^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Tanganyika (TZ)

Before 1961

Following the 1885 Congress of Berlin which delimited European spheres of influence in Africa and so set the ground rules for the Scramble for Africa, the territory which became Tanganyika fell within the German sphere. By 1890 German East Africa comprises the modern-day territories of Tanganyika, Burundi and Rwanda. With the outbreak of war in 1914, the British moved to occupy the territory. Unfortunately for the tens of thousands of British, Indian, South African and other Empire troops eventually bogged down in East Africa, the German forces commander, Colonel Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, was a brilliant guerrilla leader. By the end of the European war in 1918, von Lettow and his troops (most of whom were black, BTW) were still in the field, having led no less a figure than the South African General Jan Christiaan Smuts a merry dance through the bush, including excursions into Kenya and the Portuguese territory of Mozambique (Portugal being an ally of Britain during WW1).

Be that as it may, after WW1 Tanganyika became a Mandated Territory under the League of Nations, with the British as the mandated power. (What became Rwanda and Burundi were detatched and came under Belgian rule). The flag that was used was the red or blue ensign, with a giraffe's head in the fly. In the blue ensign the head is not situated in a white disk:

by mark sensen

Self-government and independence

by stuart notholt 29-JUN-1996

Tanganyika gained self-government from Britain (technically under a League of Nations Trustee mandate) on 1 May 1961 and became independent on 9 December 1961. The flag of Tanganyika was based on that of the ruling Tanganyika African National Union, which was a horizontal tricolour of green-black-red. The flag was modified in 1964 when Tanganyika merged with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanzania.

by stuart notholt 29-JUN-1996

Tanganyika African National Union

The flag of the Tanganyika African National Union employs colours typical of black Africa.

by rob raeside 31-MAY-1997

Merger with Zanzibar

On 26 April 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form a new republic, the name 'Tanzania' being adopted on 29 October 1964. Like the name of the country, the new flag was a merger of that of its constituent parts. The lower green stripe of the Tanganyika flag took the blue of the Zanzibari flag, and the stripes were re-arranged diagonally to give them equal status. by stuart notholt 29-JUN-1996