FIRST SHOTS.

The article discusses the early stages of World War I in Africa, specifically focusing on the conflicts in German Togoland and Cameroon. Unlike Europe, Africa had relatively calm territorial borders established by colonial powers in 1890. However, neighboring colonial powers saw Germany's African colonies as fair game and sought to claim them for themselves. The fighting forces in Africa consisted of small units led by European officers and native troops known as askari. The Germans found themselves on the defensive and faced challenges such as the harsh environment and tropical diseases. The first shots of the war were fired in German Togoland, where a combined British-French force invaded and captured the territory. In Cameroon, British and French forces surrounded the German colony and eventually forced their retreat and surrender. These early campaigns provided valuable experience for the Allied forces and highlighted the impressive performance of African troops. [Extracted from the article]