Askari

A drawing of an Askari by Wilhelm Kuhnert

Askari is an Arabic, Persian and Swahili word meaning "soldier" (Arabic: ‎ ‘askarī). It was frequently used to describe indigenous troops in East Africa and the Middle East serving European colonial powers but also describes policemen and security guards.

A good example of the use of Askaris was during the World War I campaign in German East Africa where around 11000 Askaris under the command of the German Oberstleutnant Paul Erich von Lettow-Vorbeck, who were vastly outnumbered by troops of the British Empire, remained unbeaten after four years of war.

Soldiers named Askari were widely used by Italian colonial army in Eritrea. Since 1887 askari infantry troops were regularly enrolled by the Italian Ministry of Colonies as both police forces, spies and assault troops. Askari soldiers counted 4 battalions in the Italian colonial army already in 1889. Askari Italian soldiers (ca 200.000) fighted in the war against Ethiopia in 1935-36 and in the Second World War.

In apartheid South Africa, Askari was the term given to guerrillas who were captured by the South African army and 'turned' or converted into spies or soldiers for the apartheid regime.

The term "askari" was also used by SS soldiers in WWII to refer to Russian deserters who joined the ranks of the SS by volunteering. The reference for this usage is the book "The Sunflower" by Simon Wiesenthal.

"Askari" also means spear bearer. Although they no longer carry spears into battle they still fulfill the role of guardsmen.

Askari

See also