Uniforms of the German East African Askaris 1896-1914
By the mid-1890's askari uniforms had become standardised across the different Schutztruppe field companies ("Feldkompagnien"). These uniforms continued to be worn by askaris up until and during the First World War although many parts of their uniforms were replaced with captured or improvised items as the war progressed until by 1918 they were mostly unrecognisable from their pre-war appearance (see Schutztruppe Askaris 1914-18 Page).

Khaki Uniform - They wore a light khaki uniform consisting of a short tunic with five plain white metal buttons down the front, no pockets, plain khaki shoulder straps and a plain stand and fall collar. They wore matching khaki trousers.

Rank Insignia - Askari NCOs wore one to four inverted chevrons on the upper left arm in red on khaki to display their rank (see NCO Rank Insignia Page). East African askaris used Ottoman NCO titles, a tradition dating back to their original recruitment in the Sudan. Their titles were- Ombasha/Gefrieter (with one stripe), Schausch/Unteroffizier (with two stripes), Bet-Schausch/Sergeant (with three stripes) and Sol/Feldwebel (with four stripes).

Specialist Insignia - Askaris serving in the Polizeitruppe, signals detachment, gunners and medics wore red insignia on a white oval or circular patch on the upper left arm. Musicians wore swallows nests and marksmen were distinguished with lace bars on both cuffs. These insignia are illustrated and described below)

Footwear - Brown leather boots were worn with dark blue/grey puttees (later issues of puttees were grey). Although the Germans generally took care to see their men booted, askaris are also sometimes seen barefoot, either due to shortages or preference.

Headdress - The headdress consisted of a tarbush made from a light wicker frame with a khaki cloth cover incorporating a neckshade. The first tarbushes were worn without insignia or with a brass numeral denoting their company number. From 1896 onwards a white metal imperial eagle (see below) was worn on the front, although company numerals can still be seen in photographs as late as 1900.

When not on active service the tarbush was replaced by a red felt fez with a black tassel and no insignia. From photographic evidence these fezzes varied considerably in height, style and rigidity. The tassel likewise varied in length.

Equipment - was in brown leather and usually consisted of two 1871 pattern ammunition pouches fastened at the front with a plain brass belt buckle (see below). By 1914 five field companies had been re-issued new rifles and with them the 1909 ammunition pouches Personal Equipment Page). Backpacks, bread bags and tent sections were of German army issue, although the water bottle used by the East African askaris was a different type. It was a metal bottle with a tapered spout and the lower half covered in cloth.

Weapons - The askari field companies were mostly armed with the single shot Mauser Jägerbüsche '71 11mm rifle. This light infantry version of the obsolete German infantry rifle was about 5cm shorter than the standard Mauser 1871 rifle. The Jägerbüsche was particularly unhelpful in that its ammunition gave up a large cloud of smoke when fired thus revealing the firer's position. Just prior to the First World War some field companies started to receive the newer Mauser G98. When the war broke out five field companies (the 1., 4., 8., 10. and 13. Feldkompagnien) had been issued the newer rifle. The G98 fired smokeless rounds and was magazine fed.

The S71/84 bayonet was carried by most askaris along with their Jägerbüsche rifles. These were replaced by kS 98 bayonets in units that recieved the G98 rifle. Bayonet knots were not worn by the askaris.

By 1914 all askari companies had at least two Maxim Machine Guns and most had at least one 37mm field gun.

Askari Tarbush Eagle (See Colonial Insignia Page) Photo © Doppler Collection

Plain Brass Askari Belt Buckle (See Belt Buckles Details Page) Photo © Doppler Collection

Askari S71/84 Bayonet  (See Bayonets Details Page) Photo © A British Collector

Askari Musician's Swallows Nest (See Rödelsee Museum Collection Page) Photo © Arne Schöfert

The Illustrations

Figure 1 is based on a photograph a Schutztruppe Askari and shows their typical appearance from 1896-1914 as described above. He wears the tarbush with white metal eagle, plain khaki tunic and trousers, blue grey or grey puttees and brown leather boots. His equipment consists of two 1895 ammunition pouches on a brown leather belt with plain brass belt buckle. He is armed with the Jägerbüsche '71 rifle and S71/84 bayonet.

Figure 2 is based on a photograph of a Schutztruppe Askari taken just after the Battle of Tanga in 1914. This askari wears standard marching equipment as carried in the field. He carries a blanket or tent section rolled above the backpack. From the belt is suspended the bread bag on the right and the S71/84 bayonet on the left. The water bottle is of a pattern not used by the regular German army and apparently unique to the German East African Schutztruppe and is held on a separate shoulder strap.

Figure 3 is based on a photograph of a Schutztruppe Askari Music Player ("Spielmann"). As with the regular imperial German army musicians in the Schutztruppe were distinguished by "swallow's nests" shoulder insignia (see the photograph above and also details on askari specialist insignia below). Askari musicians were divided into two grades- Musician ("Musiker") and Player ("Spielmann"). The higher ranking musicians wore swallows nests with a red base colour with eight vertical stripes underlined by one horizontal stripe in white. The lower ranking players wore swallows nests with a khaki base with eight vertical stripes underlined by one horizontal stripe in red (as seen here).

In action musicians either fought as riflemen or acted as stretcher bearers. In this latter role they wore white armbands with a red cross on their left sleeve or a white circular patch with a red cross on the upper left arm (again see details on askari specialist insignia below).

This askari wears no eagle on his tarbush. It was common in action to remove the eagle as it provided an easy target for snipers.

Figure 4 is based on a photograph of an Schutztruppe Askari NCO. Note the red inverted chevrons on the upper left arm to display his rank as Schausch/Unteroffizier with two chevrons as described above (also see NCO Rank Insignia Page).

This NCO also has a marksmanship award in the form of woven black/white/red lace bars on both forearms. This award was exclusive to East African askaris and could be earned in varying classes denoted lace bars on the forearm (see details on askari specialist insignia below).

Note that this NCO has rolled up the neckshade on his tarbush. Although the neckshade was not removable it could be folded up out of the way if needed.

Figure 5 is based on a photograph of an Schutztruppe Signals Askari. The signals detachment ("Signal-Abtleilung") was independent of the askari field companies in East Africa. Signallers from the detachment were then posted to the field companies. As well as adults, young cadets were recruited into the signals detachment from the best pupils from schools set up by the Germans in East Africa. The specialist insignia of the signals detachment was two crossed red flags in a white oval worn on the upper left arm (again see details on askari specialist insignia below).

This signaller wears neither puttees nor boots. As mentioned above, the Germans took care generally to see their men booted, askaris are also seen barefoot quite often, either due to shortages or preference.

Specialist Insignia of the German East African Askaris Figure A Music Player Figure B Medic and Musician Figure C Signals Abteilung Figure D Gunner and Marksman Figure E Polizeitruppe Ombascha

Figure A shows the insignia worn by an askari Music Player. Askari musicians were divided into two grades- Musician ("Musiker") and Player ("Spielmann"). The higher ranking musicians wore swallows nests with a red base colour with eight vertical stripes underlined by one horizontal stripe in white. The lower ranking players wore swallows nests with a khaki base with eight vertical stripes underlined by one horizontal stripe in red as seen here.
This illustration is based on a photograph taken in German East Africa c1914.

Figure B shows the insignia worn by an askari Medic and Musician of the German East African Schutztruppe. The Medic's insignia consisted of a red cross on a circular white patch worn on the upper left arm. Not all askari medics and stretcher bearers wore this insignia. Some simply wore a red cross on a white armband which was the common distinction worn by most medics and stretcher bearers in Germany's home and overseas forces. In this case the askari also wears the shoulder swallows nest insignia of an askari musician. As described above the musicians wore swallows nests with a red base colour with eight vertical stripes underlined by one horizontal stripe in white.
This illustration is based on a photograph taken in German East Africa c1914.

Figure C shows the insignia worn by an askari of the Signals Abteilung of the German East African Schutztruppe . The insignia consisted of a red pair of crossed flags on a white vertical oval patch worn on the upper left arm. 
This illustration is based on a photograph taken in German East Africa c1914.

Figure D shows the insignia worn by an askari Artillery Gunner and Marksman of the German East African Schutztruppe. The gunner's insignia consisted of a red flaming grenade motif with flames emitting from the top and both sides on a white horizontal oval patch worn on the upper left arm. I have yet to ascertain for certain but this insignia may have been exclusive to askari gun layers rather than all gunners.

The askari marksmanship award consisted of stripes of white lace with black and red threads worn on both lower arms.

The first class had a single bar of lace.
The second class had two bars of lace.
The third class had three bars of lace (as illustrated here).
The fourth class had a double thickness bar of lace.
The fifth class had a double thickness bar of lace and one bar of lace above.
The sixth class had a double thickness bar of lace and two bars of lace above.

The grades of marksmanship award may have gone higher than the sixth class, but as yet I've seen no confirmation of this. Photographs often show marksmanship and gunner awards on the same askaris so it is reasonable to assume gunners were picked from the best marksmen.
This illustration is based on a photograph taken in German East Africa c1914.

Figure E shows the insignia worn by an askari of the Polizeitruppe. The insignia consisted of a red letter "P" on a white vertical oval patch worn on the upper left arm. This Polizei-Askari also wears the single red rank chevron of an Ombascha or lance corporal.
This illustration is based on a photograph taken in German East Africa c1914