{"product_id":"the-africa-ship-ludwig-bockholt-zeppelin-l-59-and-the-most-daring-rescue-mission-of-wwi","title":"The Africa Ship: Ludwig Bockholt, Zeppelin L 59, and the Most Daring Rescue Mission of Wwi","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eImperial Germany's desperate attempt to resupply Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck and his stranded army in East Africa via airship.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003ePaul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck, who commanded the imperial German Protection Force in East Africa, the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eSchutztruppe\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, during the First World War, is widely regarded as one of the finest military leaders of the war, on either side. He and his men managed not only to evade capture or destruction, but to truly instill fear within their primarily British opposition. His \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eSchutztruppe\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, despite being not only vastly outnumbered, was also nearly impossible to resupply from Europe. The Royal Navy smothered East Africa with an incredibly effective blockade, while the Allied forces on the ground controlled all major rail lines.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eIn late 1917, the German navy devised a desperate plan to resupply von Lettow-Vorbeck's army via airship. The plan called for a lone airship, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eL 59\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, to be piloted by Captain Ludwig Bockholt and an all-volunteer crew, to fly from Bulgaria directly to the East African colony. There was no consideration of a return journey; \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eL 59\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e would be disassembled for supplies and her crew would join the fight on the ground. This work details the planning, execution, and eventual failure of this ambitious operation, along with the sad fate of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eL 59\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and her crew.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dominic Etzold","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45453233258672,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0528\/6821\/9056\/files\/81vd4nl_W9L._SL1500.jpg?v=1784037441","url":"https:\/\/www.umojabooks.com\/products\/the-africa-ship-ludwig-bockholt-zeppelin-l-59-and-the-most-daring-rescue-mission-of-wwi","provider":"Umoja House ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}