Africans in the Imperial German Navy and Army.

[Reichskolonialamt]

Thanks Scarlett. So Mambo and Sambo are different persons.
Jesus, their names are really calling to be mixed up :-\

But Mohamed Husen didn´t served in Germany as far as I know. He was an Askari in DOA.
Gustav Sabac el Cher was the son of an Egyptian and a german woman, born in Berlin.

[Chris Dale]

See also the conversation going on here http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=108970
about blacks in the Ottoman army and an Asian in the German army.
Cheers
Chris

[Peter H]

This could be Husen.The askari from Carl Peters.

[Chris Dale]

Yes, I believe it is him...

Cheers
Chris

[Peter H]

The Moroccan Ben Aissa.

When the Kaiser arrived at Tangiers in 1905,the Moroccan youth Ben Aissa,then 18 years old,lead part of the way the Kaiser on horseback through the city.This youth impressed the Kaiser and in 1906 he was invited to Potsdam.Returning again in 1907 Ben Aissa was enrolled into the 1.Garde Regiment zu Fuss as a standard bearer.His impressive height of 188cm played its part as well.By 1913 Ben Aissa was an NCO in this famous regiment.

In 1914 he stayed back with the replacement battalion of his regiment.Later he joined the Asienkorps and served on the Palastinafront 1917/18.

In December 1918 he returned to his regiment's depot at Potsdam.Demobilised in mid 1919 he then returned home to Tangiers,after 12 years service with the Kaiser's Army.

Source: http://www.erstes-garderegiment.de/

[Peter H]

Of interest,but WW2:

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 00#1092600

[consultant10]

The photos are fine representations of Africans who fought for the Fatherland. With time a more precise picture will emerge of the contribution African men and Women made to all European wars.

You are invited to visit African Nationalism part 4 & 5 ( http://marcusgarveylibrary.org.uk/Afric ... alism4.htm , http://marcusgarveylibrary.org.uk/Afric ... alism5.htm )

Photos of Askaris in German Kamerun may be viewed.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Dr. I.M. Spence-Lewis

[Chris Dale]

And thank you for providing that very intersting link.
Cheers
Chris

[consultant10]

Chris;

Thank you for your interest in the askari pictures taken in German Kamerun and African Nationalism.

Dr I.M. Spence-Lewis

[rjma]

I have been following this thread with great interest. The files of the Bundesarchiv in Berlin give a small insight into Africans who were active in the German army in the protectorates, many of whom you have already listed. In addition also mentioned are:

Kwassi Bruce from Togo was a volunteer in the Schutztruppe and then spent a considerable period of time in Germany.

Juma bin Abdallah from East Africa fought with the East African Schutztruppe.

Jonas Ndoki from Cameroon helped with the Kameruner Feldpost and was later sentenced to death by the SS.

Dominikus Manga from Yaoundé was a member of the Schutztruppe and fled imprisonment by the French.

All four men lived for a considerable period of time in Germany after World War One.
(From BAB R1001 6383 319 and BAB 4457/7 122)

Paul Martin Samba (Mebenga M’Ebono) from Kribi, Cameroon received military training at the Military Academy in Berlin (Potsdam) as did Johannes Arra Mensa from Togo. Martin Samba was later a leader of Cameroonian resistance against German rule once war broke out.

In Germany a number of Africans did report to enlist, but they were frequently turned away. The Cameroonian Josef Bilé enlisted and trained at the garrison Meiningen, but was released in January of 1915 on account of a foot injury. Alexander Dualla Manga Bell, son of the ill-fated Rudolf Dualla Manga, who was educated in Berlin and Kiel also fought in the war, presumably in the regular German army.

Incidently, the picture posted by Peter H is actually of the actor Bebe Mpessa better known as Louis Brody.

Hope this is of help!

[Chris Dale]

Hi Rjma,

Thanks for all that info, yes, it's of great help... now to do further searches on these new people mentioned...

Cheers
Chris

[consultant10]

Rjma;

Your comments on Africans in the German military and the research from the Bundesarchiv are appreciated.

The reference to Bebe Mpessa was important because it is illustrative of the value of the German Cinema in film history. Many significant films came from Germany particularly during WWII that illustrate how the industry used film to shape German thought and international perceptions regarding German society and militarism.

A recent example is the film the "Down Fall" which details the military suicide of Adolph Hitler and his wife.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Dr. I.M. Spence-Lewis

[Peter H]

Here's a photo that was on ebay ages ago,seller unknown

[Peter H]

From Colonel Joe here:

http://www.pickelhaubes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3679

LIR25,1917

[Chris Dale]

Here's another photo of an African in German uniform (from http://www.nexusboard.net/showthread.ph ... did=296872 ). He's Martin Dibobe from Cameroon, who lived in Germany before and during the First World War. He worked on Berlin's train system.
Cheers
Chris