I propose using this thread for events specific for the African colonies. I suggest using the Events thread that already exists for questions about event making.
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Event idea: the declaration of neutrality by the colonies of German Africa, and the subsequent choice of the Allies to violate that neutrality.
I think any event that allows for colonies to declare themselves 'neutral' would be rather perculiar, as the central governments certainly didnt take much notice of what they said, and simply initiated troop manoeuvres anyway.
Besides, a player might be encouraged to follow any such neutrality choice which would deprive them of fighting a jolly war in Africa.
I think seizure of colonies was an original war aim of both sides in any case. The South Africans wanted to expand into Deutsches Sudwestafrika and the Australians and New Zealanders wanted German islands to form a protective blanket against potential Japanese expansion. On the other hand the Germans were aiming at creating Mittelafrika on the continent, with the aim of exploiting its economic potential for the benefit of the Reich.
Besides, a player might be encouraged to follow any such neutrality choice which would deprive them of fighting a jolly war in Africa.
I think seizure of colonies was an original war aim of both sides in any case. The South Africans wanted to expand into Deutsches Sudwestafrika and the Australians and New Zealanders wanted German islands to form a protective blanket against potential Japanese expansion. On the other hand the Germans were aiming at creating Mittelafrika on the continent, with the aim of exploiting its economic potential for the benefit of the Reich.
If I remember correctly from John Keegan's book on WWI, he said that the govenors of the colonies on their own said they would be neutral during the war. Their decision was based on a treaty, 1898 I think, that said colonies would be neutral in the case of war between the powers. Whatever their intentions, factions within the colonies themselves on both sides, begain to raise troops and raid the other side.
This would make a nice flavor event for Britain and Germany with the only reply being: "Umm...Okay I don't think so."
This would make a nice flavor event for Britain and Germany with the only reply being: "Umm...Okay I don't think so."
Is that the Congo Basin Treaty?
Certainly the Germans in SW Africa were quick on the offensive. It was Schnee in GE Africa who wished for neutrality. Sadly for him Lettow-Vorbeck had quite different ideas.
It very well could be, I would look but I cannot remember where in the book that particular passage is.
Vorbeck responded to an invasion of Ostafrika.
The colonies officially declared themselves neutral, knowing that they lacked large enough garrisons to actively pursue a war with, in particular, British Africa. Of course, Vorbeck brilliantly proved this wrong, but... There weren't too many people like him around.
In any case, if the colonies did remain neutral, then the diversion of manpower would have made some difference in the war on Europe. After all, the British were fielding relatively large armies to subdue Ostafrika, and continually failing.
The colonies officially declared themselves neutral, knowing that they lacked large enough garrisons to actively pursue a war with, in particular, British Africa. Of course, Vorbeck brilliantly proved this wrong, but... There weren't too many people like him around.
In any case, if the colonies did remain neutral, then the diversion of manpower would have made some difference in the war on Europe. After all, the British were fielding relatively large armies to subdue Ostafrika, and continually failing.
One thing to remember is that the British had very important strategic reasons to occupy the German colonies: their radio stations. These could be used to direct and control the German commerce raiders like Emden, and stopping those ships was a very high priority. Any attempt by the German colonial governors to declare themselves neutral (and keep on using the radio stations) could be (and was) laughed out of court.
I support shdwknightx's idea: just a flavour event with no chance of war being avoided. However, maybe there should be a small negative War Entry effect on the USA? (To represent Americans not being very impressed with the Allies violating neutrality agreements and grabbing more colonies for themselves. "Typical European behaviour - let's stay well out of it ourselves.")
Stephen
I support shdwknightx's idea: just a flavour event with no chance of war being avoided. However, maybe there should be a small negative War Entry effect on the USA? (To represent Americans not being very impressed with the Allies violating neutrality agreements and grabbing more colonies for themselves. "Typical European behaviour - let's stay well out of it ourselves.")
Stephen
I believe its in the "War on Other Fronts" chapter or something like that. That's an excellent book.
the best recent work considering the strategic aspects of the war in africa is in
Strachan, Hew The First World War: volume I: To Arms chapter 7 is all about the war on the Dark Continet and is excellent.
If its just East Africa your interested in, Ross Anderson is releasing a new book this year, which looks very promising so far.
My POD (Point Of Departure) for WW1 Africa:
http://tgaw.homestead.com/
The best one-volume history is:
The Great War in Africa (1914-1918)
Byron Farwell
W.W. Norton & Company
It covers all of the German African colonies.
http://tgaw.homestead.com/
The best one-volume history is:
The Great War in Africa (1914-1918)
Byron Farwell
W.W. Norton & Company
It covers all of the German African colonies.
And some interseting bits about gunboats on the great lakes of Central Africa - a real see-awing affair!
The tirades of Lieutenant Geoffrey 'Lord Belly Cloth' Spicer-Simpson commanding the boats Mimi and Fifi in the Central African Lakes have gone down as one of the stranger moments of military history. 
1915–17
French efforts to recruit Africans for service during World War I led to rebellions in French West Africa. In order to avoid conscription, many Africans fled toward the Gambia, Portuguese Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Gold Coast. Elsewhere, armed rebellions broke out. In 1915 the Bambara staged an anticonscription revolt; another rebellion occurred in the western Volta region. In 1916 Africans staged a popular revolt in northern Dahomey. The French suppressed the revolts by force. However, with the assistance of Blaise Diagne, the Senegalese African member of the French National Assembly, larger numbers of Africans joined the French armed forces.
1 dissent and increased manpower values in the respective provinces, and increased manpower pool. Seems like a good event.
French efforts to recruit Africans for service during World War I led to rebellions in French West Africa. In order to avoid conscription, many Africans fled toward the Gambia, Portuguese Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Gold Coast. Elsewhere, armed rebellions broke out. In 1915 the Bambara staged an anticonscription revolt; another rebellion occurred in the western Volta region. In 1916 Africans staged a popular revolt in northern Dahomey. The French suppressed the revolts by force. However, with the assistance of Blaise Diagne, the Senegalese African member of the French National Assembly, larger numbers of Africans joined the French armed forces.
1 dissent and increased manpower values in the respective provinces, and increased manpower pool. Seems like a good event.
Wierd Historical Parts
One thing that I don't know if you've covered or not, is that many of the Germans in African colonies retreated into the interior and fought a guerilla war. Also some of the main German forces in Africa were so well imbeded into the area that they did not abide by the armistice, and infact fought for a while afterword. Germany was also notoriously tough on certain native tribes. Not sure if this helps but............
One thing that I don't know if you've covered or not, is that many of the Germans in African colonies retreated into the interior and fought a guerilla war. Also some of the main German forces in Africa were so well imbeded into the area that they did not abide by the armistice, and infact fought for a while afterword. Germany was also notoriously tough on certain native tribes. Not sure if this helps but............
I believe the war in Africa will be handled by putting plentiful supplies in Germany's colonies at the start of the game, so that when war breaks out and Germany finds it nearly impossible to reinforce their colonies, the troops already stationed there will be able to put up something of a decent fight.
Allenby,
This is good, but if they are 'home provinces' there is no impediment to Germany recruiting extra divisions out there! This should not be allowed in any quantity. Although a large number of Askaris were recruited under Lettow-Vorbeck, they were not on the scale of additional divisions. German East Africa was the only colony in which the forces grew substantially from local recriutment after calling uyp the reserves in 1914.
Perhaps the German Colonies should be considered 'occupied territory' of another nation, maybe of a purely game mechanism, or as the nations they will eventually become?
I believe that anything should be done to make the war in Africa as realistic as possible. If that means tweaking the status of the territories, then so be it.
Certainly Germany's colonies shouldn't be 'national' provinces. As you say, they'd be able to reinforce them with ease.
Event chain for the anti-conscription rebellions in French West Africa.
20416 - Conscription in West Africa [yes/no]
20417 - Bambara Revolt (60% chance if 'yes' selected in 20416): minor loss of infrastructure and industry
20418 - Dahomey Revolt (as above)
20419 - African colonies recruitment drive (triggers if revolts did not occur): +35 MP.
20416 - Conscription in West Africa [yes/no]
20417 - Bambara Revolt (60% chance if 'yes' selected in 20416): minor loss of infrastructure and industry
20418 - Dahomey Revolt (as above)
20419 - African colonies recruitment drive (triggers if revolts did not occur): +35 MP.
Code:
#####################################################################
# Conscription in West Africa
#####################################################################
event = {
country = FRA
id = 20416
random = no
style = 0
name = "Conscription in West Africa"
desc = "With the war with Germany dragging on, the question as
to whether to introduce conscription in France's West African
colonies to boost manpower, arises."
trigger = { war = { country = FRA country = GER }
}
date = { day = 1 month = april year = 1915 }
offset = 1
deathdate = { day = 0 month = january year = 1924 }
action_a = {
name = "We need the men"
command = { type = setflag which = afconscript1 }
}
action_b = {
name = "The Senegalese will be of no use"
command = { }
}
}
#####################################################################
# Bambara Revolt
#####################################################################
event = {
country = FRA
id = 20417
random = no
style = 0
name = "The Bambara Revolt"
desc = "The Bambara have staged an anticonscription revolt!
Troops are being sent to the region to quell the unrest."
trigger = {
random = 60
flag = afconscript1
}
date = { day = 1 month = june year = 1915 }
offset = 1
deathdate = { day = 0 month = january year = 1924 }
action_a = {
name = "How Troublesome"
command = { type = industry which = 1048 value = -1 }
command = { type = infrastructure which = 1048 value = -2 }
command = { type = industry which = 1044 value = -1 }
command = { type = infrastructure which = 1044 value = -2 }
command = { type = industry which = 1045 value = -1 }
command = { type = infrastructure which = 1045 value = -2 }
command = { type = industry which = 1046 value = -1 }
command = { type = infrastructure which = 1046 value = -2 }
}
}
#####################################################################
# Dahomey Revolt
#####################################################################
event = {
country = FRA
id = 20418
random = no
style = 0
name = "The Dahomey Revolt"
desc = "The natives in the Dahomey have staged an uprising!
Troops are being sent to the region to quell the unrest."
trigger = {
random = 60
flag = afconscript1
}
date = { day = 15 month = may year = 1916 }
offset = 1
deathdate = { day = 0 month = january year = 1924 }
action_a = {
name = "How Troublesome"
command = { type = industry which = 1061 value = -1 }
command = { type = infrastructure which = 1061 value = -2 }
}
}
#####################################################################
# African colonies recruitment drive
#####################################################################
event = {
country = FRA
id = 20419
random = no
style = 0
name = "African colonies recruitment drive"
desc = "Blaise Diagne, the Senegalese African member of the
French National Assembly, has used his personal standing in the
West African colonies to help raise large numbers of African
troops for the war effort."
trigger = {
NOT = { event = 20417 }
NOT = { event = 20418 }
}
date = { day = 1 month = october year = 1916 }
offset = 1
deathdate = { day = 0 month = january year = 1924 }
action_a = {
name = "Vive la France!"
command = { type = manpowerpool value = 35 }
}
}