Portuguese campaign in Mozambique (World War I)

Portuguese campaign in Mozambique
Part of East African campaign (World War I)
15th Infantry Battalion departs from Lisbon for African colonies, 1914
Date 24 August 1914 – November 1918 Location Portuguese East Africa Result Portuguese victory
Belligerents
German Empire German East Africa	First Portuguese Republic Portuguese East Africa British Empire
Commanders and leaders
Wolfgang Weck Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck Erich Müller	Pedro Massano de Amorim Eduardo Costa  † João Teixeira Pinto  † Eric Gore-Browne †
Strength
Unknown	Initial deployment: 1,477

The Portuguese campaign in Mozambique during World War I was part of the broader East African Campaign. This lasted until the collapse of German forces in East Africa in 1918.

Background

At the outbreak of World War I, the proximity of Portuguese Mozambique to German East Africa, coupled with the longstanding alliance between Portugal and Britain, placed Mozambique in a risky position. Despite Portugal maintaining a policy of neutrality, it was under pressure from Britain, its ally, to support British military efforts in Africa. This included allowing British forces to pass through Portuguese territory and, more importantly, strengthening the defenses along Mozambique's northern border.

By early August 1914, tensions were rising along Mozambique's borders, particularly in the south, where a Boer revolt was imminent. To suppress this uprising, Britain requested not only rifles but also permission to move British troops through Mozambique. In response, Portugal deemed it essential to reinforce the frontier, especially the area along the Rovuma River, which had very limited Portuguese administrative and military presence. On August 18, 1914, Portugal dispatched its first expedition to Mozambique, consisting of approximately 1,477 men, primarily drawn from the 3rd Battalion of the 15th Infantry Regiment. The mission was to establish military posts along the Rovuma River and secure the region.

Campaign

Attack on Maziua, 1914

Main article: Maziua raid

The frontier posts established along the Rovuma River were very basic. The post at Maziua, situated far from the main Portuguese stronghold of Porto Amélia, was one of the weakest, defended by a small garrison of a sergeant and half a dozen indigenous soldiers from the Niassa Company's police force. On August 24, 1914, the German forces launched an unexpected attack on the post. The German forces massacred the indigenous soldiers who were guarding the post and the sergeant Eduardo Costa was killed during the attack.

Battle of Ngomano, 1917

Main article: Battle of Ngomano

On 25 November at 07:00, the Portuguese garrison at Ngomano was warned of an impending attack but was unprepared. The Germans distracted them with artillery fire while crossing the Rovuma River upstream. The Germans flanked the camp with six infantry companies from multiple directions. Despite preparations, the Portuguese were surprised by an attack from the rear, and their defenses collapsed after key officers were killed. Lacking heavy weapons and facing heavy casualties, the Portuguese eventually surrendered, even though they had enough supplies to continue fighting.

Battle of Namacurra, 1918

Main article: Battle of Namacurra

On July 1, 1918, the Germans entered Namacurra, three battalions supported by two British King's African Rifle companies under Colonel Gore-Browne, facing three German companies led by Captain Müller. By July 3, von Lettow had deployed his main force, pushing the Portuguese back to the Namacurra River. During the retreat, 100 men, including Gore-Browne, drowned. The fighting ended in the afternoon of July 3.

Bibliography

• Matias, Diogo (2010). "As operações militares de manutenção do Império Português em África: Uma visão sobre as tácticas usadas na perspectiva da doutrina actual" (PDF).
• Paice, Edward (2008) [2007]. Tip & Run: The Untold Tragedy of the Great War in Africa. London: Phoenix. ISBN 978-0-7538-2349-1.
• Downes, Walter (1919). With the Nigerians in German East Africa. London: Methuen & Co. OCLC 10329057.
• David Smith, Graham Turner (2022). The East Africa Campaign 1914–18: Von Lettow-Vorbeck’s Masterpiece, Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781472848925
• Gaudi, Robert (2017). African Kaiser: General Paul Von Lettow-Vorbeck and the Great War in Africa, Hurst. ISBN 9781849048675
• Erez Manela, Robert Gerwarth (2014). Empires at War: 1911–1923, OUP Oxford. ISBN 9780191006944
• David F. Burg, L. Edward Purcell (2010). Almanac of World War I, University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813127453