Africa
Front
(145)1914
August
- 08
- British troops enter Togoland and occupy LoméIn early August 1914 British troops from the Gold Coast entered German Togoland and occupied its capital, Lomé.
- Hostilities begin in East AfricaOn 8 August 1914 the British cruiser Astraea shelled Dar es Salaam in German East Africa. A war began there that lasted until November 1918.
- 25
- British cross the Kamerun border from NigeriaOn 25 August 1914 British columns from Nigeria crossed the border of German Kamerun. The land campaign against the German colony had begun.
- Skirmish at Tepe. The French enter Kamerun from ChadOn 25 August 1914 the British drove the Germans from the post at Tepe on the Benue, and French troops from Chad attacked the German fort at Kousséri.
September
- 01
- First Indian contingent arrives at MombasaOn 1 September 1914 the first unit of Indian Expeditionary Force "C" reached Mombasa, sent to aid the weak forces of British East Africa.
- General Stewart takes command in East AfricaOn 1 September 1914 Brigadier-General James Marshall Stewart, commander of Indian Expeditionary Force "C", took command of the British forces in East Africa.
- 09
- Fighting at KarongaOn 9 September 1914 British troops repulsed a German attack on Karonga in Nyasaland, now Malawi, the first serious clash of the war in this part of Africa.
- Defence of Abercorn endsOn 9 September 1914 relief reached Abercorn in Northern Rhodesia. The reinforced garrison beat off another German attack and the raiders fell back.
- 19
- South African troops occupy LüderitzbuchtOn 19 September 1914 troops of the Union of South Africa landed unopposed at Lüderitzbucht. The invasion of German South West Africa had begun.
- Britain and France guarantee the integrity of Belgium's coloniesOn 19 September 1914 Britain and France assured Belgium that it would keep its colonies after the war, above all the Belgian Congo.
October
- 26
- Germans attack AngolaIn late October 1914 the Germans in South West Africa resolved to avenge the Naulila incident and struck at Portuguese posts in Angola.
- French take EdeaOn 26 October 1914 Colonel Mayer's French troops took Edea on the Sanaga in Kamerun. The British helped them, and the Germans withdrew into the interior.
- 31
- Indian Expeditionary Force "B" off MombasaOn 31 October 1914 at Mombasa the command of Force "B" settled the plan to attack Tanga. After a two-week voyage the troops were not landed.
- Aitken replaces StewartAt the end of October 1914 Gen. Arthur Aitken took supreme command in East Africa. Gen. Stewart and his Force "C" came under his orders.
- Königsberg found in the Rufiji deltaAt the end of October 1914 the British found the German cruiser Königsberg hidden in the Rufiji delta in East Africa and blockaded her.
November
December
- 04
- Wapshare replaces AitkenAfter the defeat at Tanga Gen. Arthur Aitken was recalled. Command of the British forces in East Africa passed to Gen. Richard Wapshare.
- Portuguese reinforcements sail for AngolaIn early December 1914 more Portuguese units sailed from Lisbon to Angola to strengthen the colony's defence against a German attack from the south.
1915
January
February
March
April
May
June
- 28
- End of the first advance on YaoundéOn 28 June 1915 German attacks on Col. Mayer's troops, withdrawn to the Kele line, ceased. The failed advance on Yaoundé cost the Allies over 300 casualties.
- Allies take NgaundereOn 28 June 1915 Lt-Col. Webb-Bowen's column fought its way in a storm onto the plateau near Ngaundere in Kamerun. Next day the Allies took the town unopposed.
July
September
October
November
December
1916
January
February
March
- 21
- Fighting at KaheOn 21 March 1916 van Deventer's horsemen took Kahe hill and station, while Sheppard's infantry stalled at the Soko Nassai. At night Lettow-Vorbeck withdrew.
- Germans withdraw from KilimanjaroOn the night of 21–22 March 1916 Lettow-Vorbeck left his Ruvu positions and fell back along the Usambara Railway. Kilimanjaro passed to the British.
April
May
June
July
August
September
- 07
- Action at KisakiOn 7–8 September 1916 two of Smuts's columns attacked the Germans separately at Kisaki, south of the Uluguru Mountains. Both were repulsed; the pursuit stalled.
- British occupy KilwaOn 7 September 1916 British ships landed troops at Kilwa Kisiwani and Kilwa Kivinje, south of Dar es Salaam. Both ports were taken almost without a fight.