The German Army in the Ottoman Empire 1916-18
"Asienkorps" Tropical Uniforms

Figure 1
Asienkorps Infantry Officer

Figure 2
Asienkorps Artillery NCO

Figure 3
Asienkorps Cavalry NCO

Figure 4
Asienkorps Medic

Figure 5
Asienkorps Infantryman

Tropical Uniforms of the Asienkorps
Although most German troops in the Ottoman Empire wore either standard German field grey or Ottoman khaki uniforms (see German and Ottoman Uniforms Page), the 1917 Pascha II Expedition (often known as the "Asienkorps") was issued khaki tropical uniforms.

The tunics were newly designed and made, although based on previous Schutztruppe, Seebatallion and East Asian experience. The standard model had a stand and fall collar, plain cuffs, no piping, four straight unpleated patch pockets, each fastened with a brass button and six brass buttons down the front. These buttons were made from dull brass, domed in shaped and featured a Prussian eagle design as worn by the German army on European fronts. The rear of the tunic was plain and without buttons. Several slight variations to this tunic have been seen in photographs. Some of these are slight differences seen on issued uniforms, others (for senior NCOs and officers) are due to private tailoring and sometimes include the use of eight buttons down the front and higher standing collars. Shoulder straps for other ranks were often plain but some may have had unit numbers in red with a piping in arm of service colours (white for infantry, red for cavalry and staff, and black piped in red for artillery, machine gun units, pioneers and transport troops). Officers shoulder straps showed their rank insignias and were the same as for the German army in Europe (see Officers Rank Insignia Page). NCO rank was shown as shortened dull grey lace and buttons on the collar as was also worn by the German army in Europe at the time (see NCO Rank Insignia Page).

Their headgear came from existing surplus East Asian Brigade stock consisted of either a tropical helmet or a peaked khaki cap. The tropical helmet was of the pattern used by the imperial navy and Seebatallione with a hatband in arm of service colour (white for infantry, red for cavalry and staff, and black piped in red for artillery, machine gun units, pioneers and transport troops) and a large imperial cockade on the right hand side. In some photographs this cockade can be seen worn at the front of the hatband and in at least one photograph it is worn on the left hand side. The large brass imperial eagle on the front of the helmet worn by the East Asian Brigade was usually discarded. The khaki field cap was also of the type previously issued to the East Asian troops and had a small imperial cockade above a state cockade with no hatband or piping colours. It had a rounded peak and chinstrap made of brown leather. Both the tropical helmet and the peaked cap could be worn with removable khaki neck shades. The tropical helmet was soon withdrawn from use in action as it looked too similar to the Wolsey tropical helmet worn by British troops and thus caused friendly fire incidents.

Officers were also authorised to wear privately purchased white tropical uniforms for use away from the front line. These white uniforms were of the same cut as the khaki uniforms and could be worn with a white peaked cap, also of the same design as the khaki peaked cap (see Pilots Uniforms on Ottoman Fronts Page).

Other items of tropical clothing also used by the Asienkorps included khaki puttees, khaki sand scarves, mosquito veils and sand goggles. Aside from these items most of the equipment carried by members of the Asienkorps was of the same type as used by the German army on European fronts at this stage in the war. It was of blackened leather with 1909 pattern ammunition pouches and held at the front with a dull grey belt buckle featuring the Prussian crown surrounded by a laurel wreath and the motto "Gott mit Uns" (see Belt Buckle Details Page). 

The Asienkorps also brought their field grey uniforms with them for wear during cold weather. Again due to the khaki uniforms similarity to British uniforms and other impracticalities in wear and issue, during 1918 they were largely replaced by standard European issue field grey for all ranks. A few photographs show members of the Asienkorps wearing a mixture khaki and field grey such as a khaki tropical helmet with khaki tunic and field grey trousers and puttees.

Figure 1 is based on a photograph of an Officer of the Asienkorps parading through Istanbul on their way to the frontline. He wears the khaki uniform as described above. Note the large brass imperial eagle of the front of the helmet (see right) which was usually removed on active duty, the hatband in arm of service colour (in this case white for infantry) and the large imperial cockade on the right hand side. This officer wears an Iron Cross second class in his buttonhole and carries a sword which would not have been carried in action.

Figure 2 is based on a photograph of an NCO of the Asienkorps taken in Palestine in about 1917. He also wears the khaki uniform as described above. Note in this case the brass eagle has been removed from the front of the helmet. His hatband is in black with red edging for the artillery, pioneers, machine gun units and transport troops. A large imperial cockade is worn at the front of the helmet. His rank ("Sergeant") is shown by a strip of sliver/grey braid at the front and lower edge of the collar (usually abbreviated to just the corner of the collar by this stage in the war) with a brass button behind it. He also wears an Iron Cross second class ribbon in his buttonhole which would probably have been awarded for prior service on European fronts. He is armed with a Mauser Karbine 98, which in the original photograph upon which this illustration is based is seen with a fixed bayonet.


Naval Pattern Tropical Helmet
 (See Tropical Helmets Details Page)
Photo Copyright Doppler
   

Figure 3 is based on a photograph of an NCO of the Asienkorps Cavalry. He also wears the khaki uniform as described above although with some slight differences to the standard issued version, the most obvious of which is the lack of breast pockets. This was a commonly seen variation. His rank ("Unteroffizier") is shown by lace around the whole front and lower edges of the collar as was usually seen earlier in the war. He wears khaki riding breeches with European issue field grey puttees and is armed with a Mauser Karbine 98 with a cover over the the stock to protect it from the elements.

Figure 4 is based on a photograph of an Asienkorps Field Medic taken in Palestine in about 1918. In the original photograph this figure is seen accompanying a camel litter to transport the wounded. He also wears the khaki uniform as described above with a medic's white armband with a red cross. He wears the Asienkorps issue khaki peaked field cap with its removable khaki neckshade, as described above. It has a small imperial cockade above a small state cockade, in this case black/white/black for Prussia- the majority of the Asienkorps was made up of Prussian units. He is armed with a Mauser Karbine 98 and carries full marching order including backpack.

Figure 5 is based on a photograph of an Asienkorps Infantryman taken in Palestine in about 1918. This figure shows the plain rear of the Asienkorps khaki tunic and the khaki field cap with neckshade attached by cords through the shade to the hatband of the cap. Note also the Y shaped straps of the equipment and the bread bag and the all important water bottle.
 

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