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  5. Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck

Births on March 20

Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck
1870Mar, 20

Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck

Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, German general (d. 1964)
Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck (20 March 1870 – 9 March 1964), also called the Lion of Africa (German: Löwe von Afrika), was a general in the Imperial German Army and the commander of its forces in the German East Africa campaign. For four years, with a force of about 14,000 (3,000 Germans and 11,000 Africans), he held in check a much larger force of 300,000 British, Indian, Belgian, and Portuguese troops.

Essentially undefeated in the field, Lettow-Vorbeck was the only German commander to successfully invade a part of the British Empire during the First World War. His exploits in the campaign have been described by Edwin Palmer Hoyt as "the greatest single guerrilla operation in history, and the most successful."

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Events on 1870

  • 15Jan

    Thomas Nast

    A political cartoon for the first time symbolizes the Democratic Party with a donkey ("A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion" by Thomas Nast for Harper's Weekly).
  • 30Mar

    Reconstruction Era

    Texas is readmitted to the Union following Reconstruction.
  • 12May

    Royal Assent

    The Manitoba Act is given the Royal Assent, paving the way for Manitoba to become a province of Canada on July 15.
  • 18Jul

    Papal infallibility

    The First Vatican Council decrees the dogma of papal infallibility.
  • 19Sep

    Siege of Paris (1870-71)

    Franco-Prussian War: The Siege of Paris begins, which will result on January 28, 1871 in the surrender of Paris and a decisive Prussian victory.

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