German Colonial Uniforms

Tropical Helmets
Reproduced from the Doppler Collection by kind permission
(except where stated)

Various styles of tropical helmets were worn by the Schutztruppe, the navy, officials and police forces in the colonies. The navy and Schutztruppe each had separate styles. The naval style helmets had a rounded front brim and a folding back and the original Schutztruppe issue helmets were tall with a pointed front brim. Schutztruppe and Polizeitruppe officers and NCOs were also issued and privately purchased a wide variety of tropical helmets, varying in shape and construction. Obsolete, civilian and captured helmets were also worn during the First World War (the British tropical helmets being particularly popular amongst German officers in East Africa later in the war).

The traditional tropical helmet was made of lightweight cork covered by khaki cloth, although production methods varied. Some tropical helmets worn by high ranking officers and officials were worn on parade with a pickelhaube spike. These spikes were not worn in action.

Tropical helmets were also issued in white to match white tropical uniforms for the Schutztruppe and also to match white naval, police and official's uniforms. In action these white helmets were sometimes worn with a khaki cover. The practice of dyeing white uniforms into a light brown shade with tea, coffee or local plant extracts could not be applied to tropical helmets as the cork disintegrated in boiling water.

Naval style tropical helmets were also issued to the East Asian Expeditionary Corps and later to the Asienkorps fighting on Ottoman fronts in Palestine and to some German troops fighting in warmer climates in Southern Europe such as Macedonia and the Balkans.

Curiously the tropical helmet was very rarely seen in South West Africa and was not standard issue to the Schutztruppe there.

Please respect the owner's generosity in sharing these photos with us by not reproducing them without prior permission.

(Click on the pictures below to enlarge)



Schutztruppe tropical helmet 1	Schutztruppe tropical helmet 2	Schutztruppe tropical helmet 3
This is a variation on the Schutztruppe tropical helmet. It would usually be worn with a braided cord around the hatband similar to the shoulder straps (ie.silver for officers, twisted black/white/red for other ranks). Cockades like this one were worn, however this particular one has been added since. In action cokades and braid were often discarded or lost.	A look at the right hand side of the tropical helmet showing its shape.	A look underneath of the tropical helmet showing the interior. As can be seen this helmet is made from woven straw.

Naval tropical helmet 1	Naval tropical helmet 2	Naval tropical helmet 3
This photo shows the naval style tropical helmet as issued to naval landing parties and marine units such as the III. Seebatallion. This particular helmet however is not of naval issue and appears to have come from the East Asian Occupation Brigade- as can be seen from its issue stamp and the lack of a naval anchor on the brass eagle. Also note that the eagle is slightly damaged and has lost the crown from the eagle's head. One possibility is that the helmet was re-used after the war in Germany in some capacity, in which case it was common to break the crowns from insignia in the early days of the new republic.	This photo shows the naval style tropical helmet from the right hand side.	A view of the rear of the helmet showing its very curious fold up design. While the helmet itself was made of cork, the front and rear peaks were made of rubber, all covered with khaki cloth. Because of this the back brim of the helmet could be folded upwards for comfort if needed.

Naval tropical helmet 4	Naval tropical helmet 5	Naval tropical helmet 6
This photo shows the inside of the naval style helmet. Again note the fold up crease and also its 1902 BAO (Bekleidung Amt Ost Asien) East Asian issuing office stamp.	Another view of the same helmet this time with its rounded neck shade in place..	A close up look at the hook and eye attachment of the neck shade.

Officer's tropical helmet (East Africa) 1	Officer's tropical helmet (East Africa) 2	Officer's tropical helmet (East Africa) 3
This appears to be an East African Schutztruppe other ranks helmet from the early 1890's. It is quite possibly privately made. Eagles were no longer regularly worn on Schutztruppe helmets and certainly not on active service by the time of the 1914-18 war, although individual obsolete helmets such as this may possibly have found their way into service via old soldiers re-joining the reserves at the outbreak of war in 1914.	A view of the side of the old style helmet.	A view of the underneath and interior of the helmet.

British Wolseley Tropical helmet 1	British Wolseley Tropical helmet 2
This was the most commonly issued tropical helmet to the British forces serving on all overseas fronts in the First World War. It was also popular with the German Schutztruppe in East Africa when captured, sometimes with the addition of a black/white/red cockade. Von Lettow-Vorbeck himself even wore one. This particular example has had insects added by the museum as part of the display. (Imperial War Museum Collection)	A side view of the British Tropical helmet. (Imperial War Museum Collection)

Please email the webmaster here if you have any items you'd be willing to photograph and show on this website.

Back to Main Menu for German Colonial Uniforms