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Schutztruppe

Schutztruppe (German: [ˈʃʊtsˌtʁʊpə] , lit. Protection Force) was the official name of the colonial troops in the African territories of the German colonial empire from the late 19th century to 1918. Similar to other colonial armies, the Schutztruppen consisted of volunteer European commissioned and non-commissioned officers, medical and veterinary officers. Most enlisted ranks were recruited from indigenous communities within the German colonies or from elsewhere in Africa.[1]

Schutztruppe
Schutztruppe Askari flag carrier, German East Africa, 1906
Active1891–1918
Allegiance German Empire
TypeInfantry
Size80,330 troops (including Seebataillon III (3rd Marine Battalion) and 200 camels
EngagementsAbushiri Revolt
Adamawa campaign
Herero Wars
Herero and Namaqua Genocide
World War I

Military contingents were formed in German East Africa, where they became famous as Askari, in the Kamerun colony of German West Africa, and in German South West Africa. Control of the German colonies of New Guinea, in Samoa, and in Togoland was performed by small local police detachments. Jiaozhou in China under Imperial Navy administration was a notable exception. As part of the East Asian Station the navy garrisoned Qingdao with the marines of Seebattaillon III, the only all-German unit with permanent status in an overseas protectorate.

Deployment edit

 
Hermann Wissmann

The name of the German colonial force dates back to the parlance of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who had the term Schutzgebiete, "protectorates", used instead of colonies. Schutztruppe contingents arose from local police forces or private paramilitary units, where German colonizers met with stronger resistance.

When in 1888 the Abushiri Revolt broke out in the dominions of the German East Africa Company, Bismarck's government in Berlin had to send mercenary troops under Reichskommissar Hermann Wissmann to subdue the uprising. Upon the establishment of German East Africa, these Wissmanntruppe were changed to Schutztruppe by an act of the Reichstag parliament on 22 March 1891. The police forces for South-West Africa under Curt von François and for German Cameroon were re-established as Schutztruppe by the act of 9 June 1895.

Schutztruppe formations under the supreme command of the German Emperor were organizationally never a part of the Imperial German Army, though German military law and discipline applied to its units. Initially supervised by the Imperial Navy Office, they were under the authority of the Colonial Department in the German Foreign Office by the act of 7 and 18 July 1896. In 1907 the Colonial Department with the Schutztruppe command was set up as the independent Imperial Colonial Office (Reichskolonialamt) agency directly answerable to the Chancellor of Germany.

In 1896 a central Schutztruppe command (Kommando der Schutztruppen) was established as part of the Colonial Department. Despite its name, this agency exercised no military leadership but served as an administrative authority. It was located at Berlin’s Mauerstrasse, in proximity to the Colonial Office. At the beginning of the First World War in 1914, there were three Schutztruppe military commands, one in each of the German colonial regions in East Africa, South-West Africa, and in Kamerun, subordinate to each governor.

German East Africa edit

See also East African Campaign (World War I)
 
Schutztruppen, colonial volunteer contingent, German East Africa, 1914
 
Schutztruppen, Askari company formation, German East Africa, 1914
 
Schutztruppen, carriers, German East Africa, 1899

At the outbreak of the First World War, the Schutztruppe in German East Africa was organised into 14 field companies (Feldkompanien) with 2,500 men under arms, with headquarters at the capital Dar es Salaam. Including carriers and labourers, the force had about 14,000 personnel. On 13 April 1914, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck assumed command in German East Africa. He led his units throughout the First World War, eventually being promoted to Generalmajor.[2] The Schutztruppe in East Africa became the last German formation to surrender – days after the armistice in November 1918.

A pre-war company consisted of 160 (expandable to 200) men in three platoons (Züge) of 50 to 60 men each, including two machine-gun teams. Each of the 14 companies also had a minimum 250 man carrier contingent as well as native irregulars known as Ruga-Ruga, called Fita-Fita in German Samoa, of approximately the same size units.[3]

The Dar es Salaam garrison further included a recruitment depot, a signals department and quartermaster unit.

Overall strength was 300 European recruits and 2,472 Africans, specifically 68 combatant officers, 60 warrant officers and NCOs, 132 non-combatant medical officers, civilian administrators, ammunition technicians, and 2 African officers and 184 African NCOs and 2,286 Askari.[5][6]

During the First World War, companies numbered 15 through 30 were added, plus eight (A through G, and L) temporary companies; and 1st through 8th Schützenkompagnies [rifle companies]. The Schützenkompagnies were originally composed of white settlers, their sons, plantations administrators and trading company employees but some units became racially mixed as the war dragged on. Numerous other small detachments were also formed. Several, possibly four, Reserve Kompagnien were also raised consisting of older Askari, they were prefixed by the letter "R".[7]

German Southwest Africa edit

 
Camel cavalry, German Southwest Africa, 1904
 
Camel patrol, German Southwest Africa, 1907
 
Cavalry of Schutztruppe in German East Africa (1911)

The Schutztruppe in German Southwest Africa was structured in 12 companies of mounted infantry totalling 1,500 men, primarily Germans. The 7th Company, stationed in the northern desert area of the colony, was mounted on imported camels. A single unit, called the Baster Company, consisting of non-local biracial white European-black Africans, was raised and deployed. Relations between the German administration and the natives in this colony had deteriorated to the point that few local Africans were recruited. Some Boers and Afrikaners were able to be recruited, bolstering the fledgling force.[citation needed]

The colonial forces for German Southwest Africa consisted of volunteers from the imperial army and navy (including some Austrians) but essentially consisted of members of German regiments. Before their deployment to Africa these troops were prepared for their special tasks and future environment. Such a training base was at Karlsruhe. Because of the often humid conditions in the upper Rhine valley of the grand-duchy of Baden, the area provided some early acclimatisation.[citation needed]

The structure of the Southwest African forces was as follows:

German Southwest Africa Command at Windhuk (modern Windhoek) consisted of headquarters, administration and legal (judge advocate), medical corps, surveying and mapping units.

Northern district command: Windhuk

  • 1st Company: Regenstein, Seeis
  • 4th Company: Okanjande
  • 6th Company: Outjo and Otavi
  • 2nd Battery: Johann-Albrechts-Höhe
  • Transport platoon 1: Karibib
  • Office for provisions: Karibib
  • Horse depot: Okawayo
  • Artillery and train depot: Windhuk
  • Military hospital and medical depot: Windhuk
  • Clothing depot: Windhuk
  • Local headquarters: Windhuk
  • Local headquarters and quartermaster: Swakopmund

Southern district command: Keetmanshoop

  • 2nd Company: Ukamas
  • 3rd Company: Kanus
  • 5th Company: Chamis and Churutabis
  • 7th and 8th Company (camel cavalry), military hospital: Gochas and Arahoab
  • 1st Battery: Narubis
  • 3rd Battery: Gibeon
  • Transport platoon 2: Keetmanshoop
  • Artillery and train depot: Keetmanshoop
  • Military hospital and medical depot: Keetmanshoop
  • Clothing depot: Keetmanshoop
  • Office for provisions: Keetmanshoop
  • Garrison administration: Keetmanshoop
  • Horse depot: Aus
  • Camel stud farm: Kalkfontain
  • Local headquarters and quartermaster: Lüderitz

At the outbreak of the war the force had a total strength of 91 officers, 22 physicians, 9 veterinarians, 59 civilian administrators, ammunition technicians, 342 NCOs and 1,444 German other ranks for a total of 1,967 personnel.[8]

German West Africa edit

Kamerun edit

 
Schutztruppe contingent of 5th field company at Ebolowa, Kamerun, 1894

German West Africa encompassed two colonial entities, Kamerun and Togoland.

The Kamerun force in 1914 consisted of 12 companies, totalling 1,600 men with headquarters at Soppo and established in 1894 from the existing police force (formed in 1891).

The structure of the Kamerun forces was as follows:

Central Command: Soppo near the capital Buea[9]

  • 1st Company (headquarters company) and artillery detachment: Douala
  • 2nd Company: Bamenda, Wum and Kentu
  • 3rd Company: Mora and Kusseri
  • 4th Company: (expedition/survey company): Soppo
  • 5th Company: Bouar, Carnot and Ebolowa
  • 6th Company: Mbaiki, Nola and Nguku
  • 7th Company: Garua, Marua, Mubi
  • 8th Company: Ngaundere
  • 9th Company: Dume and Baturi
  • 10th Company: Ojem and Mimwoul
  • 11th Company: Akoafim and Minkebe
  • 12th Company: Bumo, Fianga, and Gore

The companies were assigned to 49 garrisons in Kamerun and consisted of 61 officers, 23 physicians, 23 civilian administrators, ammunition technicians, 98 German NCOs and 1,650 African enlisted ranks for a total personnel count of 1,855.[9]

Togoland edit

Togoland had a total police force of 673 personnel deployed throughout the colony.[10] Approximately 1,000 troops were raised after the outbreak of the war. With very little arms, ammunition, or provisions, by the end of August 1914, all units had surrendered to French and British forces.[citation needed]

Appearance edit

 
Die Reichskokarde (National Cockade) 1871-1945
 
Schutztruppe grey uniform

When the Schutztruppe for German East Africa was founded in 1891, special uniforms were created which, among other things, were intended to underline the special position of the Schutztruppe as an independent part of the Reichsheer. The uniforms corresponded to the cut of the Prussian Army, initially in grey but later in "field gray" for home service ("Tuchuniform"/"Tuchrock") or khaki ("Feldrock") for the tropics. Schutztruppen in Southwest Africa could wear the home service uniform in the protectorate. A white dress uniform was also worn by European officers and NCO's for ceremonial occasions. The white and khaki uniforms were cut the same. The Schutztruppe arm of service color was blue so their uniforms were trimmed blue down the trousers seam, the fly of their four-pocket tunic, collar edge, plus NCO's wore silver on blue inverted chevrons on the left sleeve only[11] They were also supplied a grey or khaki slouch hat called the Schutztruppenhut (aka Südwester) on which the edge of the hat and the cap band were in the color of the respective Schutztruppe. The protectorate colours were as follows; German East Africa white, Cameroon dark red, German South West Africa cornflower blue, Togo yellow, German New Guinea green, German Samoa light pink. Additionally, as Imperial Troops, the 'Reichskokarde' cockade in black, white and red was worn on the folded brim of the Schutztruppenhut, a black, white and red cord could be worn around the tropical helmet (Tropenhelm), and black, white and red intertwined shoulder straps were worn on both tunic shoulders.

 
Schutztruppe Askari Trumpeter wearing swallow's nests in 1914.

African personnel wore a pocketless cotton khaki tunic and breeches with blue puttees and ankle boots, which replaced bare lower legs and feet. African personnel also wore a red fez over which a khaki cover could be worn in the field. Company numbers were often worn on the front of the fez. In field conditions the askari wore either a khaki cover over their red fez or a khaki tarbush consisting os a khaki cloth over a wicker frame. Later in the war African troops wore a large floppy hat en lieu of the fez.[12] The arm of service color for African/native troops was red so their uniforms, when trimmed, were trimmed red down the trousers seam, the tunic fly, collar edge, plus NCO's wore red, later brown, chevrons on the left sleeve only.[13]

Uniforms and rank insignia edit

 
Schutztruppen in Afrika

The rank insignia of Africans differed by one chevron from German ranks (eg. a German Gefreiter wore no chevrons, an African wore one, a German Unteroffizier wore one chevron, and African wore two etc). Despite them having nominally similar ranks, European NCOs always outranked Native NCOs.[14]

German/European Ranks: Standard Imperial Army collar and or shoulder rank insignia was worn by German/European Officers and men.[14]

Rank group Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee Enlisted
  Schutztruppe[14]         No insignia
Feldwebel Vizefeldwebel Sergeant Unteroffizier Gefreiter

German East Africa edit

Many of the original East African Askaris were Sudanese therefore the East African Schutztruppen utilized existing Turkish rank titles. The following ranks existed for East African other ranks:[15]

  • Effendi - Sudanese officers (East Africa only) inherited from the Wissmann-Truppe - originally wore one to three, but later only three, silver stars on the shoulder straps[16]
  • Senior Sergeant - Feldwebel/Sol - four flat-topped inverted chevrons
  • Sergeant - Sargenten/Bet Schausch - three flat-topped inverted chevrons
  • Corporal - Unteroffizier/Schausch - two flat-topped inverted chevrons
  • Private - Gefreiter/Ombascha - one flat-topped inverted chevron

German West Africa edit

Officers
German other ranks
 
African Feldwebel, ca 1910.
African other ranks

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ Gann, L. H.; Duignan, Peter (1977). The Rulers of German Africa, 1884–1914. Hoover Institution publications. Palo Alto: Stanford University Press. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-8047-0938-5.
  2. ^ Hoyt, Guerilla, p. 175
  3. ^ Miller, Battle for the Bundu, p. 18
  4. ^ Haupt, p. 34, Schutztruppe garrisons
  5. ^ Farwell, The Great War in Africa, p. 109
  6. ^ McNab, Chris (2002). 20th Century Military Uniforms (2nd ed.). Kent: Grange Books. p. 89. ISBN 1-84013-476-3.
  7. ^ Armies in East Africa 1914-1918 by Peter Abbot (Men-at-Arms 379) 2002 OspreyISBN 978-1-84176-489-4
  8. ^ Haupt, Deutschlands Schutzgebiete , p. 56
  9. ^ a b Haupt, p. 70
  10. ^ Haupt, p. 79
  11. ^ Armies in East Africa 1914-18, Osprey Men-at-Arms, Peter Abbott, 2002, ISBN 978-1-84176-489-4
  12. ^ King;s African Rifles Soldier versus Schutztruppe Soldier East Africa 1917-18, Osprey Combat 20, Gregg Adams, Copyright 2016 ISBN 978-1-4728-1327-5
  13. ^ Armies in East Africa 1914-18 Osprey Men-at-Arms, Peter Abbott, 2002, ISBN 978-1-84176-489-4
  14. ^ a b c "NCO Rank Insignia". GermanColonialUniforms.co.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  15. ^ Abbot, Peter (2002). Armies in East Africa 1914-1918. Men-at-Arms 379. Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84176-489-4.
  16. ^ "German Colonial Uniforms". s400910952.websitehome.co.uk.

Bibliography edit

  • Farwell, Byron. The Great War in Africa, 1914–1918. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. 1989. ISBN 0-393-30564-3
  • Haupt, Werner. Deutschlands Schutzgebiete in Übersee 1884–1918 [Germany’s Overseas Protectorates 1884-1918]. Friedberg: Podzun-Pallas Verlag. 1984. ISBN 3-7909-0204-7
  • Hoyt, Edwin P. Guerilla. Colonel von Lettow-Vorbeck and Germany's East African Empire. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. 1981; and London: Collier Macmillan Publishers. 1981. ISBN 0-02-555210-4.
  • Miller, Charles. Battle for the Bundu: The First World War in German East Africa. London: Macdonald & Jane's, 1974; and New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. 1974. ISBN 0-02-584930-1.

Literature edit

  • German Colonial Encyclopaedia, 1920, Volume III, p. 321ff.
  • Kopf, Werner. The German colonial force 1889/1918, Dörfler Publishing House
  • Morlang, Thomas. Askari und Fitafita. Farbige Söldner in den deutsche Kolonien. Berlin 2008
  • Reith, Wolfgang. The Command Authorities of the Imperial Colonial Force in the Homeland. German Soldier Yearbook 2000 and 2001 (2 parts). Munich: Signal Publishing House.

External links edit

  • German Colonial Uniforms
  • A German language naval and military history site

German language sites:

  • Protection and Overseas Troops
  • Mauerstraße 45/46: The Oberkommando der Schutztruppen (Africa in Berlin – German History Museum)

schutztruppe, german, ˈʃʊtsˌtʁʊpə, protection, force, official, name, colonial, troops, african, territories, german, colonial, empire, from, late, 19th, century, 1918, similar, other, colonial, armies, consisted, volunteer, european, commissioned, commissione. Schutztruppe German ˈʃʊtsˌtʁʊpe lit Protection Force was the official name of the colonial troops in the African territories of the German colonial empire from the late 19th century to 1918 Similar to other colonial armies the Schutztruppen consisted of volunteer European commissioned and non commissioned officers medical and veterinary officers Most enlisted ranks were recruited from indigenous communities within the German colonies or from elsewhere in Africa 1 SchutztruppeSchutztruppe Askari flag carrier German East Africa 1906Active1891 1918Allegiance German EmpireTypeInfantrySize80 330 troops including Seebataillon III 3rd Marine Battalion and 200 camelsEngagementsAbushiri RevoltAdamawa campaignHerero WarsHerero and Namaqua GenocideWorld War I Military contingents were formed in German East Africa where they became famous as Askari in the Kamerun colony of German West Africa and in German South West Africa Control of the German colonies of New Guinea in Samoa and in Togoland was performed by small local police detachments Jiaozhou in China under Imperial Navy administration was a notable exception As part of the East Asian Station the navy garrisoned Qingdao with the marines of Seebattaillon III the only all German unit with permanent status in an overseas protectorate Contents 1 Deployment 2 German East Africa 3 German Southwest Africa 4 German West Africa 4 1 Kamerun 4 2 Togoland 5 Appearance 6 Uniforms and rank insignia 6 1 German East Africa 6 2 German West Africa 7 Footnotes 8 Bibliography 9 Literature 10 External linksDeployment edit nbsp Hermann WissmannThe name of the German colonial force dates back to the parlance of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck who had the term Schutzgebiete protectorates used instead of colonies Schutztruppe contingents arose from local police forces or private paramilitary units where German colonizers met with stronger resistance When in 1888 the Abushiri Revolt broke out in the dominions of the German East Africa Company Bismarck s government in Berlin had to send mercenary troops under Reichskommissar Hermann Wissmann to subdue the uprising Upon the establishment of German East Africa these Wissmanntruppe were changed to Schutztruppe by an act of the Reichstag parliament on 22 March 1891 The police forces for South West Africa under Curt von Francois and for German Cameroon were re established as Schutztruppe by the act of 9 June 1895 Schutztruppe formations under the supreme command of the German Emperor were organizationally never a part of the Imperial German Army though German military law and discipline applied to its units Initially supervised by the Imperial Navy Office they were under the authority of the Colonial Department in the German Foreign Office by the act of 7 and 18 July 1896 In 1907 the Colonial Department with the Schutztruppe command was set up as the independent Imperial Colonial Office Reichskolonialamt agency directly answerable to the Chancellor of Germany In 1896 a central Schutztruppe command Kommando der Schutztruppen was established as part of the Colonial Department Despite its name this agency exercised no military leadership but served as an administrative authority It was located at Berlin s Mauerstrasse in proximity to the Colonial Office At the beginning of the First World War in 1914 there were three Schutztruppe military commands one in each of the German colonial regions in East Africa South West Africa and in Kamerun subordinate to each governor German East Africa editSee also East African Campaign World War I nbsp Schutztruppen colonial volunteer contingent German East Africa 1914 nbsp Schutztruppen Askari company formation German East Africa 1914 nbsp Schutztruppen carriers German East Africa 1899At the outbreak of the First World War the Schutztruppe in German East Africa was organised into 14 field companies Feldkompanien with 2 500 men under arms with headquarters at the capital Dar es Salaam Including carriers and labourers the force had about 14 000 personnel On 13 April 1914 Lieutenant Colonel Paul Emil von Lettow Vorbeck assumed command in German East Africa He led his units throughout the First World War eventually being promoted to Generalmajor 2 The Schutztruppe in East Africa became the last German formation to surrender days after the armistice in November 1918 A pre war company consisted of 160 expandable to 200 men in three platoons Zuge of 50 to 60 men each including two machine gun teams Each of the 14 companies also had a minimum 250 man carrier contingent as well as native irregulars known as Ruga Ruga called Fita Fita in German Samoa of approximately the same size units 3 1st Company Kompagnie Arusha Neu Moshi 4 2nd Company Iringa and Unbena 3rd Company Lindi 4th Company Kilimatinde and Singida 5th Company Massoko 6th Company Udjidiji and Kassulo 7th Company Bukoba Ussuwi and Kifumbiro 8th Company Tabora 9th Company Usumbura 10th Company Dar es Salaam 11th Company Kissenji and Mruhengeri 12th Company Mahenge 13th Company Kondoa Irangi 14th Company Muansa and IkomaThe Dar es Salaam garrison further included a recruitment depot a signals department and quartermaster unit Overall strength was 300 European recruits and 2 472 Africans specifically 68 combatant officers 60 warrant officers and NCOs 132 non combatant medical officers civilian administrators ammunition technicians and 2 African officers and 184 African NCOs and 2 286 Askari 5 6 During the First World War companies numbered 15 through 30 were added plus eight A through G and L temporary companies and 1st through 8th Schutzenkompagnies rifle companies The Schutzenkompagnies were originally composed of white settlers their sons plantations administrators and trading company employees but some units became racially mixed as the war dragged on Numerous other small detachments were also formed Several possibly four Reserve Kompagnien were also raised consisting of older Askari they were prefixed by the letter R 7 German Southwest Africa editMain article Imperial Schutztruppe for German South West Africa See also Herero and Namaqua Genocide and South West Africa Campaign nbsp Camel cavalry German Southwest Africa 1904 nbsp Camel patrol German Southwest Africa 1907 nbsp Cavalry of Schutztruppe in German East Africa 1911 The Schutztruppe in German Southwest Africa was structured in 12 companies of mounted infantry totalling 1 500 men primarily Germans The 7th Company stationed in the northern desert area of the colony was mounted on imported camels A single unit called the Baster Company consisting of non local biracial white European black Africans was raised and deployed Relations between the German administration and the natives in this colony had deteriorated to the point that few local Africans were recruited Some Boers and Afrikaners were able to be recruited bolstering the fledgling force citation needed The colonial forces for German Southwest Africa consisted of volunteers from the imperial army and navy including some Austrians but essentially consisted of members of German regiments Before their deployment to Africa these troops were prepared for their special tasks and future environment Such a training base was at Karlsruhe Because of the often humid conditions in the upper Rhine valley of the grand duchy of Baden the area provided some early acclimatisation citation needed The structure of the Southwest African forces was as follows German Southwest Africa Command at Windhuk modern Windhoek consisted of headquarters administration and legal judge advocate medical corps surveying and mapping units Northern district command Windhuk 1st Company Regenstein Seeis 4th Company Okanjande 6th Company Outjo and Otavi 2nd Battery Johann Albrechts Hohe Transport platoon 1 Karibib Office for provisions Karibib Horse depot Okawayo Artillery and train depot Windhuk Military hospital and medical depot Windhuk Clothing depot Windhuk Local headquarters Windhuk Local headquarters and quartermaster SwakopmundSouthern district command Keetmanshoop 2nd Company Ukamas 3rd Company Kanus 5th Company Chamis and Churutabis 7th and 8th Company camel cavalry military hospital Gochas and Arahoab 1st Battery Narubis 3rd Battery Gibeon Transport platoon 2 Keetmanshoop Artillery and train depot Keetmanshoop Military hospital and medical depot Keetmanshoop Clothing depot Keetmanshoop Office for provisions Keetmanshoop Garrison administration Keetmanshoop Horse depot Aus Camel stud farm Kalkfontain Local headquarters and quartermaster LuderitzAt the outbreak of the war the force had a total strength of 91 officers 22 physicians 9 veterinarians 59 civilian administrators ammunition technicians 342 NCOs and 1 444 German other ranks for a total of 1 967 personnel 8 German West Africa editKamerun edit nbsp Schutztruppe contingent of 5th field company at Ebolowa Kamerun 1894German West Africa encompassed two colonial entities Kamerun and Togoland The Kamerun force in 1914 consisted of 12 companies totalling 1 600 men with headquarters at Soppo and established in 1894 from the existing police force formed in 1891 The structure of the Kamerun forces was as follows Central Command Soppo near the capital Buea 9 1st Company headquarters company and artillery detachment Douala 2nd Company Bamenda Wum and Kentu 3rd Company Mora and Kusseri 4th Company expedition survey company Soppo 5th Company Bouar Carnot and Ebolowa 6th Company Mbaiki Nola and Nguku 7th Company Garua Marua Mubi 8th Company Ngaundere 9th Company Dume and Baturi 10th Company Ojem and Mimwoul 11th Company Akoafim and Minkebe 12th Company Bumo Fianga and GoreThe companies were assigned to 49 garrisons in Kamerun and consisted of 61 officers 23 physicians 23 civilian administrators ammunition technicians 98 German NCOs and 1 650 African enlisted ranks for a total personnel count of 1 855 9 Togoland edit Togoland had a total police force of 673 personnel deployed throughout the colony 10 Approximately 1 000 troops were raised after the outbreak of the war With very little arms ammunition or provisions by the end of August 1914 all units had surrendered to French and British forces citation needed Appearance edit nbsp Die Reichskokarde National Cockade 1871 1945 nbsp Schutztruppe grey uniformWhen the Schutztruppe for German East Africa was founded in 1891 special uniforms were created which among other things were intended to underline the special position of the Schutztruppe as an independent part of the Reichsheer The uniforms corresponded to the cut of the Prussian Army initially in grey but later in field gray for home service Tuchuniform Tuchrock or khaki Feldrock for the tropics Schutztruppen in Southwest Africa could wear the home service uniform in the protectorate A white dress uniform was also worn by European officers and NCO s for ceremonial occasions The white and khaki uniforms were cut the same The Schutztruppe arm of service color was blue so their uniforms were trimmed blue down the trousers seam the fly of their four pocket tunic collar edge plus NCO s wore silver on blue inverted chevrons on the left sleeve only 11 They were also supplied a grey or khaki slouch hat called the Schutztruppenhut aka Sudwester on which the edge of the hat and the cap band were in the color of the respective Schutztruppe The protectorate colours were as follows German East Africa white Cameroon dark red German South West Africa cornflower blue Togo yellow German New Guinea green German Samoa light pink Additionally as Imperial Troops the Reichskokarde cockade in black white and red was worn on the folded brim of the Schutztruppenhut a black white and red cord could be worn around the tropical helmet Tropenhelm and black white and red intertwined shoulder straps were worn on both tunic shoulders nbsp Schutztruppe Askari Trumpeter wearing swallow s nests in 1914 African personnel wore a pocketless cotton khaki tunic and breeches with blue puttees and ankle boots which replaced bare lower legs and feet African personnel also wore a red fez over which a khaki cover could be worn in the field Company numbers were often worn on the front of the fez In field conditions the askari wore either a khaki cover over their red fez or a khaki tarbush consisting os a khaki cloth over a wicker frame Later in the war African troops wore a large floppy hat en lieu of the fez 12 The arm of service color for African native troops was red so their uniforms when trimmed were trimmed red down the trousers seam the tunic fly collar edge plus NCO s wore red later brown chevrons on the left sleeve only 13 Uniforms and rank insignia edit nbsp Schutztruppen in AfrikaThe rank insignia of Africans differed by one chevron from German ranks eg a German Gefreiter wore no chevrons an African wore one a German Unteroffizier wore one chevron and African wore two etc Despite them having nominally similar ranks European NCOs always outranked Native NCOs 14 German European Ranks Standard Imperial Army collar and or shoulder rank insignia was worn by German European Officers and men 14 Rank group Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee Enlisted nbsp Schutztruppe 14 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp No insigniaFeldwebel Vizefeldwebel Sergeant Unteroffizier GefreiterGerman East Africa edit Many of the original East African Askaris were Sudanese therefore the East African Schutztruppen utilized existing Turkish rank titles The following ranks existed for East African other ranks 15 Effendi Sudanese officers East Africa only inherited from the Wissmann Truppe originally wore one to three but later only three silver stars on the shoulder straps 16 Senior Sergeant Feldwebel Sol four flat topped inverted chevrons Sergeant Sargenten Bet Schausch three flat topped inverted chevrons Corporal Unteroffizier Schausch two flat topped inverted chevrons Private Gefreiter Ombascha one flat topped inverted chevronGerman West Africa edit Officers nbsp Oberst nbsp Oberstleutnant nbsp Major nbsp Hauptmann nbsp Oberleutnant nbsp LeutnantGerman other ranks nbsp African Feldwebel ca 1910 nbsp Feldwebel nbsp Vizefeldwebel Sergeant nbsp Unteroffizier nbsp Gefreiter nbsp GemeinerAfrican other ranks nbsp Feldwebel nbsp Sergeant nbsp Unteroffizier nbsp GefreiterFootnotes edit Gann L H Duignan Peter 1977 The Rulers of German Africa 1884 1914 Hoover Institution publications Palo Alto Stanford University Press p 116 ISBN 978 0 8047 0938 5 Hoyt Guerilla p 175 Miller Battle for the Bundu p 18 Haupt p 34 Schutztruppe garrisons Farwell The Great War in Africa p 109 McNab Chris 2002 20th Century Military Uniforms 2nd ed Kent Grange Books p 89 ISBN 1 84013 476 3 Armies in East Africa 1914 1918 by Peter Abbot Men at Arms 379 2002 OspreyISBN 978 1 84176 489 4 Haupt Deutschlands Schutzgebiete p 56 a b Haupt p 70 Haupt p 79 Armies in East Africa 1914 18 Osprey Men at Arms Peter Abbott 2002 ISBN 978 1 84176 489 4 King s African Rifles Soldier versus Schutztruppe Soldier East Africa 1917 18 Osprey Combat 20 Gregg Adams Copyright 2016 ISBN 978 1 4728 1327 5 Armies in East Africa 1914 18 Osprey Men at Arms Peter Abbott 2002 ISBN 978 1 84176 489 4 a b c NCO Rank Insignia GermanColonialUniforms co uk Retrieved 14 July 2021 Abbot Peter 2002 Armies in East Africa 1914 1918 Men at Arms 379 Osprey ISBN 978 1 84176 489 4 German Colonial Uniforms s400910952 websitehome co uk Bibliography editFarwell Byron The Great War in Africa 1914 1918 New York W W Norton amp Company 1989 ISBN 0 393 30564 3 Haupt Werner Deutschlands Schutzgebiete in Ubersee 1884 1918 Germany s Overseas Protectorates 1884 1918 Friedberg Podzun Pallas Verlag 1984 ISBN 3 7909 0204 7 Hoyt Edwin P Guerilla Colonel von Lettow Vorbeck and Germany s East African Empire New York Macmillan Publishing Co Inc 1981 and London Collier Macmillan Publishers 1981 ISBN 0 02 555210 4 Miller Charles Battle for the Bundu The First World War in German East Africa London Macdonald amp Jane s 1974 and New York Macmillan Publishing Co Inc 1974 ISBN 0 02 584930 1 Literature editGerman Colonial Encyclopaedia 1920 Volume III p 321ff Kopf Werner The German colonial force 1889 1918 Dorfler Publishing House Morlang Thomas Askari und Fitafita Farbige Soldner in den deutsche Kolonien Berlin 2008 Reith Wolfgang The Command Authorities of the Imperial Colonial Force in the Homeland German Soldier Yearbook 2000 and 2001 2 parts Munich Signal Publishing House External links editGerman Colonial Uniforms A German language naval and military history siteGerman language sites Protection and Overseas Troops Mauerstrasse 45 46 The Oberkommando der Schutztruppen Africa in Berlin German History Museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Schutztruppe amp oldid 1186471410, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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