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"), East Asian Expeditionary Corps and Occupation Brigade, German units in the Ottoman Empire 1914-18, Marine Infantry ("Seebatallione") and overseas land based units of the Imperial Navy ("Kaiserliche Marine"). Also covered on this website are other curious related units such as Austro-Hungarian army and naval forces overseas, the Afghan Mission, the Bamum Private Army, Germans in the Shanghai Volunteer Corps and more.

LATEST UPDATES  www.GermanColonialUniforms.co.uk DISCUSSION FORUM
     
 
 
 
COLONIAL FORCES (Schutztruppe, Polizeitruppe and Auxiliary Troops)
     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
     Schutztruppe German Officers and NCOs 1891-96
     Schutztruppe German Officers and NCOs 1896-1918
     Wissmanntruppe Askaris
     Schutztruppe Askaris 1890-96
     Schutztruppe Askaris 1896-1914
     Schutztruppe Askaris 1914-18
     Askari Officers - Effendi
     Polizeitruppe
     African Auxiliaries
     German Reservists - Schützenkompagnie 1914-18
 German South West Africa
     Brief Campaign and Unit Histories
     Schutztruppe 1888-1896
     Schutztruppe 1896-1915 Corduroy Uniforms
     Schutztruppe 1896-1915 Khaki Uniforms
     Schutztruppe Greatcoats
     Schutztruppe Police and Landespolizei
     African Auxiliaries
     German Reservists
     South African Free Corps 1914-15
 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
     German Reservists in Cameroon and Togo
 Pacific Colonies - New Guinea & Samoa
     Brief Campaign and Unit Histories
     New Guinea German Polizeitruppe Officers
     New Guinea Melanesian Polizeitruppe Other Ranks
     New Guinea Micronesian Polizeitruppe Other Ranks
     Samoa Polizeitruppe and Ceremonial Guards
      German Reservists in New Guinea and Samoa
 
NAVAL OVERSEAS FORCES
 Imperial Navy
     Brief Campaign History
     Imperial Navy Officers
     Imperial Navy Other Ranks
     Imperial Naval Landing Parties in the Tropics - Other Ranks
     Imperial Naval Landing Parties in the Tropics - Officers
     Imperial Navy in the Ottoman Empire 1914-18
     Imperial Naval Troops on the Western Front 1914-18
     Naval Auxiliaries in the Colonies
 Marine Infantry - Seebatallione
     Brief Campaign History
     Seebatallion - Peacetime Blue Uniforms
     Seebatallion - Tropical Khaki Uniforms
     Seebatallion - Overseas Service Uniforms
     Seebatallion - Field Grey Uniforms
 
ARMY OVERSEAS FORCES
     Army Officers Seconded to the Colonies
 German Army in China 1900-09
     Brief Unit Histories
     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 Army on Ottoman Fronts 1914-18
     Brief Campaign and Unit Histories
     German Field Grey Uniforms
     Ottoman Uniforms
     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
     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
     German Troops in the Shanghai Volunteer Corps
     German Red Cross in the Colonies and Tropics
     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
     Swords
     Identification Brassards
     Naval Equipment and Souvenirs
     Schutztruppe Insignia and Miscellaneous Uniform Items
     Austro-Hungarian Tropical Helmet
 Guns and Artillery
     SMS Königsberg Guns
     Schutztruppe Mountain Guns
     Schutztruppe Artillery Recovered from Lake Otjikoto
     East African Hand Made Field Gun
     Naval MG 08 Machine Gun
 Pictures and Souvenirs
     Period Uniform Photographs
     Eyewitness Illustrations of the Siege of Tsingtao
     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
     Siebentritt Private Collection
     South African Museum Collections
     A Private Naval Collection from Port Arthur
     An East Asian Collection
 
SOURCES
     Credits, Thanks and Personal Sources
     Book Reviews and Printed Sources
     Contemporary Illustrated Sources
     Links & Online Sources
 
ABOUT THIS WEBSITE
     Latest Updates to this Website
     Notes on this Website
     Contact the Webmaster
     Discussion Forum
     Guestbook
    
     
Schutztruppe Officer
South West Africa c1906
Schutztruppe Officer
Cameroon 1914
East Asian Infantry
China 1901
Austro-Hungarian Sailor
China 1908
Police Music Master
Togo c1914
Police Officer
East Africa c1910
Chinese Police
Peking c1900
Army Officer
Togo c1910
Naval Gunner
Mesopotamia c1916
East Asian Jäger
China 1900
Schutztruppe NCO
Cameroon c1914
Naval Pilot
Tsingtao 1914
Police NCO
Cameroon c1899
Austro-Hungarian Infantry
Crete 1898
III. Seebatallion
Tsingtao c1900
Naval Officer
East Africa 1889
Austro-Hungarian Driver
Palestine 1916
Police NCO
South West Africa c1910
Reservist
Cameroon 1914
Bavarian Infantry
China 1900
Red Cross Volunteer
South Africa 1900
German Volunteer
Shanghai 1899
Police Soldier
Mariana Islands 1903
German Officer
Ottoman Army 1913
East Asian Artillery
China c1905

Pilot
Palestine 1917

Reservist
New Guinea 1914

Infantry
Macedonia c1917

Trooper
South West Africa c1888

Naval Medic
China 1905

 

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 20th January 2010
Text and Illustrations by C Dale 2003-09 ©

 
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