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Early Schutztruppe in South
West Africa 1888-96
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Figure 1
Officer c1889 |
Figure 2
Trooper |
Figure 3
NCO |
Figure 4
Trooper |
Figure 5
Officer |
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| Figure 1 is
based on a photograph of an Officer of the South West
African Imperial Commissioner's Troop, Hauptmann Curt von François
probably taken in the early 1890's. The very first
German troops sent to South West Africa in May 1888 were led by
Leutnant Ulrich von Quitzow and consisted of two officers and 5 NCOs who commanded twenty African soldiers (from the Baster and
Nama peoples) to protect the first Imperial Commissioner, Dr.
Heinrich Göring (father of the later infamous Hermann Göring). These
first German troops, the Truppe des Reichs-Kommissars, wore civilian clothes on their journey to Africa
on board a British ship so as to pass for settlers or merchants. The following year the
force was expanded to a strength of 21 Germans now under the
command of Hauptmann von François. The unit's name was officially changed from
the Truppe des Reichs-Kommissars to the Kaiserliche
Schutztruppe by an imperial order in 1895. Their
first uniforms (as seen here) were simple corduroy tunics and breeches
without insignia. The corduroy for them was originally manufactured in Manchester, England, of
a grey/brown shade. The tunic had a standing collar, six white metal buttons down the front,
slightly sloping buttoned breast pockets and no shoulder straps. No
rank insignia appears to have been worn on these early uniforms- so
the other ranks would have dressed the same as their commander, von
François here. The first
colonial slouch hats (later known as the Südwester) were made of grey
felt and had a grey ribbon edging and hatband, while being held up at
the right hand side with a large imperial cockade (black/white/red).
Personal equipment was made of brown leather and
as seen here usually consisted of regular 1871 model Prussian army ammunition
boxes on either side of the brass other ranks naval style belt buckle
(see Belt Buckles Details Page). Hauptmann
von François in
the original photo on which this illustration was based, is heavily
armed with a hunting rifle (or possibly a shotgun), a revolver
(probably an M79 Army Revolver, a 10.6mm weapon commonly issued to the
early Schutztruppe with a distinctive long butt) and the large machete
type knife issued to early forces in South West Africa. |
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| Hauptmann Curt von François
(1852-1931) came from a Prussian military family of French Huguenot origin. His
father Bruno, was a General in the Prussian army, killed at the
Battle of
Spicheren
in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71.
Curt (sometimes later spelled Kurt) was the eldest of three military brothers.
Hugo served under him in the Schutztruppe and was later killed during the
Herero Rebellion in 1904, and Hermann served in the regular German
army and reached General rank famously commanding the I Army Corps in East
Prussia in 1914 where he was instrumental in the victory over the
Russians at the Battle of Tannenberg. Curt von François had
accompanied Hermann von Wissman on his expedition to the Congo and
also explored the interior of Togoland before going to South West
Africa. Once there, he formed and became the
first commander of what was to become the Kaiserliche
Schutztruppe for
German South West Africa in 1889 and
fought against the Nama in the Rebellion of 1893-94. He also
founded the town of Windhoek (now the capital of Namibia) where a
statue of him still stands (see right). In
1895 he returned to Germany to work in the Imperial Naval Office. |
Memorial to Curt von François
(See
Photos of Modern Namibia Page)
Photo Copyright Greg Gerardi |
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Figure 2 is
based on a photograph of a Trooper of the South West
African Schutztruppe taken in Germany before setting off for
the colonies in the mid 1890's. From 1894 the corduroy uniforms
were modified with the addition of cornflower blue collars and cuffs in the
pointed "Polish" style of the German Uhlan. The collar and cuffs were
decorated with white (or silver for officers) double Litzen with a red
central bar- the distinction of guards or elite units in the regular German
army. Shoulder straps were made of twisted black/white/red
braid for other ranks (see right). The Südwester remained the same
with grey edging and an imperial cockade on the right side. This
trooper wears long gaiters over short boots, common in the early
Schutztruppe. This trooper wears a marksmanship
lanyard across his left breast. Schutztruppe marksmanship lanyards
were later awarded in twisted black/white/red imperial colours, but awards
from home units were worn in the state colours of the parent regiment
in which they were earned (in this case black and white for Prussia
for example).
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Schutztruppe Other Ranks
Shoulder Strap
(See
Schutztruppe Insignia Page)
Photo Copyright Doppler |
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Figure 3 is
based on a photograph of a mounted NCO of the South West
African Schutztruppe on parade in Africa. The original
photograph shows how the early Schutztruppe were dressed in the
early and mid
1890's but was actually taken at a parade in May 1914 to celebrate
the 25th Anniversary of the Schutztruppe when old uniforms were worn
in a special parade. His uniform is the same corduroy uniform with
cornflower blue collar and Polish cuffs with Litzen as that of the
previous figure. Across the left breast he wears silver
cords commonly worn by officers and NCOs on parade. He wears NCOs rank lace on
his collar and cuffs that
shows his rank to be a Corporal or Unteroffizier (see
NCOs Rank Insignia Page).
Officers wore the same uniform (sometimes with a standing collar) with rank
distinctions on the shoulder
straps (see Officers Rank Insignia Page). The headgear
worn by this figure is an
early tropical helmet originally worn by the Imperial Commissioner's
troops. It had a spike similar to that of a Pickelhaube with a
cruciform base, a white metal imperial eagle on the front above a
small
imperial black/white/red cockade. These spiked helmets are not often seen in
photographs and presumably would not have been very practical in action.
Tropical helmets were not issued to later Schutztruppe in South West
Africa.
This NCO is armed with a
cavalry lance topped with a pennant in the imperial colours (see right).
Cavalry armed with lances did not prove practical in South West Africa
and the lance was soon discarded. Later mounted Schutztruppe were armed
only with carbines and fought as mounted infantry. He also carries the large machete like knife
issued to early troops in South West Africa. |
Schutztruppe Lance Pennant
(See
Mounted Equipment
Details Page)
Photo Copyright Doppler |
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Figure 4 is
based on a photograph of an Schutztruppe Trooper in Khaki
uniform taken in South West Africa in the mid 1890's. This lightweight cotton
uniform was issued from 1894 for use in hot weather. The tunic was piped in blue
down the front, around the collar and around the cuffs in a pointed
style like the Polish cuffs of the corduroy uniform. It had two sloping
pleated patch pockets on the breast but no hip pockets. Early versions of the khaki tunic had
standing collars as seen here. The same braided shoulder straps in
imperial colours as worn on the Corduroy uniform were worn on the
khaki tunic too (see above). NCOs rank was shown on the khaki uniform in the form
of inverted chevrons on the upper left arm (see NCOs Rank Insignia Page). A watch chain
is hanging from his left pocket.
This trooper wears the same grey edged Südwester hat as the pervious
figures but apparently not held up on the right side with a cockade.
Although against regulations, this was not an especially uncommon practice. He is
armed with an M79 Army
Revolver and has a bunch of small keys hanging from his belt, presumably for
the chains worn by his prisoners in the original photograph. |
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| Figure 5 is
based on a photograph of an Schutztruppe Officer in
khaki uniform taken in South West Africa in in the mid 1890's. He
wears the same early khaki uniform as the previous figure except with
the later alteration of having a more comfortable stand and fall
collar. Officers ranks were distinguished by silver braided shoulder
straps (see Officers Rank Insignia Page).
According to one set of contemporary illustrated prints, early Schutztruppe officers also wore an elaborate design of cuff
lace in blue on their tunics as seen here. I have seen no definite
photographic proof of this yet, although the photograph upon which
this illustration is based does appear to have some kind of cuff
insignia which could match that shown in the print.
This officer also wears the peaked kepi style cap
(Käppi) originally issued to all ranks of the Schutztruppe before
being replaced by the peaked field cap from 1896 onwards. The kepi was in grey
with blue hatband and
piping and a small black/white/red cockade on the front.
This officer also carries an M79 Army Revolver and
a sword (with an imperial black/silver/red sword knot) on his officers
braided belt (silver with black and red stripes fastened with a
brass buckle bearing the imperial crown- see
Belt Buckles Details Page). Although these belts were
authorised issue for all Schutztruppe officers until the First World
War, leather Sam Brown style belts were more usually worn in action.
Swords of course, were not commonly carried in action.
In 1896 when new uniforms were authorised
for the Schutztruppe the change was a gradual one. Some of
these old uniform items such as Polish cuffs and kepis were worn for
several years to come and are sometimes seen in photographs worn side
by side with the new uniforms.
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