to grab a large area of land from the Sultan of Zanzibar.

In 1886 an agreement to divide East Africa into German and British spheres allowed, through Britain’s Prime Ministers’ lack of interest, Germany free reign. But Germans were reckless and led by Bushiri some Arabs and Swahili along the coast, slavers turned rubber and ivory traders, rebelled against the German Protectorate—fear, resentment and humiliation caused the tribes to rebel—they would fight to the last man rather than become slaves to the Germans. Only the ports of Dar-es-Salam and Bagamoyo were safe and under the protection of German Warships. The Wissman Unit was formed in 1887 by the German East Africa Company. Native troops were recruited from various parts of Eastern and Southern Africa. These included a Zulu company and local natives, but mostly the recruits were Sudanese, former Egyptian and British army trained troops, who were to perform magnificently under German command. Captain Wissmann arrived in Africa in 1888 to put down a rebellion and control the area for German exploitation. Wissmann soon established two stations, Dar-es-Salam and Bagamoyo. Those in command of the rebellion held most of the coast, with strong points at Kilwa, Dar-es-Salam (Suliman bin Seif), Bagamoyo (Bushiri), Sadani (Sultan of Wasequha), and Pangani (see map for general locations of these villages and regions).

Wissmann decided to attack and capture each point with his entire force (less 1 company of Sudanese, who were detailed to Dar-es-Salam). The first objective was Bushiri’s camp near Bagamoyo. The order of march was:

80 Askaris
Staff
Sudanese Battalion (Baron von Gravenruth) (two coys of Sudanese - Sulzer and von Perbandt)
Artillery (Krenzler)
Sharpshooters (40 European NCOs under End)
Naval Landing Detachment (Lt. Commander Hirschberg)
Sudanese Battalion (K.W. Schmidt) (two companies Sudanese - Johannes and Radetz)
Mixed Battalion (von Zelewski) (1 company Sudanese Ramsay and 1 company Zulu von Medem)
Bearers and Irregulars

Bagamoyo

When the point unit got to within 600m of Bagamoyo the Askairs took up position, von Gravenruth on their left with Artillery between and the Naval Detachment in reserve behind the artillery. Zelewski was to encircle from the right while Schmidt came from the left to cut off any retreat. The front line advanced to 400m and began firing. The artillery could not shoot because of the thick undergrowth so the line moved to within 200m.

The Naval Unit then deployed into line without orders, fired and charged, everyone else moved forward. A hole was blow through the defenses by a grenade and a Sudanese unit pushed through. The Naval Unit attempted to climb over the top.

Bushiri’s men stood and fought hand-to-hand against the Sudanese before retreating; first into Schmidt’s Unit then Zelewski’s. The fort (see map below) was approximately 250m on a side, with strong palisades set deeply into the ground, reinforced by thrown up dirt., behind which was a shooting trench for kneeling riflemen. In places there was an earth-covered roof to protect the riflemen from shrapnel.

The Sudanese had been recruited from Egyptian service and were firm under control of their officers. The Zulus were brave in the attack but once inside the stockade became savages (they only had six days of training). The Askaris behaved very well.

Pangani

Admiral Deinhard and Wissmann determined to attack Pangani in 8 July following a naval bombardment. The units landed from pinnacles in three columns:

Column I (K.W. Schmidt) 2 Sudanese companies
Column II (von Zelewski) 1 Sudanese company, Askaris and Machine Gun
Column III (von Eberstein) 1 Sudanese and 1 Zulu company
In reserve - Naval Landing Party on shipboard.

Pangani is on the left bank of the river, see map below, while on the right bank is the suburb of Bueni; fairly steep heights covered with brush rise from the right bank. The rebels had a strong fortified position here with only very narrow access routes. The landings waited for high tide since the beach was very flat. They landed in a small cove, deployed to their left in three columns against the enemy on the right, driving the enemy in front of them. From the dominating right bank the machine gun found most of the rebels leaving a 100 on the field. The remainder retreated.

Similar tactics carried several other supposed strong holds with few casualties to either side, except for buildings and fortifications.

Mpapwa was one of those and was fortified as a station by 110 men commanded by R. Schmidt.

The Mafiti

In November Bushiri raised a force of 5,000 Mafiti, a warrior people showing no mercy. von Gravenruth commanded the expedition and divided his force into three columns, despite the objections of his column commanders. von Gravenruth came upon the Mafiti at Yombo and thinking that the other columns would also attack (unfortunately they were all separated by about 40km). The Mafiti continued to attack, even though their bodies were heaped around the column. The composure of the Sudanese and Lt.s von Perbundt and von Behr held the column together and beat back the repeated attacks.

The Mafiti left 400 bodies on the field and crossed the Kingani River. There they fell upon von Bulows column that vigorously fired upon them and the Mafiti routed.

Bana Heri

While von Gravenruth was in the field Wissmann sent out an expeditionary force under von Zelewski consisting of 4 companies and auxiliaires on a broad search and destroy mission from Bagamoyo through the Useguha against every strong point of Bana Heri’s followers. Waseguha Sultan Bana Heri had attacked caravans and missions and Wissmann feared he would join Bashiri. von Zelewskim had to take several fortified villages by assault.

Locals captured Bashiri, turning him over to the Germans who then hung him.

In December 1889 R. Schmidt led 250 Zulu and Sudanese troops against Bana Heri. On the bush covered heights of Mlembule they were fired upon from the undergrowth. The formed a front to cover all sides and repelled the enemy. Schmidt formed the troops into 3 columns (Schmidt-Zulu, von Bulow-Zulu, and Lt. Johannes-Sudanese). Bulow found a strong-palisaded fortifcation with the gate open and he rushed it before they could close the gates. Sgt. Ludwig and several Zulu were shot and all but eight Zulus routed. These eight helped Bulow retrieve Ludwig.

Schmidt arrived but his Zulus refused to advance. Johannes also ran into a fortification and became involved in heavy fighting. Johannes’ Sudanese formed the rearguard of the retreat back to Mkwadja station. While loses were not heavy (1 European and 9 Askari KIA, and 9 Askari wounded) the reconnaissance was successful. (Sometime during this rebellion by Bana Heri all Africans in German service became Askaris as well as known by their nationality, not just the locally raised scouts). They had found Bana Heri and knew his strength. Unfortunately he was now the magnet for all the rabble in East Africa.

Another recon was sent to Mlemule, Zelewski, R. Schmidt and the artillery (Krenzler). Thick thornbush surrounded the village with one side showing a palisade wall, about 50m long, with an earthen wall behind it. Zelewski and the artillery fired for three hours while R. Schmidt and his men got to within 30 paces of the enemy on the left flank. After firing several volleys they charged and broke into the village, the enemy rushed out the opposite side and into the bush. Enemy loses were heavy, while the recon lost 1 European (Sgt. Tanner, Artillery from a burst gun barrel) and had 10 wounded (Dr. Stuhlman and 9 Askari). The fort was destroyed and the recon withdrew.

Several skirmishes ensued while Gravenruth attacked a number of small-fortified villages belonging to Bana Heri. In one skirmish a Sgt. was badly wounded while the Zulus refused to charge, however they did repulse the attack.

Wissmann, in March 1890, brought together 100 Europeans, 800 Askari and 5 cannon for a march against Palamakaa. Palamakaa was a large valley with numerous small villages, boarded by ridges.

The troops were fired upon from the bush and a volley and charge would clear out the immediate problem, but the enemy kept it up continually. They went into camp and strong recon forces, radiating out from their camp attempted to find Bana Heri’s base. An Askari officer located it and attempted to capture it but was repulsed. Wissmann then sent Gravenruth with 200 men and a cannon against it. The fortified position was carried by an assault. With his base and supplies destroyed Bana Heri submitted in April.

Six hundred Sudanese and 50 Europeans newly recruited had been part of this force. However, the commanding officer determined that they were not up to the quality of the original Sudanese troops and needed time to train them properly.

Metshemba

In December, 4 companies under Commander Ramsay left his station to go against Matshemba who was in the region of Shikambo. Matshemba’s warriors fortified themselves along a river Ramsay had to cross. His three forward companies engaged and drove the enemy out. The next day all 4 companies were attacked and the enemy driven back. With cartridges running low, resupply through the bush here was extremely difficult, Ramsay decided against further advance and returned to Lindi. Matshemba had taken severe loses and began negotiations.

Kilimanjaro

In late January 1891, after the coastal areas and the main caravan route to the interior had been secured, Wissmann gave the rich area around Kilimanjaro his attention. The station at Masinde had been given trouble by several nearby chiefs, capturing and expelling government representatiuves. Chief Sinna of Kibosho in plundering and harassing friendly tribes perpetrated the worst problems. The Masai were also assembling for a raid. This forced Wissmann to take action and he placed Commander Johannes in command of the expedition made up of:

1 Sudanese company (Sulzer)
2 Zulu companies (von Zitzwitz and Prince)
Swahili Askari detactment (de la Fremoire)
1 cannon
1 machine gun

Wissmann and his staff (Bumiller and Dr. Steuber) accompanied the column. Moving through the territory the problems with minor chiefs began disappearing when they beheld the expedition. In February von Eltz, commanding officer of the new Kilimanjaro station, Eugen Wolf and Dr. Schillow and 1000 auxiliary Wadjagga joined the expedition.

The force began encountering Sinna’s outposts and war cries were heard all around. From a height overlooking the area, they could see that the Wakibosho, in full war regalia, were driving their cattle towards a distant height covered in banana plants that flew a red flag on a tall pole.

The force advanced and took fire from a deep forward trench so that the point coy had to deploy and take the trench. While the porters remained under cover in the trench, the attack was launched on the next height that appeared heavily fortified.

Two companies were directed towards the high point, while a third moved in on the left flank, along the enemy’s line of retreat. In the confusing banana grove the force found itself in front of a deep broad trench surrounding the height, while they took heavy fire from the surrounding bush. They bridged the trench and found themselves in a maze of hedges, palisades, trenches and brush. The only field of view was directly ahead or behind. The Askairs were felled by spear thrusts of unseen enemies. The force moved on through the maze toward the left flanking coy as they could be heard firing volleys as though they had a clear field of fire. They finally found a clear area to assemble in. Wissmann called off the attack and withdrew to the porters position. They hoped to rest here but the enemy fired on them all night long.

Wissmann considered the Wakibosho to be fearless blacks.

German East Africa: General Order of Battle Table
European	1889	1891	1896	1901	1905	1910
Commanding Officer	1	1	1	-	-	1
Captains	8	10	12	13	13	20
Lieutenants	13	19	30	29	32	51
NCOs	56	42	56	58	74	71
Doctors	2	10	18	19	26	41
Corpsmen,Sanitary	-	18	22	24	33	58
Warrant Officers, Paymasters Quartermasters and Other Staff	10	20	24	29	29	34
Native
Officers	-	12	12	12	5	2
NCOs	-	50	120	120	126	185
Other Ranks	768	1,500	1,800	1,560	1,340	2,341
Formed into # of Companies	7 1/2	10	12	12	12	14

German East Africa 1888-1891

A Brief Introduction
Wissmann Unit (1888-89)