History of Southern Africa 1924-1939






History of the Northern Rhodesia Protectorate, 1911-1924



In 1911 the NORTHWESTERN RHODESIA and NORTHEASTERN RHODESIA protectorates were joined to form NORTHERN RHODESIA; the seat of administration was at LIVINGSTONE (Barotseland, Northwestern Rhodesia). The protectorate was administrated by the BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA COMPANY. It's main interest lay in exploiting the territory's mineral deposits, coal, gold. A railway line connecting Katanga's copper mines with the Portuguese harbour of Beira (in Mocambique) had been completed in 1910. The existence of a railway connecting lead to an upswing of the copper mining industry, the introduction of new technology into the area.
World War I broke out in 1914. Northern Rhodesia shared a border with German East Africa. In 1916, British and South African troops penetrated into German East Africa; the German commander, Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, switched to guerilla tactics, holding out until the end of the war. At the time he was informed of the ceasefire, he operated in Northern Rhodesia.
The burden of a colonial administration and wartime hardship caused the Mambwe to rise in arms; the rebellion was quickly suppressed. In 1917 an ADVISORY COUNCIL was established. In 1924 the British government took over the administration of Northern Rhodesia from the British South Africa Company.






EXTERNAL
FILES 		Articles from Infoplease : Western Province (of Zambia), Zambia, History of
Links to Zambian history from Looksmart
The Rhodesian Army. Rhodesian Volunteers in World War I, from Spartacus Schoolnet
Historical Notes on Northern Rhodesia, from Great North Road 'official' account from a 1936/37 Johannesburg Exhibition Catalogue
East African Empire, by Will Prout, an extensive essay dealing with the later part of the East African Campaign (Col. Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck's actions) in World War I
DOCUMENTS Flag of the British South Africa Company, from FOTW
Northern Rhodesia Police Photographs 1914-1919, from Great North Road
REFERENCE John J. Grotpeter, Historical Dictionary of Zambia, Metuchen : Scarecrow 1979 [G]
Article : Rhodesia, in : Statesman's Year Book 1919 pp.201-205 [G]



This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted in 2001, last revised on August 19th 2007

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