German Colonial Uniforms

This website is intended to give an insight into the uniforms of the Imperial German Colonial and Overseas Forces from 1884-1918 for the English speaking wargamer, modeller or military historian. Until now there has been very little available in the English language on the uniforms worn by German forces in these obscure but fascinating side shows of the Great War and Colonial Era.

Originally this website was designed to cover only the defenders of German East Africa, German South West Africa, Cameroon, Togo, Tsingtao and the German Pacific Colonies during the First World War 1914-18. It is now undergoing a process of expansion to include all German Overseas Expeditions during the Imperial period. This includes the Colonial Troops ("Schutztruppe"), Colonial Police ("Polizeitruppe"), the East Asian Expeditionary Corps of 1900, the East Asian Occupation Brigade, the German and Austro-Hungarian units on Ottoman fronts, the Afghan Mission, the Georgian Legion, the Marine Infantry ("Seebatallione") and land based units of the Imperial Navy ("Kaiserliche Marine").

LATEST UPDATES  www.GermanColonialUniforms.co.uk DISCUSSION FORUM
     
 
 
 
SCHUTZTRUPPE, POLIZEITRUPPE and AUXILIARY FORCES
     Brief History of the German Colonies' Armed Forces
     1896 Home Uniforms of the German Schutztruppe
     1896 Tropical Uniforms of the German Schutztruppe
     Rank Insignia for Schutztruppe NCOs
     Rank Insignia for Schutztruppe Officers
     Specialist Insignia of the Schutztruppe and Overseas Forces
     Personal Equipment of the Schutztruppe
 German East Africa
     Brief Campaign and Unit Histories
     Wissmanntruppe German Officers and NCOs
     Wissmanntruppe Askaris
     Schutztruppe German Officers and NCOs 1891-1896
     Schutztruppe Askaris 1890-96
     Schutztruppe German Officers and NCOs 1896-1918
     Schutztruppe Askaris 1896-1914
     Schutztruppe Askaris 1914-18
     Polizeitruppe and African Auxiliaries 1896-1918
     Schützenkompagnie - German Reservists 1914-16
 German South West Africa
     Brief Campaign and Unit Histories
     Schutztruppe 1888-1896
     Schutztruppe 1896-1915 Cold Weather Uniforms
     Schutztruppe 1896-1915 Tropical Uniforms
     Landespolizei 1907-1914
     South African Free Corps 1914-15
     African Auxiliaries
 German West Africa- Cameroon & Togo
     Brief Campaign and Unit Histories
     Schutztruppe German Officers and NCOs in Cameroon
     Schutztruppe African Other Ranks in Cameroon
     Polizeitruppe and African Auxiliaries in Cameroon
     Polizeitruppe German Officers and NCOs in Togo
     Polizeitruppe African Other Ranks in Togo
 Pacific Colonies
     Brief Campaign and Unit Histories
     New Guinea Polizeitruppe Officers and Reservists
     New Guinea Polizeitruppe Other Ranks
     Samoa Polizeitruppe and Ceremonial Guards
 
IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVAL TROOPS
 The Imperial Navy
     Brief Campaign History
     Imperial Navy in China
     Imperial Naval Landing Parties in the Tropics - Other Ranks
     Imperial Naval Landing Parties in the Tropics - Officers
     Imperial Naval Troops on the Western Front 1914-18
     Imperial Navy in the Ottoman Empire 1914-18
 Marine Infantry - Seebatallione
     Brief Campaign History
     Seebatallion - Peacetime Blue Uniforms
     Seebatallion - Tropical Khaki Uniforms
     Seebatallion - Overseas Service Uniforms
     Seebatallion - Field Grey Uniforms
 
OTHER OVERSEAS EXPEDITIONS
 German Army in China
     East Asian Expeditionary Corps 1900-01 Tropical Uniforms
     East Asian Expeditionary Corps 1900-01 Winter Uniforms
     East Asian Occupation Brigade 1901-09
     Tsingtao Chinese Police
 German Forces on Ottoman Fronts 1914-18
     Brief Campaign and Unit Histories
     Troops in German and Ottoman Uniforms
     Troops in Tropical Uniforms
     Pilots
 
AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN OVERSEAS FORCES
     Brief Campaign History
     Austro-Hungarian Navy in China and the Pacific - Other Ranks
     Austro-Hungarian Navy in China and the Pacific - Officers (Under Construction)
     Austro-Hungarian Army in Crete 1897-98
     Austro-Hungarian Army in the Ottoman Empire 1915-18
 
RELATED TOPICS OF INTEREST
     Aircraft in the German Colonies
     Tropical Uniforms on Other Fronts 1914-18
     King Njoya of Bamum's Private Army 1904-09
     Interesting Facts about the German Colonies
 
MILITARIA PHOTOGRAPHS - View all contents
 Uniforms
     Schutztruppe 1896 Khaki Tropical Uniform
     East African Schutztruppe Tunic from 1916
     Seebatallion Dark Blue Home Uniform
     Seebatallion Officer's White Tropical Uniform
     Naval Uniforms
     Naval Greatcoat from the Marinekorps Flandern
     Naval Doctor's Uniform
 Uniform and Equipment Details
     Südwester Hats
     Tropical Helmets
     Field Caps
     Cockades
     Schutztruppe Mounted Equipment
     Belt Buckles
     Medals
     Bayonets
     Identification Brassards
     Naval Equipment and Souvenirs
     Schutztruppe Insignia and Miscellaneous Uniform Items
     Austro-Hungarian Tropical Helmet
 Artillery
     Königsberg Guns
     Schutztruppe Mountain Guns
 Pictures and Souvenirs
     Pictures from the German Imperial Era in China
     Postcards from German South West Africa
     Photos from Modern Namibia
     Photos from Modern Bamum
     Colonial Souvenirs
 Other Collections
     London Imperial War Museum Collection
     Brussels Musée Royale de l'Armée Collection
     Kolonialmuseum Linke Collection, Rödelsee
     Swakopmund Museum Collection
     South African Museum Collections
     A Private Naval Collection from Port Arthur
 
SOURCES
     Credits, Thanks and Personal Sources
     Book Reviews and Printed Sources
     Contemporary Illustrated Sources
     Links & Online Sources
 
MORE ON THE GERMAN COLONIES
     Latest Updates to this Website
     Notes on this Website
     Contact the Webmaster
     Discussion Forum
     Guestbook
 
 
 
Topics covered on this website include-
German East Africa
German South West Africa
German Cameroon and Togo
German Pacific Colonies
German Navy Overseas

 

 
German Marine Infantry - Seebatllione
German Forces in China
German Forces in the Ottoman Empire
 

Please contact me here if you have more information or photos on this topic. 

This website was launched on 6th January 2004 and last updated on 27th May 2008
Text and Illustrations by C Dale 2003-08 ©

 
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