Maji Maji Rebellion
German East Africa ("Deutsch-Ostafrika") was colonized by the Germans in 1885. The territory itself spanned and covered the areas of modern-day Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. The colony's indigenous population numbered seven and a half million and was governed by just 5,300 Europeans. Although the colonial regime was relatively secure, the colony had recently been shaken by the Maji Maji Rebellion of 1904-5. The German colonial administration could call on a military "Schutztruppe" ("Protection force") of 260 Europeans and 2,470 Africans, in addition to 2,700 white settlers who were part of the reservist "Landsturm", as well as a small paramilitary "Gendarmerie".