Though perhaps not as well known as the other campaigns of World War II, the African theatre is no less worthy of study. In West Africa, the conflict centered on two German colonies – Togoland, and Kamerun.
Several factors conspired to leave both colonies in a precarious situation; not only were their defenses
German Prisoner from the Cameroon campaign.
weak, but they were surrounded on all sides by colonies of Germany’s enemies – the United Kingdom, France, and Belgium.
Kamerun, in particular, was defended by only 1,000 German soldiers, bolstered by a few thousand native Schutztruppe. Though an initial British attack from Nigeria was repelled, a combined Belgian/French incursion from the Congo in the south was more successful, eventually leading to the fall of the capital, Douala, in September 1914. A defeat of the garrison in Garoua followed in June 1915, while the last significant holdout, the city of Yaounde, was conquered shortly thereafter, when the remaining German troops retreated into neutral Spanish Guinea.
Brigadier-General F.J. Moberly recounts these events in his Military Operations: Togoland and the Cameroons. He writes:
“On the 17th of February, at the request of the Govenor-General of Fernando Po, General Dobell forwarded a telegraphic message from Ebermaier to the German Government, reporting that lack of munitions had obliged him to abandon the Cameroons and take refuse in the Spanish territory with the entire German force, including all his sick and wounded…the German numbers which passed the frontier…totaled about 945 Germans, of whom some 400 were non-combatants, and 14,000 natives.”
These troops were interred by the Spanish, and were moved throughout the following years
Price: $250
to prisoner camps in Spain. The card offered here is from just such a soldier.
An attractive picture postcard depicting the Entrance to the Audience Chamer inZARAGOZA, to OSNABRUCH from a German Prisoner of War from the Cameroons shipped to Spain, showing SPAINISH RED CROSS “croix rouge espagnole/correspondance des/prisonniers de guerre/franc de port” and “oficinas de la cruz roja/paseo del ebro, 85/zaragoza” hands tamps in red, as well as “Internation
ales Friedensbureau” handstamp in violet. Also bears French oval censor cachet and clear Berne transit cds.
A scarce card, ex-”Wilkin”
Price: $250
