Battle of Lioma

Battle of Lioma
Part of East African Campaign of World War I
Lioma during the Mozambique Campaign.
Date 30–31 August 1918[1] Location Lioma, Portuguese East Africa (present-day Mozambique) 15°10′30″S 36°48′12″E / 15.17500°S 36.80333°E / -15.17500; 36.80333 Result See Aftermath section
Belligerents
German Empire German East Africa	British Empire Nyasaland  United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Gen. Maj. Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck Gen. Maj. Kurt Wahle[2] Hptm. Karl Göring (WIA)[2][3] Hptm. Erich Müller[2] Hptm. Max Poppe (WIA)[4] Hptm. Paul Stemmermann[2]	Lt-Col George Giffard[5] Lt-Col Charles Phillips[6][7] Maj Alexander Masters (WIA)[7] Capt Stanley John[7]
Units involved
Schutztruppe Abt Göring: 2. FK, 3. or 13. FK; 3. SchK[8] Abt Müller: 9. FK, 3. or 13. FK; 4. SchK[8] Abt Poppe: 11. FK; 6. SchK[8] Abt Stemmermann: 10. FK, 14. FK[8] Main body/baggage escort: 4. FK, 17. FK, 21. FK[8]	King's African Rifles Lioma garrison: 1/1st KAR[8] KAR Second Column ("KARTUCOL"): 1/2nd KAR, 2/2nd KAR, 3/2nd KAR[8]
Strength
1,600+[7]	c. 3,000
Casualties and losses
29 killed, 27 wounded, 34 missing, 5 captured (German claim)[9] 222 killed, missing or captured (British claim)[9]	32 killed, 59 wounded, 15 missing among 1/1st KAR; casualties of other British battalions unreported[10]

The Battle of Lioma (30–31 August 1918) was fought between the German Empire and British Empire during the East African Campaign of World War I. Having successfully evaded the Allies since late 1917, the German Schutztruppe under Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck waged a guerilla campaign in Portuguese East Africa, attacking and raiding settlements as well as forts in the search of supplies while inflicting as much damage as possible on the Allies. All the while, the Schutztruppe was chased by the British King's African Rifles, which finally cornered the Germans at the village of Lioma on 30–31 August 1918. Led by George Giffard, the British forces almost managed to encircle and destroy the Schutztruppe, but in the end the Germans broke out and successfully retreated. Although greatly weakened by the fighting at Lioma, the Schutztruppe was thus able to remain active until the end of the war.