Uniforms of the German East African Schutztruppe Askaris 1914-18
The Schutztruppe askaris started the First World War dressed as they had been since the mid-1890s (see Schutztruppe Askaris 1896-1914). Many kept all or some of this uniform for several years. But as the war wore on without fresh supplies of uniforms, the once smart askaris became less and less uniformly dressed. New uniforms and equipment came from captured and improvised stocks which were often dyed a shade of khaki with the root of the Ndaa tree. Later in the war fewer askaris were seen wearing the original issue uniform and tarbush (and when the tarbush was worn it was often with the eagle removed). Most units wore a variety of non-regulation clothing and uniforms, slouch hats and fezzes, German or allied field caps and even woolly hats.

The following first hand description of three askaris in 1917 is taken from "Blockade and Jungle" by Christen P Christensen (See Book Reviews Page) and is typical of askaris from the later war period-

"I had a look at our reinforcements...they were three askaris. The man on one side of me had on an ordinary felt hat, and something that had once been a shirt, but it was so tattered and torn that his gleaming black skin showed through it in many places. He also had an excellent pair of trousers, which didn't look as if they were German in origin, and a good pair of boots on his bare feet. However he was well supplied with cartridge pouches, and also had two machine gun belts across his chest like bandoliers. His gun was a long barrelled, small bore Portuguese rifle, which gave a peculiar sharp, ringing crack. He was a veteran....The second third of our relieving troops....was a good man too, another veteran. He had still an askari cap and neck cloth, but not another stitch on him except for trousers and a well filled cartridge belt. He had an old fashioned '71 rifle, which made a lot of smoke and gave out a dull roar like a shot gun....The man beside (him)...had on an English khaki shirt, but otherwise more or less regulation German uniform, he was shooting briskly and vigorously with an English rifle."

The Illustrations
Figure 1 is based on a photograph of a Schutztruppe Askari probably taken in late 1914 or 1915. He still wears his original uniform, but has removed the eagle from his tarbush to be replaced with an adornment of feathers. This was quite commonplace it seems, with some askaris simply having one feather stuck into a fez or slouch hat and others, often NCOs, making quite elaborate decorations. He wears a civilian striped shirt under his uniform and has a pair of  captured leather gaiters instead of issue puttees. He is armed with a British Lee Enfield Rifle, possibly one of the 455 captured at the Battle of Tanga along with over 600,000 rounds of ammunition. Later in the war more captured rifles (the Portuguese 1904 Mauser-Vergueiro was popular) and even hunting rifles came to be in common use. Rather than a bayonet he carries a machete at his side.

Figure 2 is based on a photograph of a Schutztruppe Askari taken in 1915 after a raid on the Uganda railway. He still clings on to the tatters of his original uniform which is missing several buttons and torn to shreds in places. His tarbush has either been replaced by a hat woven from grass or has been covered with grass tied around it. The askaris frequently decorated their headgear with leaves or grasses for camouflage. His boots appear to be home made, something at which the askaris became very adept. Boots were made from scraps of leather, animal hides or even flexible tree bark.

Figure 3 is based on a photograph of a Schutztruppe Askari NCO of the 21st Feldkompagnie taken in the latter stages of the war. The slouch hat and bandolier are typical of late war askaris but certainly not regulation Schutztruppe issue. The tunic appears to be a captured Portuguese item with the original arm of service collar patches removed. When allied uniforms and headgear were worn the insignia was of course removed. Instead a Schutztruppe askari red on khaki NCO rank chevron has been added to the left sleeve. As the war dragged on fewer insignia regulations were followed, but rank chevrons were seen throughout the war. His trousers may be captured or original issue, his puttees are probably improvised. He wears German 1909 ammunition pouches.

Figure 4 is based on a photograph of another Schutztruppe Askari NCO taken in the latter stages of the war. He also has little of his original uniform left and wears a non-regulation shirt and civilian fez. Later in the war some askaris received the newer 1909 ammunition pouches but many such as this figure had bandoliers or captured allied cartridge pouches along with locally made water bottles, knapsacks and colourful blankets.

Figure 5 is based on a photograph of a Schutztruppe Askari taken in the latter stages of the war. Field caps such as this were quite commonly worn by askaris (especially NCOs) later in the war. They all came from captured stocks, this one is probably British. Again the original insignia was removed. His tunic may possibly be original although it looks well worn in the original photograph. The shorts are probably captured British or South African issue, or may be cut down from another pair of trousers. He carries 1909 German ammunition pouches but is armed with a British Lee Enfield rifle. This method of carrying the rifle slung lengthways over the shoulder was typical of askaris.