HOME | DD

Description
Have you ever heard of this battle? I've never heard of this battle. But hey, when reading about it, it seemed pretty interesting. Besides, Africa during WW1 is severely underrated.

The first battle of Garua (29-31 of August 1914) was the first significant peice of action during the Entente powers' Campaign into German Kamerun (1914-1916) during the African Theatre of World War 1 (1914-1918). Partaking in the battle on the invading side were forces from British Nigeria under the command of British officers, while on the defensive side we find soldiers of German Kamerun otherwise known in English terms as Cameroon under Imperial German command.

So, unsurprisingly the First World War didn't stay in Europe (I mean, it's kind of in the name) and would soon after the declarations of war include the colonies and protectorates in both Africa and Asia. In Africa, the colonies of Imperial Germany were in a state of defense against the colonial powers of the Entente nations, such as Britain and France. On the 25th of August, British cavalry from the West African Frontier Force crossed the border between Nigeria and Cameroon and took the German border outpost Tepe, somewhat north of Garua. And with that foothold on German colonial soil, they decided to march on towards Garua. At the same time, the Germans prepared themselves for battle. They constructed five forts, each of which were situated to give supporting fire to another if needed. The defensive work also included the typical trenches so characteristic of the god damn entirety of World War 1, lined with barbed wire for good meassure. Defending the area were Askari Schutztruppe under German officers. If any significant damage would be done at the defensive fortifications, artilery would be needed.
...the battle could begin.

From their base in Tepe, the British forces turned southwards straight towards the German defenses at Garua, arriving there on the 29th of August. There, they proceeded to dig trenches surrounding the German forts, and on that night the first attack commenced, charging over 400 meters of open ground...and getting totally demolished in the process with heavy casualities. But despite said casualities, they actually somehow managed to take one of the five forts. That triumph didn't last though, as the very next day, the German led Askari forces took back said fort and pushed the British led forces back. What followed afterwards was that the Nigerian forces retreated and abandoned the British officers in the trenches, leading to most of them being killed by the Askari forces. The Askari then proceeded to pursue the British Nigerian forces for days afterwards, totally pushing them out of Cameroon. Of 600 Nigerian soldiers, 250 were killed during the Askari counter attack. The German forces meanwhile suffered minor losses...not sure how much that estimates, but minor none the less.

The German successive defense at Garua was only the first of several during the early days of the war in western Africa. It would also mean a massive morale boost for the Askari Schutztruppe. The serial defensive victories wouldn't last however, as the Germans soon would lose Garua during the second battle, between the 31st of May and the 10th of June of 1915.

For good meassure, have this photograph look-alike for this battle too: Garoua 1914

Pretty proud of this pic, honestly.

Description
Have you ever heard of this battle? I've never heard of this battle. But hey, when reading about it, it seemed pretty interesting. Besides, Africa during WW1 is severely underrated.

The first battle of Garua (29-31 of August 1914) was the first significant peice of action during the Entente powers' Campaign into German Kamerun (1914-1916) during the African Theatre of World War 1 (1914-1918). Partaking in the battle on the invading side were forces from British Nigeria under the command of British officers, while on the defensive side we find soldiers of German Kamerun otherwise known in English terms as Cameroon under Imperial German command.

So, unsurprisingly the First World War didn't stay in Europe (I mean, it's kind of in the name) and would soon after the declarations of war include the colonies and protectorates in both Africa and Asia. In Africa, the colonies of Imperial Germany were in a state of defense against the colonial powers of the Entente nations, such as Britain and France. On the 25th of August, British cavalry from the West African Frontier Force crossed the border between Nigeria and Cameroon and took the German border outpost Tepe, somewhat north of Garua. And with that foothold on German colonial soil, they decided to march on towards Garua. At the same time, the Germans prepared themselves for battle. They constructed five forts, each of which were situated to give supporting fire to another if needed. The defensive work also included the typical trenches so characteristic of the god damn entirety of World War 1, lined with barbed wire for good meassure. Defending the area were Askari Schutztruppe under German officers. If any significant damage would be done at the defensive fortifications, artilery would be needed.
...the battle could begin.

From their base in Tepe, the British forces turned southwards straight towards the German defenses at Garua, arriving there on the 29th of August. There, they proceeded to dig trenches surrounding the German forts, and on that night the first attack commenced, charging over 400 meters of open ground...and getting totally demolished in the process with heavy casualities. But despite said casualities, they actually somehow managed to take one of the five forts. That triumph didn't last though, as the very next day, the German led Askari forces took back said fort and pushed the British led forces back. What followed afterwards was that the Nigerian forces retreated and abandoned the British officers in the trenches, leading to most of them being killed by the Askari forces. The Askari then proceeded to pursue the British Nigerian forces for days afterwards, totally pushing them out of Cameroon. Of 600 Nigerian soldiers, 250 were killed during the Askari counter attack. The German forces meanwhile suffered minor losses...not sure how much that estimates, but minor none the less.

The German successive defense at Garua was only the first of several during the early days of the war in western Africa. It would also mean a massive morale boost for the Askari Schutztruppe. The serial defensive victories wouldn't last however, as the Germans soon would lose Garua during the second battle, between the 31st of May and the 10th of June of 1915.

For good meassure, have this photograph look-alike for this battle too: Garoua 1914

Pretty proud of this pic, honestly.