Tanga Customs House

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 21 Oct 2005 02:35

This photo was taken after the Battle of Tanga.The Customs House was at one stage captured by the British and a large Union Jack flown from its top.This is after its recapture by the Germans.Photo from Der Krieg in Wort und Bild.

The Customs House,built in 1904,is still an historic landmark in Tanga today.

Lettow-Vorbeck's HQ at Tanga was in the Hotel Kaiserhof.That colonial building also still stands in Tanga today.Thats also the site were Captain Richard Meinertzhagen was taken too when discussing ceasefire terms with the Germans --- "You English are really quite incomprehensible. You regard war as a game."

Has anyone any current photos of these historic buildings?

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 21 Oct 2005 02:42

Hotel Kaiserhof,Tanga.

From: http://www.deutsche-schutzgebiete.de

Chris Dale · Post by **Chris Dale** » 21 Oct 2005 02:57

Hi Peter,
Here's a few modern photos of places in Tanga today
http://www.schutztruppe.de/urithi.html if you scroll down the page there's one of the hotel Kaiserhof. It doesn't look so grand now.
I believe this excellent website is run by one of our new members, Reichskolonialamt?
Cheers
Chris

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 21 Oct 2005 03:53

Thanks Chris.

Perhaps I have got my buildings mixed up?The Channel 4 documentary The First World War showed a well kept building,nicely whitewashed.Meinertzhagen,the Intelligence officer, was taken there to arrange the evacuation of the British wounded.He was served drinks and treated like a gentleman.

Meinertzhagen and Lettow-Vorbeck became good friends after the war.

According to Charles Miller,Battle for the Bundu: The First World War in East Africa:

In 1930, as Nazis began emerging from the woodwork, a disillusioned von Lettow resigned his Reichstag seat. Five years later, he was given the opportunity to re-enter public life when Hitler offered to make him ambassador to England. The suggestion, interestingly, had come from von Lettow's friend, retired Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen, during a visit to Berlin to meet with Hitler on behalf of German Jews. Meinertzhagen reported that Hitler enthusiastically endorsed the first idea and went into a volcanic tantrum over the second. Von Lettow was no less affronted by Hitler's overture, and declined with frigid hauteur.(1)

After that (possibly even before that) he was on the Nazi blacklist, and although Hitler was not quite up to doing away with the one man who had consistently humiliated Germany's enemies in the First World War, he could see to it that von Lettow was subjected to every possible indignity short of a concentration camp. He was kept under continual surveillance. SA troops sacked his office. No opportunity was lost to slander him. It did not matter that both of his sons were killed in action with the German Army in the Second World War.

(1) During a conversation not long ago with the grand-nephew of a German marine who had fought in the East African campaign, the author brought up the subject of the spurned ambassadorship, remarking: "I understand that von Lettow told Hitler to go f**k himself." "That's right," was the reply, "except that I don't think he put it that politely."

Something on Meinertzhagen as well(of German Jewish descent):

http://www.phthiraptera.org/phthirapter ... en_bio.htm

Regards,
Peter