Ascari (Colonial Soldier)
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The Ascari were native Colonial soldiers in the German and Italian Colonial Armies. The term derives from the Arabic word for soldier (عسكري ‘askarī). The term is often spelt Askari.
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[edit] German Empire
The German Colonial Army (Schutztruppe) of the German Empire employed native African troops with European officers and NCO's in its colonies. They were succesfully used in German East Africa where 11,000 Askaris and their European officers commanded by Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck managed to resist the British until the end of World War I in 1918. After the end of the War significant numbers of Ascaris joined the King's African Rifles.
[edit] Italian Empire
The Italian army also employed native troops in Italian East Africa, they were recruited from Eritreans and Somalis with European officers and NCO's. The Italian Ascaris fought in the the First Italo-Abyssinian War, Italian-Turkish War, Second Italo-Abyssinian War and World War II (East African Campaign)
[edit] See also
- Tirailleur for French African soldiers
