To Live Like a Pig and Die Like a Dog

This monograph examines why Great Britain and her allies proved unable to subjugate German forces in East Africa during World War I despite their significant advantages in personnel and material. Great Britain proved unable to subjugate German forces because of the British failure to account for and adapt to the effects of the local environment. The British failure to adapt their organizations and methods of warfare to accommodate the imperatives of the environment provided the German forces with multiple opportunities to continue their struggle. The Germans capitalized upon those opportunities thereby prolonging World War I in East Africa. The methodology utilized involves analyzing the key factors that characterized pre-colonial African warfare and assessing how the environment influenced the development of these distinguishing factors. The British failed to act in accordance with these distinguishing factors which resulted in diminished success. The findings of this study illustrate the importance of reconciling the conduct of military operations with environmental influences and constraints.