Vorbeck's book

Gwynn Compton · Post by **Gwynn Compton** » 21 Jul 2004 07:29

I'm just about to start reading Vorbeck's book about his experiences in WW1. Anyone read this, and if so, what have you thought about this?

Gwynn

monk2002uk · Post by **monk2002uk** » 21 Jul 2004 11:03

Whereabouts did you get it from, Gwynn? I have wanted to get hold of it, though have not tried as yet.

Robert

Gwynn Compton · Post by **Gwynn Compton** » 21 Jul 2004 22:33

I'm doing an essay on how the war changed perspectives on racial stereotypes, so I thought I'd look at German East Africa, and whether the actions of Vorbeck's Askari changed that image.

So I popped into the Victoria University library, and found the book alongside the other text I was looking for. Judging by its age I suspect it'll be long out of print.

Gwynn

monk2002uk · Post by **monk2002uk** » 22 Jul 2004 18:04

Gwynn

Interesting topic. The East Africa campaign was interesting with respect to the performance of other Black African soldiers, such as the Gold Coast contingent in addition to the KAR.

Had you thought about the situation with the Maori contingent in the New Zealand Division?

Robert

Gwynn Compton · Post by **Gwynn Compton** » 24 Jul 2004 00:03

I had considerable thought about covering that, but decided that the topic might be looked into by too many other people in the paper.

My dad's cousin (or grandfather's cousin, I'm not completely sure) served with the first Maori contingent of pioneers at Gallipoli. He became warmly regarded by the Maori soldiers for letting them use rifles contrary to official policy.

Gwynn

CMF · Post by **CMF** » 24 Jul 2004 10:17

Hi Gwynn,

I don't know if you've already looked at this, but Charles Miller's 1974 book Battle for the Bundu (ISBN: 0025849301) is an excellent resource for the operations in German East Africa and surrounds.

Best

Chris

Gwynn Compton · Post by **Gwynn Compton** » 25 Jul 2004 09:45

I'll likely be popping up to the library again this week so I'll take a look for that.

Gwynn

Hartleed · Post by **Hartleed** » 25 Jul 2004 09:55

Hallo Gwynn

Is it: ???

"Meine Erinnerungen aus Ostafrika"
von General von Lettow-Vorbeck

Leipzig
Verlag Koehler
1921

Where did you find that book, what was the price, thank you.

Regards

HL

Gwynn Compton · Post by **Gwynn Compton** » 25 Jul 2004 12:59

Where I found the book is listed above.

So I popped into the Victoria University library, and found the book alongside the other text I was looking for. Judging by its age I suspect it'll be long out of print.

Certainly though it's a book I'd be interested in purchasing if I ever found it in a second hand bookstore. Judging from the inside cover, this particular copy originally came from the Northern District Military Library, presumably on one of the military bases near Auckland, and was since donated to the university.

Gwynn

monk2002uk · Post by **monk2002uk** » 30 Jul 2004 21:52

Gwynn

This contribution from a New Zealander on another forum. Her posting is quite pertinent to your subject:

Hasving read the Fiji Times on microfilm over 5 years, what I noticed was the change in tone, from British Empire overweening self importance , and consequent ignoring of the "natives" except where they had to be mentioned, to more acceptance and inclusion of them in the paper.

At the beginning of the war "we" ie Europeans were the only ones who were newsworthy.

But when Sukuna came back to Fiji in 1916, a wounded hero from his fighting at Champagne with the French Foreign Legion, and was appointed a lieutenant in the Fiji Defence Force, then he had to be saluted in the street, which caused quite a how-de-do.
To have to salute a native! Someone, who had not gone to war, refused to do so, and was roundly told off in the newspaper.

Gradually more attention was paid to both Fijians and Indians , (previously known as "niggers/natives" and "coolies"), and by the end the general tone was noticeably more friendly and accepting. Except of course foe a few old stalwarts of Empire who wrote letters to the paper!

Robert

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 02 Aug 2004 09:06

Gwyn,
This might be of interest,recently posted on Wehrmacht-awards.com,sourced from C.Woolley's Schiffer Books "German Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment 1918-1923",2002 page 120.

This Askari veteran travelled to Germany after 1918 and ended up in the Freikorps.

Chris Dale · Post by **Chris Dale** » 10 Aug 2004 12:56

Moulded, you've excelled yourself this time! I've been looking for Freikorps Letttow Vorbeck photos everywhere. I've found a few on this forum but this one's the best so far.
Have you got ay more? I believe there was a previous thread on Freikorps Lettow Vorbeck a while back.
Thanks very much!
Cheers
Chris

knieptang · Post by **knieptang** » 23 Aug 2004 04:46

@ Chris

The younger brother of my grandfather served several years in africa as a soldier, after the wars the man collected many books, concerning the several wars over there.

Most of these books are nowadays very seldom, the prices range between 200,- and over 500,-€, one example from my own collection:

"Im Morgenlicht"
Kriegs- Jagd- und Reise-Erlebnisse in Ostafrika
von Hans Hans Paasche
Mit 97 photographischen Aufnamen des Verfassers
Zweite Auflage, Berlin, 1907

This book is valued around 200,-.€, for a bad copy, for a very good copy like mine its more than 300,-€
(The book ist not for sale)

If you like some copies, contact me.

Reichskolonialamt · Post by **Reichskolonialamt** » 10 Oct 2005 09:26

Dear Peter H.
very interesting photo. I showed it to a friend. He told me, that the bagde on his collar probably belongs to the "Garde-Kavallerie-Schützen-Division".
Do you have any further information about this man? His name would be very interesting...
Thanks Arne

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 16 Oct 2005 15:09

Arne,

Stated by Woolley as follows:

...this NCO acting as a chauffer in Munich,May 1919,had served with general Lettow-Vorbeck in Ostafrika and was serving him again as a member of Freikorps Lettow-Vorbeck---the uniform is a straight M 1915 Bluse with Garde Kavallerie Schutzen Division insignia on the collar.

No name is given nor do I have any record of Lettow-Vorbeck's Freikorps being involved in the Munich fighting.

Regards,
Peter

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