The Battle of the Bees

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In November 1914, the British attempted to capture the strategically vital port of Tanga in German East Africa. Poor planning, an indecisive commander, poorly trained troops and the fanatical idealism of brilliantly trained Askari troops combined to turn the operation into a disaster for the British.

In this episode, we look at Germany's colonial history in East Africa, the skill and excellence of the remarkable German General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, and meet an enigmatic British intelligence officer who may, or may not, have been one of the world's leading ornithologists. We hear about the appalling conditions faced by the troops and discover Mother Nature's brutal side, which earned the Battle of Tanga its nickname, The Battle of the Bees.

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