OstAfrika Korp

German forces of a little Alt-history timeline I call TL: Ostafrika.

in this version of history, Hitler decides to commit himself to the destruction of Britain and her commonwealth: To this end, after securing military alliances with the Scandinavian and Eastern European powers to contain Russia, he turns his entire military strength against Britain.

things do not go well, to say the least. with his limited seapower and the short range of his Air force, Hitler's attempt to land troops on the British Isles ends in failure, with over 25000 men lost.

with this shattering defeat, Hitler, his confidence shaken, turns military operations over to the general Staff, turning his full attention to other matters, involving the SS.

it was at this time that the Wehrmacht approached retired General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, the fantastically successful and highly acclaimed commander of German forces in East Africa in World War One. knowing he still commanded fierce loyalty among the Askari, the colonial forces he commanded, the OKW wanted the old warrior to return to Africa as commander of a new army, to wage war on the British. despite his harsh criticism of the Nazi regime, von Lettow-Vorbeck relished the opportunity to again command in battle, and upon being informed that Hitler was not his direct superior any longer accepted the Command.

with the assistance of the Italians and anti-British Egyptian officers, a task force of German and Italian light cruisers escorted Freighters loaded with 500,000 men, tanks and aircraft, fought their way through Suez into the Indian ocean. despite losses along the way, a series of air bases organized in the middle east and Itlaian Ethiopia are able to give support to the German forces, allowing them time to land. Von Lettow-Vorbeck quickly reorganized the Askari, who flocked to their "commander," and a beachhead was soon organized and expanding. at the same time, a small force of Germans cross through Italian East Africa and invade the lost territory from the North.
the General eyed the addition of Tanks and Aircraft to his command with a skeptical eye, recalling that his successful campaign of the Great war was fought with salvaged guns and wild animals for weapons and transport. while he quickly learned the value of his aircraft, his tanks, with limited fuel and little in the way of opponents, were soon reduced to mobile strongpoints in the expanding beachhead.

British and Belgian colonial forces were driven back on all fronts, and Tanzania was soon back  in German hands.




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credit to Levantera and Toaster at JG for the base figures
Clive for the 88