By: W.O Henderson

Focusing on the period of World War I, this article examines how the war economy operated in German East Africa (modern-day Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi). It outlines the strategies employed by German colonial authorities to sustain their military efforts, including requisitioning resources, exploiting labor, and engaging in guerrilla warfare. The study also explores the impacts of the war economy on the local populations, including food shortages, forced labor, and resistance movements. Additionally, it discusses the role of the war in reshaping the economic and political landscape of East Africa, setting the stage for post-war colonial restructuring and the eventual struggle for independence.