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").