TheGreatWar.pl
Timeline
Battles
People
Guide
Topics
The key questions about the war
Countries
The warring and neutral states
Places
Cities, fortresses, rivers, islands
Armed forces
Armies, fleets and air services
Series
Selected threads, article by article
Glossary
Terms, abbreviations and names
Key dates
The war in numbers
Voices from the front
Contact
pl
Timeline
Battles
People
Guide
Topics
Countries
Places
Armed forces
Series
Glossary
Key dates
The war in numbers
Voices from the front
Contact
← Timeline
Belgian Congo
Tag
(11)
1914
August
09
Belgium proposes the neutralisation of the Congo Basin
On 9 August 1914 Belgium proposed that colonies in the free-trade zone of Central Africa should remain neutral. The proposal was not accepted.
22
Germany accepts the proposal to neutralise the Congo Basin
On 22 August 1914 Germany agreed to Belgium's proposal to neutralise the African free trade zone. Britain and France did not support it.
September
19
Britain and France guarantee the integrity of Belgium's colonies
On 19 September 1914 Britain and France assured Belgium that it would keep its colonies after the war, above all the Belgian Congo.
November
20
Allies withdraw the proposal to neutralise the Congo basin
In November 1914 Britain, Belgium and France finally dropped the idea of neutralising the African free-trade zone, which the war had already reached.
1915
February
03
Uganda–Congo boundary agreement
On 3 February 1915 Britain and Belgium signed an agreement in London that finally confirmed the course of the boundary between Uganda and the Belgian Congo.
December
23
British boats on Lake Tanganyika
On 23 December 1915 the British motor boats Mimi and Toutou, brought from England across half of Africa by rail, tractor and river, took to Lake Tanganyika.
26
Capture of the gunboat Kingani
On 26 December 1915 the British motor boats Mimi and Toutou caught the German gunboat Kingani on Lake Tanganyika. After 11 minutes her crew surrendered.
1916
February
09
Sinking of the gunboat Hedwig von Wissmann
On 9 February 1916 the British boats Fifi and Mimi caught the German gunboat Hedwig von Wissmann on Lake Tanganyika and sank her after a chase of several hours.
April
29
Declaration of Le Havre
On 29 April 1916 France, then Britain and Russia, promised Belgium it would keep the Congo within its present borders after the war and receive compensation.
August
03
Belgians occupy Ujiji
In late July and early August 1916 the Belgian Southern Brigade took Ujiji and Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika, at the end of the German Central Railway, unopposed.
September
19
Belgians occupy Tabora
On 19 September 1916 Belgian colonial troops entered Tabora, abandoned by the Germans overnight. The British marching on the town learned of it 6 days later.