Specialist Insignia
of the Schutztruppe and Other Overseas Troops

The Schutztruppe and other overseas troops wore several types of specialist insignia ("Sonderheiten Abzeichen"). Most of it was based on that of the regular army but in distinctive colours for different uniforms and branches of the overseas forces. Occasionally locally made insignia was also worn. While as much as is possible of this page has been based on period photographs it would not have been possible to complete this page without the masses of information contained in "Das Deutsche Heer Friedensuniformen bei Ausbruch des (1.) Welkrieges" by Herbert Knötel d. J., Paul Pietsch and Egon Jantke (see Illustrated Plates Page), hereafter simply referred to in the text as "Knötel".

Figure 1 Marksman	Figure 2 One Year Volunteer	Figure 3 Gun Layer	Figure 4 Gun Layer	Figure 5 Farrier
Figure 6 Musician	Figure 7 Bugler	Figure 8 Music Master	Figure 9 Qualified Horseman	Figure 10 Medic

Figure 1 shows the insignia worn by a Marksman of the Schutztruppe. This insignia consisted of a lanyard in twisted cords, from 27th January 1894 these were authorised in the imperial colours (black/white/red). The lanyard was worn with one end looped around the lower end of the shoulder strap and the other looped around a tunic button, usually the second. The award came in ten different classes.

The first class had a knotted shoulder end with a single hanging knot at the other end.
The second class had a knotted shoulder end with two hanging knots at the other end, as seen here.
The third class had a knotted shoulder end with three hanging knots at the other end.
The fourth class had a woven circular shoulder end with no hanging knot at the other end.
The fifth class had a brass shield on the shoulder end with no hanging knot at the other end.
The sixth class had a brass shield on the shoulder end with a single hanging knot at the other end.
The seventh class had a brass shield on the shoulder end with two hanging knots at the other end.
The eighth class had a brass shield on the shoulder end with three hanging knots at the other end.
The ninth class had a brass shield on the shoulder end with a single hanging knot of yellow metallic thread at the other end.
The tenth class had a brass shield on the shoulder end with two hanging knots of yellow metallic thread at the other end.

Figure 2 shows the insignia worn by a One Year Volunteer of the Schutztruppe. This insignia consisted of a twisted cord in the imperial colours around the edge of the existing shoulder strap.

One Year Volunteers had a curious position within the German armed forces. Whereas as most Germans were subject to three years conscription in the regular armed forces followed by part time participation in the the Reserve, Landwehr and Landsturm, a one year volunteer could elect to serve only one year before going onto the reserves or straight to officer training. Only the wealthy could choose to become a one year volunteer for they had to pay for their own uniform, equipment and rations. Because of this many one year volunteers' uniforms were tailor made and of superior quality, their only other distinction being the twisted cord in imperial colours around the shoulder strap. One year volunteers were added as surplus to the strength of a unit and as well as in the regular army they also served in the Seebatallione and Schutztruppe.

This illustration shows the insignia as worn on the South West African Schutztruppe 1896 home uniform (note the blue cuff for South West Africa).

Figure 3 shows the insignia worn by an artillery Gun Layer (the gunner who "lays" or "aims" the artillery piece, known in German as a "Richtkanonier") of the German South West African Schutztruppe. The insignia consisted of a gold grenade motif with flames from its top and both sides on a horizontal oval patch in the colour of the uniform. It was worn on the lower left arm.

As well as being used by the artillery batteries of the South West African Schutztruppe, this insignia may also have been used by gun layers in the East African and Cameroon Schutztruppe, although as yet I've not seen photographic evidence.

This illustration shows the insignia as worn by an NCO (note the silver lace edging the cuff) on the South West African Schutztruppe 1896 home uniform.

Figure 4 shows a variant on the insignia worn by a Gun Layer. The insignia consisted of a pair of crossed cannons and a flaming grenade embroidered on the upper left arm. It is seen in a few photographs of some gunners of a Schutztruppe Mountain Artillery Battery. This insignia is very curious in that it's not mentioned in official sources or in books such as Knötel's and has not so far been seen in any other photos aside from this one battery. Perhaps it was a locally made piece of insignia to replace the usual flaming grenade insignia of a gun layer as seen in the previous illustration. The insignia looks slightly different on different gunners in the original photograph, sometimes with the angle that the cannons cross at being slightly sharper or flatter. This would suggest that the insignia were individually made rather than mass produced. As the insignia has not been illustrated on colour plates before I only have a black and white photo upon which to base this illustration I can only guess at the colour being red, it may of course have been any dark colour..

This illustration is based on a photograph taken in Okahandja, German South West Africa 1903 and shows the insignia as worn on the Schutztruppe 1896 khaki uniform.

One other uniform variation has been seen to be worn by the Schutztruppe artillery in South West Africa. Johan Somers' book "Imperial German Uniforms and Equipment 1907-18 Vol.3" (see Book Reviews Page) shows a photograph of a gunner wearing a greatcoat with plain shoulder straps featuring the number "1" (and a grenade motif according to the author, although this cannot be confirmed from the printed photograph). This is presumably a unit number for the battery or artillery company. The colours of the strap or number cannot be made out for certain from the monochrome photograph. This is the only time I have seen unit numerals worn by the Schutztruppe.

Figure 5 shows the insignia worn by a Corporal Farrier ("Fahnenschmied"). The insignia consisted of a silver/grey horseshoe on the lower left arm. In the regular imperial army the lower rank of farrier ("Beschlagschmied") was denoted by a smaller horseshoe in the piping colour of the uniform (in this case blue), while a senior farrier ("Oberfahnenschmied") wore insignia with two concentric horseshoes (one within the other) in silver/grey, it is assumed this practice was also done in the Schutztruppe but has not been confirmed by photographs so far.

The Schutztruppe of German South West Africa were entirely mounted so would have had farriers in each company. Three Schutztruppe companies in Cameroon had mounted elements so may also have had some farriers with this insignia. It seems unlikely that this insignia would have been commonly used in the East African Schutztruppe as so few of their troops were mounted.

This illustration is based on a photograph taken in Berlin, 1894 and shows the insignia as worn by an NCO (note the silver lace edging the cuff) of the South West African Schutztruppe on the pre-1896 Kord Waffenrock (note the pointed Polish style cuffs).

Figure 6 shows the insignia worn by a Musician of the German South West African Schutztruppe. Musicians of the imperial German armed forces wore insignia on both shoulders known as a Swallow's Nest ("Schwalbennest"). These swallows nests came in a variety of colours and variations depending on the unit and the type of musician. The basic swallows nest was made of two colours- the base of which was in one colour, with eight vertical stripes underlined by one horizontal stripe in a second colour. German musicians in the Schutztruppe wore swallows nests with the base in blue and the stripes in silver/grey as illustrated here. Although this illustration shows the insignia as worn on a khaki uniform, the swallow's nest of the Schutztruppe remained the same colours on corduroy, tropical white and home grey uniforms.

This illustration is based on a photograph taken in German South West Africa c1914 and shows the insignia as worn on the Schutztruppe 1896 khaki uniform.

Figure 7 shows the insignia worn by a Mounted Bugler of the German South West African Schutztruppe. Mounted buglers were distinguished by swallows nests with seven stripes sloped at a 60 degree angle sloping from the bottom edge at the front to the top at the rear, thus a pair of such nests would look opposite to each other. Again the colours of the swallows nests have the base in blue and the stripes in silver/grey. The Schutztruppe of Cameroon and German East Africa did not have German mounted buglers.

This illustration is based on a photograph taken in German South West Africa c1914 and shows the insignia as worn on the Schutztruppe 1896 khaki uniform.

Figure 8 shows the insignia worn by a Music Master of the Cameroon Schutztruppe. The swallows nests of Master Musicians and band leaders had a fringe on the bottom edge, usually in the same colour as the stripes of the swallows nest. In this case the base of the  swallows nest is in red with silver lace pointed stripes stripes of red and black thread. The fringe is also in silver lace. There were some differences between different band leaders swallows nests in the Schutztruppe, some having blue as the base colour and silver as the stripe and fringe colour, and some not having the pointed stripes. The shoulder strap is in red braid with a brass lyre insignia. This was also the shoulder strap insignia worn by music masters in the regular imperial army although, again variations may have occurred amongst different Schutztruppe band leaders. The rank of music master in the regular army was also distinguished in the regular army by wearing a belt buckle with a lyre in the centre rather than a crown. This distinction may also have been worn by the Schutztruppe.

This illustration shows the insignia as worn on the Schutztruppe 1896 white tropical uniform.

Figure 9 shows the insignia worn by a Qualified Horseman of the German South West African Schutztruppe. A twisted woollen cord was worn on the shoulder strap by graduates of the one year course at the Military Riding School in Hannover and also by personnel attached to and former personnel of the Lehr-Infanterie-Batallion of the regular imperial army based in Potsdam.

This illustration shows the insignia as worn by an NCO of the South West African Schutztruppe 1896 on the grey home uniform.

Figure 10 shows the insignia worn by a Medic of the German East African Schutztruppe. The insignia consisted of a Rod of Asclepius (a snake twisted around a staff) in yellow metallic thread on an oval patch of the same colour as the uniform worn on the upper right arm. 

This illustration shows the insignia as worn by an NCO on the East African Schutztruppe 1896 home uniform (note the white cuff for German East Africa).

Figure 1 Signals Abteilung	Figure 2 Medic and Musician	Figure 3 Music Player	Figure 4 Gunner and Marksman	Figure 5 Polizeitruppe Ombascha

Figure 1 shows the insignia worn by an askari of the Signals Abteilung of the German East African Schutztruppe . The insignia consisted of a red pair of crossed flags on a white vertical oval patch worn on the upper left arm. 

This illustration is based on a photograph taken in German East Africa c1914.

Figure 2 shows the insignia worn by an askari Medic and Musician of the German East African Schutztruppe. The Medic's insignia consisted of a red cross on a circular white patch worn on the upper left arm. Not all askari medics and stretcher bearers wore this insignia. Some simply wore a red cross on a white armband which was the common distinction worn by most medics and stretcher bearers in Germany's home and overseas forces. In this case the askari also wears the shoulder swallows nest insignia of an askari musician. 

Figure 4 shows the insignia worn by an askari Artillery Gunner and Marksman of the German East African Schutztruppe. The gunner's insignia consisted of a red flaming grenade motif with flames emitting from the top and both sides on a white horizontal oval patch worn on the upper left arm. I have yet to ascertain for certain but this insignia may have been exclusive to askari gun layers rather than all gunners.

The askari marksmanship award consisted of stripes of white lace with black and red threads worn on both lower arms.

The first class had a single bar of lace.
The second class had two bars of lace.
The third class had three bars of lace (as illustrated here).
The fourth class had a double thickness bar of lace.
The fifth class had a double thickness bar of lace and one bar of lace above.
The sixth class had a double thickness bar of lace and two bars of lace above.

The grades of marksmanship award may have gone higher than the sixth class, but as yet I've seen no confirmation of this. Photographs often show marksmanship and gunner awards on the same askaris so it is reasonable to assume gunners were picked from the best marksmen. These marksmanship awards were exclusive to askaris of the German East African Schutztruppe. 

This illustration is based on a photograph taken in German East Africa c1914.

Figure 5 shows the insignia worn by an askari of the Polizeitruppe or police troops. The insignia consisted of a red letter "P" on a white vertical oval patch worn on the upper left arm. This Polizei-Askari also wears the single red rank chevron of an Ombascha or lance corporal. The East African Polizeitruppe askaris are not usually seen wearing any other forms of specialist insignia except for marksman ship awards on their cuffs as worn by the Schutztruppe.

This illustration is based on a photograph taken in German East Africa c1914

Figure 1 Farrier	Figure 2 Telegraphist	Figure 3 Pioneer	Figure 4 Gun Layer	Figure 5 Signaller
Figure 6 Standard Bearer	Figure 7 Music Player	Figure 8 Musician	Figure 9 Music Master	Figure 10 One Year Volunteer

Figure 1 shows the insignia worn by a Corporal Farrier of the Mounted Company of the III. Seebatallion. The insignia consisted of a horseshoe worn on the lower left arm in imperial colours on the khaki tropical uniform or yellow metallic thread on the blue peacetime uniform. See the section above on the Schutztruppe farriers for information on other farrier ranks.

This illustration shows the insignia as worn by the III. Seebatallion on the khaki tropical uniform.

Figure 2 shows the insignia worn by a member of the Telegraph Abteilung of the III. Seebatallion. The insignia consisted of a pair of crossed lightening bolts worn on the lower left arm. They were in in yellow metallic thread on the blue peacetime uniform. The telegraph Abteilung of the III. Seebatallion was further distinguished by having the letter T on the shoulder strap button rather then the usual company number. 

This illustration shows the insignia as worn by the III. Seebatallion on the blue peacetime uniform.

Figure 3 shows the insignia worn by a member of the Pioneer Company of the III. Seebatallion. The insignia consisted of a red crossed spade and axe on a white vertical oval patch on the Litewka tunic as seen here. On the blue peacetime uniform it was in yellow metallic thread on a blue patch, and on the khaki uniform it was in red on a khaki patch. Photographs also show the same red on white patch was sometimes used on the khaki uniform. The patch was always worn on the upper left arm. The Pioneer Company of the III. Seebatallion wore the number "7" for the 7th company of the III. Seebatallion on their shoulder strap button and were further distinguished by having their shoulder board insignia in red rather than the usual yellow on white.

This illustration is based on a photograph taken in Tsingtao c1914 and shows the insignia as worn on the 1900 grey Litewka.

Figure 4 shows the insignia worn by a Gun Layer of the Field Artillery Battery of the III. Seebatallion. The insignia was worn on the lower left arm and consisted of a flaming grenade symbol in yellow metallic thread on a badge of the same colour as the tunic. The Field Artillery Battery of the III. Seebatallion were further distinguished by having a flaming grenade symbol superimposed on the crossed anchors of their shoulder straps.

This illustration shows the insignia as worn by the III. Seebatallion on the khaki tropical uniform.

Figure 5 shows the insignia worn by a Signaller of the Seebatallione. The insignia was worn on the upper right arm and consisted of a pair of crossed flags on a circular patch of the same colour as the tunic. Knötel illustrates these flags as having two red flags with white centre squares, although an unverified surviving item has been seen with a red flag on the right and a white one on the left as worn by the regular imperial army and illustrated here.

This illustration shows the insignia as worn by the III. Seebatallion on the blue peacetime uniform.

Figure 6 shows the insignia worn by a Standard Bearer of the Seebatallione. Unlike the Schutztruppe which had no company, battalion or regimental standards, the three Seebatallione each had a standard and therefore a stand bearer. The insignia was worn on the upper right arm and consisted of a shield shaped patch in the colour of the tunic. On the patch was embroidered the imperial crown above two crossed miniature versions of the battalion standard above the imperial monogram "W II" for Wilhelm II. Standard Bearers were further distinguished by wearing a brass gorget around the neck. The gorget had a crowned imperial monogram in the centre with a standard on either side. In each corner of the gorget was a flaming grenade. On parade standard bearers wore a sash from the left shoulder to the right waist in white with gold edging on both sides. The sash had a brass holder decorated with the monogram "W II" to support the weight of the standard while marching.

This illustration shows the insignia as worn by an NCO (note the yellow metallic edging the cuff) of the III. Seebatallion on the blue home uniform.

Recommended External Link- Kolonial Flaggen for an illustration of the standard of the III. Seebatallion.

Figure 7 shows the insignia worn by a Music Player of the III. Seebatallion. Musicians of the Seebatallione were divided into two grades- Musician ("Musiker") and Player ("Spielmann"). The insignia of a player on the khaki tropical uniform, as illustrated here, consisted of  swallows nests on both shoulders with the base colour being khaki with the stripes in white. On the blue peacetime uniform and the Litewka the base colour was blue.

This illustration shows the insignia as worn by the III. Seebatallion on the khaki tropical uniform.

Figure 8 shows the insignia worn by a Musician of the III. Seebatallion. The higher ranking musicians wore swallows nests with a khaki or blue base and stripes in yellow or yellow metallic thread. Mounted buglers of the III. Seebatallion Mounted Company wore sloped yellow stripes on their swallows nests as described above for Schutztruppe buglers.

This illustration shows the insignia as worn by the III. Seebatallion on the khaki tropical uniform.

Figure 9 shows the insignia worn by a Master Musician of the Seebatallione. The Seebatallione music masters swallows nest had a white base with pointed stripes in lace striped with the imperial colours and with a silver fringe. The shoulder strap was white edged with lace in imperial colours and had a brass imperial crown above a lyre. The rank of music master in the regular army was also distinguished in the regular army by wearing a belt buckle with a lyre in the centre rather than a crown. This distinction may also have been worn by the Seebatallione.

This illustration shows the insignia as worn by the III. Seebatallion on the blue peacetime uniform.

Figure 10 shows the insignia worn by a One Year Volunteer of the Seebatallione. This insignia consisted of a twisted cord in the imperial colours around the existing shoulder strap. The status of One Year Volunteers has been discussed above in the section on specialist insignia of the German Schutztruppe.

This illustration shows the insignia as worn by the III. Seebatallion on the M1893 blue Litewka.

The Seebatallione also wore some of the same specialist insignia as worn by the German Schutztruppe above. Marksmanship lanyards and the twisted woollen shoulder strap band (in imperial colours) for graduates of the Riding School in Hanover or those attached to the Lehr-Infanterie-Bataillon, were both worn. The Rod of Asclepius medic's badge may also have been worn by Seebatallion medics although I've seen no reference to its use or photographs to confirm it.

Figure 1 Bavarian Marksman East Asian Expeditionary Corps	Figure 2 Stretcher Bearer Asienkorps	Figure 3 Customs Soldier Cameroon Polizeitruppe	Figure 4 Music Master Togo Polizeitruppe	Figure 5 Gunner Imperial Navy

Figure 1 shows the insignia worn by a Bavarian Marksman of the East Asian Expeditionary Corps. The East Asian Expeditionary Corps wore marksman's lanyards with the different classes as described above for the Schutztruppe. 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 compared to other units.

The East Asian Expeditionary Corps was an imperial army formation made up of different state contingents. Therefore marksmanship lanyards had been issued with differing details for each of the royal armies that made up the German imperial army. The Prussian and Württemberg marksmen wore lanyards of black, white and red cords (as seen above worn by the Schutztruppe), the Bavarian marksmen wore white and blue cords (as illustrated here) and the Saxon marksmen wore white and green cords. The brass shield worn on by the fifth to tenth class awards also had state variations. Each state's shield had the monogram of the king ("W II" for the Kings Wilhelm II of Prussia and Württemberg and "A" for King Albert of Saxony) surrounded by a wreath and topped with their royal crown. The Bavarian marksmen's shield for the 5th-10th class awards was in white metal (except for the 9th and 10th classes which wore brass) and instead of a monogram had a smaller shield divided into blue and white lozenges inside the wreath and Bavarian crown.

As a part of the regular imperial army, the East Asian Expeditionary Corps wore the same specialist insignia as the imperial army including many of the insignia illustrated above for the Schutztruppe and Seebatallione. They would have worn musician's swallow's nests, standard bearer's insignia (each East Asian Regiment having it's own standard), farrier's insignia, gun layer's insignia, signalmen's insignia, medic's insignia, one year volunteer's insignia and cavalry fencing awards ("Fechterabzeichen"- a series of chevrons in state colours, silver and yellow metallic thread worn on the upper right arm). On all these items of insignia where a monogram or crown was worn they were of the individual Kingdoms' variety for the troops of Bavaria, Saxony and Württemberg. Likewise the braiding in imperial colours such as on the  One Year Volunteers insignia was in the colours of the individual Kingdoms.

This illustration is based on a photograph taken in Germany in 1900 and shows the lanyard for a third class marksman as worn on the light blue 1893 Bavarian Litewka. In the original photograph the class of the award cannot be positively identified.

Figure 2 shows the insignia worn by a Stretcher Bearer of the Asienkorps. Perhaps the most obvious piece of specialist insignia not mentioned so far would be the red cross armband. This international symbol of the medic or stretcher bearer was of course worn by all of Germany's home and overseas forces. Examples of the red cross armband have been seen in photographs worn by the Schutztruppe of German East Africa and Cameroon, the Seebatallione, the East Asian Expeditionary Corps and the Asienkorps as seen here. It was presumably also worn by the South West African Schutztruppe although I have not seen photographic confirmation of this.

As a part of the regular imperial army, the Asienkorps wore the same specialist insignia as the imperial army, although by the stage in the war when the Asienkorps were deployed (late 1916) many specialist insignia had been made largely redundant. These redundant insignia included the marksmanship lanyard, standard bearer's insignia (the Asienkorps carried no standards as far as I know), one year volunteer's insignia and cavalry fencing awards. Some of the specialist insignia illustrated above for the Schutztruppe and Seebatallione that was still in use by the regular army in 1916-18 (although now in duller colours) included the musician's swallow's nests, farrier's insignia, gun layer's insignia, signalmen's insignia and medic's insignia. These insignia would all have presumably been used by the Asienkorps although so far I've only seen photographic proof of musicians' swallows nests and medic's Rod of Asclepius arm badge in use in Palestine.

This illustration is based on a photograph taken in Palestine c1917 and shows the armband being worn on the Asienkorps 1916 tropical khaki tunic. The shoulder strap is piped in white for infantry and bears the red numeral "703" for the 703rd Infantry Battalion. In the original photograph the battalion numeral cannot be positively identified.

Figure 3 shows the insignia worn by a Customs soldier of the Cameroon Polizeitruppe. The insignia consisted of a red letter "Z" (for "Zoll"- customs in German) above the usual Cameroon pointed red cuff edging. This insignia has been reported by several sources such as Reinhard Schneider's "Die Kaiserliche Schutz- und Polizeitruppe für Afrika" and the Waldorf Astoria Cigarette Card Album but has not so far been seen in photographs. It may have been authorised as late as 1913 and was possibly not actually issued before the outbreak of the First World War.

Musicians of the Cameroon Schutztruppe wore swallow's nests. They were probably divided into two grades, as with East African Schutztruppe askaris described above- Musician ("Musiker") and Player ("Spielmann") and wore the same swallow's nests as the East African askaris illustrated above.

No other specialist insignia has been confirmed as worn by the African troops in the Cameroon Schutztruppe from photographic evidence.   According to Schneider the Ortspolizei (a regional police force) in Cameroon wore a red letter "P" on a white vertically oval patch as worn by the East African Polizeitruppe (illustrated above). No photographic evidence of this has yet been seen.

Figure 4 shows the insignia worn by a Master Musician of the Togo Polizeitruppe. Musicians of the Lome-based Togo Polizeitruppe band wore swallow's nests. From photographic evidence it appears that musicians in regional police companies did not wear swallow's nests. The Lome band musicians were probably divided into two grades, as with East African Schutztruppe askaris- Musician ("Musiker") and Player ("Spielmann") and wore the same swallow's nests as the East African askaris illustrated above. What is unusual is that photographs show an African band leader in the Lome Polizeitruppe band. The band leaders and music masters of the other colonies were exclusively German. The Togo band leader wears the music master's fringe on his swallows nests. Unfortunately from the photograph it is impossible to be certain of the colours of this band leader's swallows nests but it is reasonable to assume they would be based on those of the band musicians, ie. a red base with white or silver stripes and fringe.

No other specialist insignia has been confirmed as worn by Togo Polizeitruppe from photographic evidence. According to Schneider the Ortspolizei (a regional police force) in Togo wore a red letter P on a white vertically oval patch as worn by the East African Polizeitruppe (illustrated above). Again no photographic evidence of this has been seen yet.

This illustration is based on a photograph taken in Lome, Togo c1914 and illustrates the insignia as worn on the Togo Police tunic, this tunic had a single yellow metallic lace cuff bar on each cuff and no shoulder straps.

Other Colonial Police Forces - such as those in German South West Africa, New Guinea, Samoa and Tsingtao are not known to have worn any specialist insignia.

Please contact me here if you have more information or photos on this topic. 

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