Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck (The Lion of Africa)

Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck (1870–1964), dubbed 'The Lion of Africa' (Der Löwe von Afrika), was a general in the Imperial German Army who commanded the Schutztruppe in German East Africa (modern Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi) during World War I. Completely cut off from Germany by the Royal Navy's blockade, Lettow-Vorbeck executed the most successful independent guerrilla campaign in modern history.

With a force that never exceeded 3,000 Germans and 11,000 native African Askaris—whom he held in deep personal respect and promoted to senior non-commissioned officer ranks—Lettow-Vorbeck tied down more than 300,000 British, Indian, South African, and Belgian troops for four full years. In November 1914, he routed a British amphibious landing at the Battle of Tanga. Living off the land and captured British supplies, he remained undefeated in the field, surrendering in Northern Rhodesia on November 25, 1918, two weeks after the European Armistice had already been signed.