Chapter 246

Chapter 246: The First Shots of the German War in 1870

In July 1870, a series of wars erupted in Germany. These conflicts were collectively known as the German War of 1870. The Franco-Prussian War was the largest, most intense, and most influential among them. It was followed by the Second Italian-Austrian War and the Third War of Conquest by the Kingdom of East Africa.

On July 10, 1870, the East African New Army, significantly expanded, began its march in three directions, marking the final push to establish the Kingdom of East Africa. Their goals included the Azande Plateau, southern South Sudan, the Lunda and Cuango plateaus, the Matabele plateau, and the northern Kalahari basin.

This ambitious expansion aimed to solidify East Africa's borders with neighboring regions, including Egypt to the north, the Portuguese colony of Angola and the Kingdom of Congo to the west, the Boers to the south, and the encirclement of the Portuguese colony of Mozambique.

The four divisions of the East African Army were the North Route Army, West Route Army, South Route Army, and Southwest Army. The primary targets were plateau areas and mountainous regions, as these were the most suitable for human survival in the tropical climate. Rainforests and deserts were excluded from the expansion plans due to the harsh conditions and logistical challenges they posed.

Logistics and water sources were critical factors, especially in the arid Kalahari Basin. The troops faced difficulties due to limited access to clean water and food shortages in certain regions. The Southwest Army, for example, had over 1,000 soldiers but faced logistical constraints in the Kalahari Basin.

The East African Kingdom recognized the need for infrastructure development, such as roads and bridges, to control and connect the plateau areas effectively. The scale of this expansion was vast, and once completed, it would significantly increase East Africa's territory to over 7 million square kilometers.