Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck, who commanded German troops in East Africa during the First World War, is widely regarded as one of the best military leaders of the war on both sides. He and his men not only managed to avoid capture or destruction, but also to instil genuine fear in their predominantly British opponents. This was despite the fact that they were not only vastly outnumbered, but also had little access to supplies from Europe. The Royal Navy blockaded East Africa with an incredibly effective blockade, while Allied forces on the ground controlled all the important railway lines. At the end of 1917, the German navy developed a desperate plan to supply Lettow-Vorbeck's army by airship. The plan was for a single airship, the L 59, under the command of Captain Ludwig Bockholt and a crew consisting exclusively of volunteers, to fly directly from Bulgaria to the East African colony. There was no return journey planned; the L 59 was to be dismantled for supplies and its crew was to join the fighters on the ground. This work describes the planning, execution and ultimate failure of this ambitious operation, as well as the sad fate of the L 59 and its crew.
Author
Etzold, Dominic
Title
The Africa Ship
Details
English text, 50 bw- and colour photos. 304 pages.
State
new
Subtitle
Ludwig Bockholt, Zeppelin L 59, and the Most Daring Rescue Mission of WW I
Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 77 Lower Valley Road PA 19310 Atglen, Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika
