German Togo
African Other Ranks in the Polizeitruppe

Figure 1
Police NCO
c1887

Figure 2
Police Soldier
c1894

Figure 3
Police Soldier
c1914

Figure 4
Police Soldier
c1914

Uniforms of the African Other Ranks of the Togo Polizeitruppe

Uniforms 1880s-1890s
The earliest uniforms of the Togo Polizeitruppe were white and of naval cut with full length sleeves and three quarter length trousers. The naval collar was edged in red and a red sash was worn around the waist under the belt. Headdress consisted of a plain red felt fez with a blue/black tassel. No boots or puttees were worn.

In 1887 this uniform was replaced by a new blue uniform. This uniform has been described by several sources (including Haupt, Abbott, Somers and Schneider- see Book Reviews Page) but so far I have yet to come across photographs of it (please email me here if you have seen any). This uniform is described as consisting of a dark blue tunic with brass buttons and red piping and shoulder straps, and knee length dark blue trousers. Headgear consisted of a white cap with a white peak. The cap was replaced in 1890 with what is described as a Prussian Infantry cap (in which case it would also be dark blue, with red piping and hatband and possibly without a peak) with a small imperial cockade. A red sash was again worn around the waist.

Uniforms 1890s-1914
In 1891 new headgear was introduced in the from of a red rolled felt fez similar to that worn in Cameroon with a brass imperial eagle badge and a blue/black tassel. This was followed in 1894 by a new khaki uniform, similar to those worn by African other ranks in Cameroon and East Africa. The Togo Polizeitruppe version had five or six brass buttons down the front and no pockets or shoulder straps (although variations existed and at least one photograph shows plain shoulder straps worn by the Polizeitruppe band in Lome). The standing collar was red with yellow (possibly metallic) lace around the front and upper edge. The cuffs also had a band of similar yellow lace around them. The tunic was usually worn tucked into a red sash around the waist. The trousers were of matching khaki and usually gathered below the knee (although some photographs show NCOs wearing full length trousers). As with previous Togo Polizeitruppe uniforms they were usually worn without puttees or boots (although at least one photograph shows an NCO wearing puttees sometime between 1910 and 1914).

From about 1910 onwards a dark khaki peaked cap began to replace the fez. It had a black leather peak and a red hatband with a small imperial cockade on the front. From photographic evidence it appears that this cap was first issued to NCOs, while other ranks still wore the fez. Later photographs show whole units wearing the peaked cap although some of the Togo Polizeitruppe may have retained the fez up until 1914.

Insignia
NCO rank insignia was worn in the form of a number of individual red chevrons worn on both arms. The number of chevrons denoting each rank was the same as for the Schutztruppe askaris of East Africa (see NCO Rank Insignia Page). From period photographs it appears that these chevrons varied in size and positioning, some are seen as being quite small on the upper arms while others are seen to be considerably larger and on the lower arms. Unusually, senior African NCOs in Togo carried a sword, although probably not usually in action.

From photographic evidence it appears that musicians in regional police companies did not usually wear swallow's nests although the Lome based Polizeitruppe band did wear them. The Lome band musicians were probably divided into two grades, as with the East African Schutztruppe askaris- Musician ("Musiker") and Player ("Spielmann") and wore the same coloured swallow's nests (see Specialist Insignia Page). One photograph shows an African Music Master wearing fringed swallow's nests. No other specialist insignia has been confirmed as worn by the Togo Polizeitruppe from photographic evidence. According to Schneider (see Book Reviews Page) the Ortspolizei (regional police force) in Togo wore a red letter P on a white vertically oval patch as worn by the East African Polizeitruppe (again see Specialist Insignia Page).

Equipment and Weapons
The earliest Togo Polizeitruppe carried the old Prussian single large cartridge box and the Mauser Karbine 71. From 1888 these were gradually replaced with 1871 pattern ammunition pouches worn one on each side of a plain brass belt buckle (see Belt Buckles Details Page) and the Mauser Gewehr 71 and Jägerbüsche 71. By 1914 the Togo Polizeitruppe were also armed with Maxim machine guns.

The Illustrations

Figure 1 is based on a photograph of a Togo Police NCO possibly taken in the late 1880's. He wears the first uniform issued to the Togo Polizeitruppe consisting of a white naval style top edged in red and a plain red felt fez as described above.

The original photograph upon which this illustration is based is slightly blurred and so details are difficult to make out. It is in the form of a postcard, hand dated 1899 though the photograph may have been taken much earlier. Alternatively it may prove that the white naval uniform was still in limited use after 1887, when according to most sources it was replaced by the blue and later khaki uniforms.

This NCO is distinguished by having what appears to be a single dark chevron on each cuff showing him to be a Gefreiter.

Figure 2 is based on a photograph of a Togo Police Soldier ("Polizei-Soldat") taken in about 1894. He wears the red fez with a brass imperial eagle and blue/black tassel and the newly introduced khaki uniform as described above.

Figure 3 is based on a photograph of a Togo Police Soldier taken in Lome sometime between 1910 and 1914. He wears the same khaki uniform as the previous figure but with the dark khaki peaked cap introduced around 1910.

Figure 4 is based on a photograph of a Togo Police Soldier taken in Lome sometime between 1910 and 1914. He wears the same khaki uniform and peaked cap as the previous figure but seen here from the rear with full marching order. From the 1890's onwards the Togo Polizeitruppe carried the same equipment (backpack, tent section, bread bag and water bottle) as the regular German army.


Cameroon Fez, similar to those worn by the Togo Polizeitruppe
(See Imperial War Museum Collection Page)
IWM Collection
African Soldier's Buckle
(See Belt Buckles Details Page)
Photo © Doppler
   

Figure 5
Police Music Master
c1914

Figure 6
Police NCO
c1894

Figure 7
Police Senior NCO
c1914

Figure 5 is based on a photograph of a Togo Police Master Musician taken in Lome sometime between 1910 and 1914. He wears the same khaki uniform and peaked cap as the previous figures. On his shoulders he wears musicians swallow's nests with a fringe denoting him to be a master musician. This is unusual as the Music Masters in other colonies were all German. Note he carries a brass horn slung over his shoulder and a band leader's marching staff.

Figure 6 is based on a photograph of a Togo Police NCO probably taken sometime in the mid 1890s. He wears the same khaki uniform as the previous figures but his cap appears to be darker with a noticeably smaller peak and crown. It may possibly be one of the dark blue "Prussian" caps worn by the Polizeitruppe in the early 1890s (as described above), in which case it would prove that the transition between different uniform styles was a gradual change with some units still wearing out dated uniform items. In the original photograph upon which this illustration is based another figure wears the fez introduced into service in 1891.

Note the three widely spaced chevrons worn on both lower sleeves showing him to be a Sergeant. As mentioned above, Togo Polizeitruppe NCO insignia varied in its positioning on the arm and also in the size of the chevrons. Also note the medal, probably a Kriegerverdienstmedaille as awarded for bravery to African troops in German service from 1893 onwards (see Medals Page). Another point of interest is that this NCO wears a brass belt buckle with a white metal imperial crown within a wreath- the style of belt buckle usually worn only by German rather than African personnel in Africa (see Belt Buckles Details Page)

Figure 7 is based on a photograph of a Togo Police NCO taken sometime between 1910 and 1914. He wears the same khaki uniform and peaked cap as the previous figures. In this case the rank insignia is shown in the from of four relatively small chevrons worn on both upper sleeves, showing him to be a Feldwebel. Feldwebels in Togo were entitled to carry a sword unlike senior African NCOs in other German colonies. An article by Marius Foerster notes on P33 that there was only one African Feldwebel based in Lome in the Togo Polizeitruppe, so this figure is probably him, and shows a unique uniform.

Also note the impressive medal bar worn on the left breast. As mentioned above African troops were awarded bravery medals but this NCO unusually has at least four unidentified medals. It may be that some of these medals were earned during service in a neighbouring colonial power's army (possibly in French or British service). Schutztruppe askari NCOs in German East Africa in the early 1890's proudly wore their British medals from their service in the Sudan on their German uniforms and it may be that the same was done in Togo. This NCO also wears a lanyard on his right breast. I have up until this point found no descriptions of the Togo Polizeitruppe wearing such items. It may be that it was an award worn only by the senior NCO of the Togo Polizeitruppe on parade or possibly a marksmanship award as usually worn by Germans in the Schutztruppe and regular army (see Specialist Insignia Page). 

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

Back to Main Menu for German Colonial Uniforms