Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, known as “Lion of Africa”, was a commander of the German Army group in Africa during the World War 1.

Von Lettow was appointed to the East Africa as Lieutenant Colonel in April of 1914, right few months before the start of the World War One. German East Africa was practically encircled from all sides by the Entente colonies that had much more troops and resources available. In the beginning of the war, Lion of Africa has independently, not following the orders from Berlin, crossed the border of the British East Africa (nowadays Kenya) and crushed the superior in number Allied troops, taking over the fort Taveta and then defending it from the enemy’s landings.

Understanding the insanity of the frontal attack, Paul von Lettow chose a strategy of the guerrilla warfare, betting on disruption of the connection networks, minor encirclements, and elimination of small detachments of the enemy.

Organizing raids in Mozambique and slipping out of the encirclements, von Lettow hold on until the very end of the war, never losing a single confrontation. In 1918, German troops have captured a British messenger, who had documents on him that stated that there was a treaty between Central Powers and Entente.

After the war, von Lettow has returned to Germany and quite actively participated in the political life of the Weimar republic. Although he was a member of a nationalist party, he did not support Hitler, although the latter did use him for the propagandist purposes.

Von Lettow survived the WW2 and lived in the Western Germany (FRG) and even visited Eastern Africa. Paul von Lettow has died on March 9, 1965. Before his death, he published memoirs about his military path.