Mozambique, German East Africa and the Great War

Abstract

In Africa Germany had always held a covetous eye for the northern portion of the Portuguese colony of Mozambique, and World War I provided the long-sought opportunity for it to take what it wished. Prior to the war German intimidation of Portugal yielded border concessions in southern Angola, the annexation of the mouth of the Rovuma River in Mozambique, and the establishment of a German enclave there at Quionga. As the war unfolded, German colonial aims in East Africa shifted to the defence and that of becoming a distraction of Allied resources in an attempt to provided relief to the European front. The German strategy changed from a diplomatic to a military one that was successfully translated to the operational and tactical levels and in this forgotten theatre caused Portuguese and British resources to be expended at inordinately high levels for limited gains in chasing down an elusive foe.