Kurt Wahle

Kurt Wahle (26 December 1855 – 19 June 1928) was a Saxon-born retired German general who travelled to German East Africa in 1914 to visit his son. Being in the colony at the outbreak of World War I, he volunteered to serve under Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, despite outranking him, and became one of his front commanders. He was involved in the fighting during the East African Campaign until October 1918. During the campaign, he was awarded the Iron Cross (First Class) and the Pour le Mérite and commanded the German forces at the Battle of Tabora.

General Wahle, who had first joined the Prussian army in 1867, was the oldest combatant of any nation in World War I.

References

• Paice, Edward Tip and Run: The Untold Tragedy of the Great War in Africa Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2007, ISBN 0-297-84709-0. (see page 384)