The Reasons For The Memorial
The Memorial bears a plaque which reads:
"On this spot at 7.30 am on Thursday 14th November 1918, General von Lettow-Vorbeck, commanding the German forces in East Africa, heard from Mr Hector Croad, then District Commissioner Kasama of the signing of the Armistice by the German government, which provided for the unconditional evacuation of all German forces from East Africa".
A second plaque in the Bemba language ends with the words
Twapela umuchinshi kuli bonse abashipa abalwile mu nkondo iyi
which means we honour all brave soldiers in this war. (More Africans than Europeans fought and died on both sides in the East African campaign, thousands more Africans who served as porters (sometimes under force) also died, and the civilian population suffered tremendously).
The message given to General von Lettow-Vorbeck was a telegram sent to Croad which read:
"Please send the following to General von Lettow-Vorbeck under a white flag - The English Prime Minister sent notice that on 11th November an Armistice was signed and that the fighting on all fronts should cease on 11th November at 11 o'clock. I order my troops to end hostilities as from now and I expect you to do the same. General van Deventer".
Hence the Memorial marks the cessation of hostilities, not the surrender itself.
Read more about this topic: Von Lettow-Vorbeck Memorial
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