German Schutztruppe in South West Africa 1896-1915
Tropical Uniforms

Figure 1
NCO

Figure 2
Bugler

Figure 3
Officer

Figure 4
Officer

Figure 5
Trooper
   
Figure 1 is based on a photograph of an NCO of the South West African Schutztruppe taken accompanying South African prisoners of war captured at the Battle of Sandfontein in 1914. He is typical of the appearance of South West African Schutztruppe before and during the First World War in hot weather. He wears the cotton khaki tropical uniform introduced for Schutztruppe in all African colonies in 1896 (see right). The tunic (known as the Feldrock) was piped in cornflower blue on the collar, front and cuffs. It had six white metal buttons down the front (each bearing the imperial crown), pleated sloping breast pockets and level hip pockets. The shoulder straps were of twisted black/white/red braid for other ranks. The trousers are in matching khaki. Some of these Schutztruppe khaki trousers, though not all, were piped in matching blue.

On the khaki tropical uniform NCO rank insignia was worn in the form of inverted chevrons on the upper left arm (see below left). The three chevrons worn by this NCO identify him as a Senior Sergeant or Vizefeldwebel (see NCO Rank Insignia Page).

Almost all troops in South West Africa irrespective of rank, wore the regulation Südwester slouch hat (see right) with edging and hat band in blue for South West Africa (after 1896) and pinned up at the right side with a large Imperial cockade in black/white/red. Tropical helmets were not issued to the Schutztruppe in South West Africa.

The South West African Schutztruppe wore a unique and distinctive style of brown leather personal equipment (see below right). This NCO wears the latest of three different designs of this style of equipment. The first early pattern had only six ammunition pouches along the front and two on each side of the back buckled around the back. The pouch flaps were held in place with a leather strap. The second variation had two extra ammunition pouches- one up each shoulder strap on the front. The third and final variation, as seen here, had brass studs in addition to the leather straps to help hold down the pouch flap.

As the majority of the Schutztruppe in South West African were mounted troops their boots were also of a unique riding style, long with a removable stirrup patch over the front. This NCO is armed with the latest Mauser 98 rifle (or possibly carbine) as were all the South West African Schutztruppe by 1914.

 

Figure 2 is based on a photograph of a Bugler of the South West African Schutztruppe taken while on parade in South West Africa. German Schutztruppe musicians wore the traditional imperial army swallows nests on their shoulders in silver on blue, with a fringe for band masters. Buglers from mounted units (as shown here) wore swallows nests with the stripes at a 60 degree slope.


Schutztruppe Khaki Tunic
(See Schutztruppe Khaki Tunic Details Page)
Photo Copyright Doppler
Schutztruppe Südwester
(See Südwester Details Page)
Photo Copyright Doppler
Schutztruppe Rank Chevrons
(See Schutztruppe Khaki Tunic Details Page)
Photo Copyright Doppler

Apart from that his uniform is the standard Schutztruppe blue piped khaki tropical tunic or Feldrock, note its plain rear without buttons or piping. This musician wears brown corduroy breeches. The South West African Schutztruppe often wore the durable cord riding breeches from their corduroy uniforms especially when mounted (see South West African Schutztruppe Cold Weather Uniforms Page). These corduroy breeches came in varying shades from grey/brown to khaki.

He wears brown ankle boots with leather gaiters which were sometimes worn instead of riding boots. He also carries a short '98 pattern bayonet with a bayonet knot in blue and white identifying him as belonging to the 4th Field Company. Originally the other ranks of the Schutztruppe of South West Africa wore all white bayonet knots, later the same system of company identification colours was used as in the regular German army. NCOs wore bayonet knots in twisted black/white/red wool. Senior NCOs and officers wore sword knots in twisted black/silver/red.


Schutztruppe Bugle
 (See Rödelsee Museum Collection Page)
Photo Copyright Arne Schöfert
Figure 3 is based on a photograph of an Officer of the South West African Schutztruppe serving on the staff of Lieutenant Colonel (Oberstleutnant) von Heydebreck (the commander of the Schutztruppe for South West Africa from 1911-14) taken on training manoeuvres in 1913. He wears the Feldrock which was the same for Officers as for other ranks, if sometimes of better quality and cut due to private tailoring. Officers shoulder straps were of silver braid with black and red threads (see below right and also the Officers Rank Insignia Page). This officer wears the peaked field cap worn by all ranks (see right). It was in grey cloth to match the Home Uniform, with a hatband and piping around the upper edge in cornflower blue for South West Africa. It had a small imperial cockade at the front. 

Unusually this officer wears grey puttees with short ankle boots. Riding boots or short boots with gaiters were more normally worn by the Schutztruppe in South West Africa. The Mounted Equipment with ammunition pouches all around was not usually worn by officers. More typically as seen here, officers carried a Sam Brown style belt. This officer also carries field glasses which were particularly useful on campaign across open desert terrain.


Peaked Field Cap
(See Rödelsee Museum Collection Page)
Photo Copyright Arne Schöfert
   
Figure 4 is based on a photograph of a Officer of the South West African Schutztruppe, Hauptmann von Estorff probably taken during the Herero Rebellion 1904-07, and is typical of how Schutztruppe officers appeared on campaign up until 1915. As with the previous figure, his uniform is the same as that of the other ranks, except of better quality cloth with a higher standing collar and officers' braided  shoulder straps (see right and also see Officers Rank Insignia Page). He wears the regulation Südwester hat as worn by most South West African Schutztruppe irrespective of rank. Officer's privately made Südwesters often had more elaborate cockades (see below right). He also wears cord riding breeches with short boots and gaiters as typically worn by officers.

Ludwig von Estorff (1859-1943) served in the 81st (1st Thuringia) Infantry Regt before transferring to the South West African Schutztruppe from 1894-1911 during both the Herero and Hottentot Rebellions. After victory at the Battle of Waterberg in 1904, he tried to accept the surrender of the Ovaherero people promising to resettle them peacefully, but was over-ruled by the then Schutztruppe commander Lothar von Trotha who ordered them to be interned as part of his notorious drive against the rebellious tribes. Hauptmann (Captain) von Estorff was initially a company commander but was promoted to Major in 1906 and Oberst (Colonel) in command of the Schutztruppe in South West Africa from 1907 until his retirement back to Germany in 1911. During the First World War he was wounded in September 1914 while in command of the 68th Infantry Brigade on the Western Front, was awarded the Pour Le Merite in 1917 and eventually briefly commanded the 8th Army Group as Military Governor of Königsberg (modern Kalingrad) on the Eastern Front.

Figure 5 is based on a pre-war photograph of an Schutztruppe Trooper in shirt-sleeve order probably taken during the Herero Rebellion 1904-07. Although as mentioned the temperature became very cold at night in the deserts of South West Africa, it was also very hot in the daytime. Officers and other ranks were often seen in shirtsleeve order on campaign. This trooper also wears the matching peaked field cap as worn by all ranks with piping and hatband in blue for South West Africa and a small black/white/red imperial cockade on the front (see above right). He wears his regulation white shirt, khaki breeches (see right) and riding boots. 


Officer's Shoulder Straps
 (See Schutztruppe Insignia Page)
Photo Copyright Doppler

Officer's Südwester Cockade
(See Südwester Details Page)
Photo Copyright Doppler
   


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