World War 1 (WW1) was a global European military war that involved many countries in the world including those in Africa. It started in July 1914 and ended in November 1918. The war pitted the Central Powers, mainly Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey against the Allied powers, mainly France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan, and, from 1917, the United States. The military technology employed during the war was unmatched.

At the outbreak of hostilities, the greater part of Africa was ruled by the Europeans. This was the period of the scramble for Africa. In East Africa, Germany controlled German East Africa that included Tanganyika, Rwanda and Burundi while the British Controlled British East Africa that included modern-day Kenya, Uganda and Zanzibar.