Impact on East African in War

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This chapter equips the learners with knowledge about the world wars and their impact on East Africa. Learners will practice the various activities and tasks in the chapter, and they are expected to solve all the problems concerning the world wars and how they impacted East Africa.

Teacher Preparation

Study this chapter thoroughly, and understand it.

Hint: Possible teaching methods to be used include: Storytelling, brainstorming, field trips, guided discovery, participatory, vee mapping, etc.

Learning materials: Video clips, charts, newspaper cut-outs, documentaries, library sources.

Skills: Interactivity, communication, writing, planning, organization, photographic interpretation, analysis, critical thinking, categorizing, and recognition.

As much as possible, the teacher should ensure that the learner understands the topic being handled by using the above hints.

Make sure you have documentaries, photographs,s, and any other material to illustrate information about the wars.

Teacher Instruction

This specific chapter/subtopic requires you to guide the learners through the details of the First World War and its impact as stated in the Learner’s Book.

Encourage learners to make personal notes from all the discussions and tasks attempted.

Introduction

By the end of this chapter, the learner will be able to understand the impact of World War I on East Africa. The learner will study the two World Wars in which Africans were involved, and thereafter, be able to solve any difficulty related to this chapter. Brainstorm;

• Let learners share any conflict between ever experienced in their communities or at school.
• What were the causes of that conflict?
• Think of how their friends support you when a quarrel starts.
• Look at how a conflict affects other people directly or indirectly.
• Explain how you have resolved conflicts between you and your friends.

This interaction will help the learner to understand the circumstances under which World War 1 broke out. They will realize that for any conflict, there is always a root cause and deep effects that spread to other people who may not necessarily be involved in the conflict. Similarly, the World War had its root causes, and it greatly affected the countries that were involved.

Background to the War

The beginning of the war was sparked off by the death of Franz Ferdinand Archduke, heir to the Austrian throne, and his wife when they visited Sarajevo in Bosnia. A single-handed murderer shot at them and killed both of them. Austria believed the killer was connected to the Serbian nationalist movement. (See the figure 3.1.1 below). Due to the conflict that arose from the murder of the Archduke, Austria

The war started in the Balkans, spreading all over Europe and later to East Africa. With these kinds of alliance tactics, there was a thin line between life and death that affected the whole world.

World War I was a major war fought in Europe and beyond between 28th July 1914 and 11th November 1918. It was fought by Russia, France, Britain, Japan, Italy, and USA on the Triple Entente camp against Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire (Turkey, Romania), and Bulgaria on the Triple Alliance camp. East Africa became involved in the war to support the camps of their colonizers, that is, Britain and Germany.

The First World War started in the Balkans: Romania, Serbia, and Greece; it was fought on land with tanks; on water with battleships, underwater with submarines, and in the sky with air planes.

Understanding the background of World war 1 (Time: 80minutes)

In groups, use ICT or the library to research and answer the following

1. What do you understand by the phrase World War 1?
2. Why was Archduke Ferdinand killed at Sarajevo?
3. Explain the different stages of World War 1, and clearly give timelines.

Likely Answers World War 1 was a global war between nations of the world like Russia, France

1. British Empire, Italy, US, Japan, Romania, and Serbia, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, Montenegro. The central powers were Germany, Austria, Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria.
2. He was shot dead due to conflicts between Serbia and Austria.
3. Different stages of the war;
4. Declaration of the war which had the following powers involved: Austria-Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria
5. The widening of the conflict which involved Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire (Central powers) fighting against Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Japan, and the United States (Allied Powers).
6. The invasion by Germany involved Germany, Britain, France, Italy, and Russia.

Countries Involved in World War I

World War I was predominantly a European affair, but later other countries became involved. During World War I, East Africa was under the control of the British (Kenya and Uganda) and German (Tanganyika). The two countries in question were in different camps (Germany under the Triple Alliance and Britain under the Triple Entente). Consequently, Kenya and Uganda fought alongside the British, while the people of Tanganyika fought on the side of the Germans. During the course of the war, the Germans thought of a way to weaken the British and so they started by threatening the economic interests of Britain in East Africa such as attacking the  Uganda Railway.              

But this was not easy because of the British superiority. Therefore, the German Paul von LettowVorbeck decided to wage war on British East Africa. Britain became suspicious of the Germans and attacked their stronghold in Dar-es-Salaam and Tanga areas. Germany retaliated by attacking the Uganda Railway line. The East Africans fought in World War I both at home and in foreign lands.

Why East African People were involved in World War 1

Many reasons were forwarded but the following were key:

Each of the East African countries wanted to support its imperial power. British-East African states and Germany-Tanganyika were involved in opposite camps due to this reason. The Germans wanted to defeat the British and the Allied troops, and so did the British.

The competition between Triple Entente and Triple Alliance camps while Britain was for Triple Entente, Germany was for Triple Alliance. 

The two leaders of World War camps had colonies in East Africa. This extended conflict and suspicion in their colonies.

The distance between Germany and Britain’s colonies in East Africa was very close. This scared Britain and Germany to defend their territories during the period of World War I.

Britain joined the war to protect her colonial interests; that is the source of River Nile, Egypt, and Middle East.

British-East Africa had formed a strong force called Kings African Rifle (KAR). They supported them in Europe.

The imperial forces wanted to use East African armies as shields /shock absorbers during the war.  That’s why they always positioned them on the frontline. East African colonies had an obligation to provide men to be recruited as troops/ mercenaries in oversea service

Lack of enough troops by Britain and Germans made them to involve the East Africans.

Love for adventure made East Africans to go for war without any resistance; many Africans wanted to know what  was happening in a distant place.

Desire to be paid made the East Africans to go and participate in World War 1.  In addition to money, the Africans wanted to please their masters by being recruited in overseas service.

Guide and provide the learners with the necessary materials to attempt the activity. Highlight on the relevant textbooks and internet sources available for the learners. As learners present their findings, observe and evaluate their understanding of the role of East Africans in World War I.