East Asian Expeditionary Corps 1900-01
Ostasiatisches Expeditionskorps
Khaki Tropical Uniforms

Figure 1
Prussian Infantry NCO

Figure 2
Saxon Infantry

Figure 3
Infantry

Figure 4
Artillery NCO Trumpeter
   
Figure 1 is based on a photograph of an NCO of the 1st East Asian Infantry Regiment in khaki field dress probably taken at the Expeditionary Corps' arrival in Shanghai September 1900. The straw hat was unique to the East Asian Expeditionary Corps. It was similar in style to the Südwester of the Schutztruppe but had two cockades, a large imperial (black/white/red) cockade above a smaller state cockade. In this case the state cockade is that of Prussia (black/white/black- see below for cockade details). Occasionally straw hats are seen missing the lower state cockade. The plain khaki tunic worn by the East Asian Expeditionary Corps had a small standing collar, a single pocket on the left breast, plain cuffs and six brass buttons down the front. Shoulder boards were large, in white for the infantry with the regimental number in red. Trousers were matching plain khaki.
This NCOs rank (Unteroffizier) is denoted by a strip of white lace with red and black threads along the top edge of the standing collar. NCO ranks were denoted by the same pattern of collar lace and buttons as in the regular imperial army. Officer's ranks were also denoted in the same way on their shoulder straps. He also wears a marksman's award in the form of a lanyard of twisted black/white/red braid across his right breast (see Specialist Insignia Page). As the East Asian Expeditionary Corps was an elite unit formed from the best volunteers from the whole German army, the incidence of marksman's awards was disproportionately high. Equipment and boots were made of blackened leather as was standard in the German Army of 1900.


East Asian Infantryman
(See China Pictures Page)
Damien Doppler Collection
 
 
Figure 2 is based on a photograph of an Infantryman from the 1st (Saxon) Battalion of the 2nd East Asian Infantry Regiment. He wears a similar straw hat and khaki uniform to that of Fig 1. The differences being that he wears a Saxon cockade (white/green/white- see below) below the imperial one on his straw hat and that his tunic has eight buttons down the front and cuff buttons. The standard version of the tunic had six buttons as seen in Fig 1 but several variations were seen, including some with eight buttons, some with two breast pockets and some with no breast pockets.
 

The Cockades of Imperial Germany
Imperial Cockade Prussian Cockade Bavarian Cockade Saxon Cockade Württemberg Cockade Baden Cockade
 
Figure 3 is based on a photograph of an Infantryman of the East Asian Expeditionary Corps in full kit taken from the rear. He wears the same khaki uniform and straw hat as the previous two figures. Equipment carried by the East Asian Infantry Regiments was the same black leather version as that carried by the regular imperial army of the time. He caries a hide covered back pack, with a tent quarter wrapped around its outside edge and canteen fixed to the back. The bread bag and water bottle are on the right hip while the empty bayonet scabbard is on the left hip.  
 
Figure 4 is based on a photograph of an NCO Trumpeter from the East Asian Artillery Regiment. He wears the peaked khaki field cap with removable neckshade issued to the East Asian Expeditionary Corps. It was all khaki without coloured hatband or piping, with an imperial cockade above a state cockade (in this case Prussian). This NCO also wears the East Asian Expeditionary Corps khaki tunic with NCOs lace around the top and front edges of the standing collar. The shoulder straps are red with a yellow flaming grenade for the artillery. As a musician he wears "swallows nests" in red and yellow on his shoulders (see Specialist Insignia Page). His bugle is carried and wrapped with cords in state colours (black/silver for Prussia).

This NCO also wears the dark blue/black riding breeches of his winter uniform. It was not unusual to see mixtures of winter and summer dress worn together.

By 1901 a new khaki uniform was being issued to replace those shown here. A tropical helmet was introduced to replace the straw hat along with a new tunic with a stand and fall collar and concealed front (see the East Asian Occupation Brigade Page for details of these new uniforms). It is not uncommon to see mixtures of the old and new style uniforms particularly the tropical helmet is sometimes seen with the old style tunic, indicating it was probably introduced a short time before the rest of the uniform.
 

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