Sunday, 13 April 2014

Wissmans Company

I finished my second company. Wissmans Company - German East Africa 1896.
 
Hermann von Wissmann was a noted explorer of Central Africa in the 1880s and was appointed as the first Imperial commissioner to the Tanganika colony in February 1888. In 1889 he created the ‘Wissmanntruppe’ of about 700 local troops in 7 companies (6 Sudanese and 1 Zulu) commanded by German officers.

By March 1891 this force was 1700 strong organised into 10 companies, and it had been formally integrated into the Imperial German Armed Forces. In the spring of 1891 the HeHe revolted and massacred a German force of three companies of the Schutztruppe with 13 German officers and NCO's, 320 Askaris, 170 porters, and several machine guns and field guns. Only three Germans, sixty-four Askaris and seventy four porters escaped the debacle. Wissmann was blamed for the debacle and recalled to Germany.

In December 1893, Wissmann returned with a new commission. His mission was to establish a new Spezialbefehlafrika to harrass the British in Kenya and Uganda and to undertake other operations on behalf of the Empire. Here is Wissman with his fellow officers, Doktor Dreis, Askaris and a group of Zulu Scouts.


This company also has some of the first new science weapons in Africa. Wissman carries an Arc Pistol and Doktor Dreis an Arc rifle. Note also that the Arc generator is carried by a Zulu porter.

This tactical innovation allows the Generator to remain slightly to the rear of combat, and thus preserve this vital piece of equipment

I expect this company to action soon


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