German East African Schutztruppe Askaris 1896-1914

Figure 1
Askari

Figure 2
Askari

Figure 3
Askari Musician

Figure 4
Askari NCO

Figure 5
Askari Signaller

Uniforms of the German East African Askaris 1896-1914
 
   
By the mid-1890's askari uniforms had become standardised across the different Schutztruppe field companies ("Feldkompagnien"). These uniforms continued to be worn by askaris up until and during the First World War although many parts of their uniforms were replaced with captured or improvised items as the war progressed until by 1918 they were mostly unrecognisable from their pre-war appearance (see Schutztruppe Askaris 1914-18 Page).

Khaki Uniform
The askaris wore a light khaki uniform consisting of a short tunic with five plain white metal buttons down the front, no pockets, plain khaki shoulder straps and a plain stand and fall collar. Matching khaki trousers were worn.

Rank Insignia
Askari NCOs wore one to four inverted chevrons on the upper left arm in red on khaki to display their rank (see NCO Rank Insignia Page). East African askaris used Ottoman NCO titles, a tradition dating back to their original recruitment in the Sudan. Their titles were- Ombascha/Gefreiter (with one stripe), Schausch/Unteroffizier (with two stripes), Bet-Schausch/Sergeant (with three stripes) and Sol/Feldwebel (with four stripes).

Specialist Insignia
Askaris serving in the Polizeitruppe, signals detachment, gunners and medics wore red insignia on a white oval or circular patch on the upper left arm. Musicians wore swallows nests and marksmen were distinguished with lace bars on both cuffs. These insignia are illustrated and described below.

Headdress
The headdress consisted of a Tarbush made from a light wicker frame with a khaki cloth cover incorporating a neckshade.
The first tarbushes were worn without insignia or with a brass stylised numeral denoting their Feldkompagnie number but from 1896 onwards a white metal imperial eagle (see below) was worn on the front. The eagle was gradually introduced and Feldkompagnie numerals are still be seen in photographs as late as 1900, although many photos show tarbushes worn without the number or eagle. Some photographs show that the neckshade of the tarbush was occasionally rolled up and tucked underneath the rear of the hat, one photo even shows a tarbush worn backwards with the neckshade rolled up in a similar way at the front. This makeshift peak would have shielded the wearers eyes from the sun a little.

When not on active service the tarbush was replaced by a red felt fez with a black tassel and no insignia. From photographic evidence it seems these fezzes varied considerably in height, style and rigidity, though they were not worn in the rolled style of the Cameroon Schutztruppe. The tassel likewise varied in length and style.

One photograph (in the Frankfurt University Archives) shows an askari wearing a Schutztruppe Südwester, although this was certainly not regulation dress. Curiously it is worn without the white hatband and edging usually associated with East Africa.

Footwear
The askaris continued to wear dark blue/grey puttees, but later issues were more grey than blue. This has been described in several sources (such as Haupt and Schneider) but of course it is difficult to be certain of shades of grey in period photographs. Photographs show that askaris occasionally wore their trousers loose without puttees when not on active service and at least one photograph shows askaris wearing their trousers tucked into woolly socks rather than puttees. Short brown leather boots were worn. Although the Germans generally took care to see their men booted, askaris were sometimes barefoot, either due to shortages or preference.

Equipment
Equipment was in brown leather and usually consisted of two 1871 pattern ammunition pouches fastened at the front with a plain brass belt buckle (see below). Period photographs show that occasionally askaris wore the belt buckle usually reserved for German troops in the Schutztruppe bearing the imperial crown within a motto and wreath (see Belt Buckles Page). By 1914 five field companies had been re-issued new rifles (see "Weapons" below) and with them the 1909 ammunition pouches Personal Equipment Page). Backpacks, bread bags and tent sections were originally probably of standard or obsolete Prussian army issue, although with the gradual disbandment of the East Asian Occupation troops, the askaris began to be issued with their cast off backpacks (according to "The German Colonial Troops 1889-1918" by Jürgen Kraus and Thomas Müller). The water bottle used by the East African askaris was of an unusual type not seen in the Prussian or East Asian armies. It was a bottle with a tapered spout fitting into a tin cup. It looks in photographs to be suspiciously similar to the Bavarian 1837 model water bottle (see photographs on the Kaiser's Bunker Website). It may well be that as the Bavarian army was gradually re-equipped with standard Prussian army designs some parts of their old equipment were being passed on to the Schutztruppe, although I have found no firm proof of this theory.

Weapons - The askari field companies were mostly armed with the single shot Mauser Jägerbüchse '71 11mm rifle. This light infantry version of the obsolete German infantry rifle was about 5cm shorter than the standard Mauser 1871 rifle. The Jägerbüchse was particularly unhelpful in that its ammunition gave up a large cloud of smoke when fired thus revealing the firer's position. Just prior to the First World War some field companies started to receive the newer Mauser G98. When the war broke out five field companies (the 1., 4., 8., 10. and 13. Feldkompagnien) had been issued the newer rifle. The G98 fired smokeless rounds and was magazine fed.

The S71/84 bayonet was carried by most askaris along with their Jägerbüchse rifles. These were replaced by kS98 bayonets in units that received the G98 rifle. Bayonet knots were not worn by the askaris.

By 1914 all askari companies had at least two Maxim Machine Guns and most had at least one 37mm field gun.


Askari Tarbush
(Bavarian Army Museum Collection)
Photo by C Dale


Askari Tarbush Eagle
(See Colonial Insignia Page)
Photo © Doppler Collection


Askari Belt Buckle
(See Belt Buckles Page)
Photo © Doppler Collection


Askari Musician's Swallows Nest
(See Rödelsee Museum Collection Page)
Photo © Arne Schöfert


Askari S71/84 Bayonet
 (See East African Bayonets Page)
Photo © Chris Wood

 

 

 

     
 

The Illustrations

Figure 1 is based on a photograph a Schutztruppe Askari and shows their typical appearance from 1896-1914 as described above. He wears the tarbush with white metal eagle, plain khaki tunic and trousers, blue grey or grey puttees and brown leather boots. His equipment consists of two 1887 ammunition pouches on a brown leather belt with plain brass belt buckle. He is armed with the Jägerbüchse 71 rifle and S71/84 bayonet.

Figure 2 is based on a photograph of a Schutztruppe Askari taken just after the Battle of Tanga in 1914. This askari wears standard marching equipment as carried in the field. He carries a blanket or tent section rolled above the backpack. This may be one of the grey leather framed backpacks sent to East Africa after the disbandment of the East Asian Occupation Brigade. From the belt is suspended the bread bag on the right and the S71/84 bayonet on the left. The water bottle is of a pattern not used by the regular German army and apparently unique to the German East African Schutztruppe. It is carried on a separate shoulder strap.

Figure 3 is based on a photograph of a Schutztruppe Askari Music Player ("Spielmann"). Note the khaki and red musicians swallows nests on each shoulder. In action musicians either fought as riflemen or acted as stretcher bearers. In this latter role they wore white armbands with a red cross on their left sleeve or a white circular patch with a red cross on the upper left arm. This askari wears no eagle on his tarbush. It was common in action to remove the eagle as it provided an easy target for snipers.

Figure 4 is based on a photograph of an Schutztruppe Askari NCO. Note the two red chevrons on the upper left arm to display his rank as Schausch/Unteroffizier. This NCO also has a marksmanship award in the form of woven black/white/red lace bars on both forearms. This award was exclusive to East African askaris and could be earned in varying classes denoted lace bars on the forearm (see details on askari specialist insignia below). The neckshade on his tarbush has been rolled up. Although the neckshade was not removable it could be folded up out of the way if needed.

Figure 5 is based on a photograph of an Schutztruppe Signals Askari. The signals detachment ("Signal-Abtleilung") was independent of the askari field companies in East Africa. Signallers from the detachment were then posted to the field companies. As well as adults, young cadets were recruited into the signals detachment from the best pupils from schools set up by the Germans in East Africa. The specialist insignia of the signals detachment was two crossed red flags in a white oval worn on the upper left arm (again see details on askari specialist insignia below). This signaller wears neither puttees nor boots. As mentioned above, the Germans took care generally to see their men booted, askaris are also seen barefoot quite often, either due to shortages or preference.

 
     
 

Insignia of the German East African Askaris

Figure A
Ombascha
Figure B
Schausch
Figure C
Bet-Schausch
Figure D
Sol
Figure E
Effendi
Figure F
Music Player
Figure G
Medic and Musician
Figure H
Signals Abteilung
Figure I
Gunner and Marksman
Figure J
Polizeitruppe Ombascha

Rank Insignia

Figure A shows the insignia worn by an askari Ombascha (or Gefreiter). The insignia consisted of a single red chevron worn on the upper left arm.

Figure B shows the insignia worn by an askari Schausch (or Unteroffizier). The insignia consisted of two red chevrons worn on the upper left arm.

Figure C shows the insignia worn by an askari Bet-Schausch (or Sergeant). The insignia consisted of three red chevrons worn on the upper left arm.

Figure D shows the insignia worn by an askari Sol (or Feldwebel). The insignia consisted of four red chevrons worn on the upper left arm.

Figure E shows the insignia worn by an askari Effendi (or Officer). The insignia consisted of three five-pointed white metal stars worn on each shoulder strap of a German officers uniform worn without the blue piping (see Effendi Uniforms).

Specialist Insignia

Figure F shows the insignia worn by an askari Music Player. Askari musicians were divided into two grades- Musician ("Musiker") and Player ("Spielmann"). The higher ranking musicians wore swallows nests with a red base colour with eight vertical stripes underlined by one horizontal stripe in white. The lower ranking players wore swallows nests with a khaki base with eight vertical stripes underlined by one horizontal stripe in red as seen here.
This illustration is based on a photograph taken in German East Africa c1914.

Figure G 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. As described above the musicians wore swallows nests with a red base colour with eight vertical stripes underlined by one horizontal stripe in white.
This illustration is based on a photograph taken in German East Africa c1914.

Figure H 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. Aside from this insignia the Signals Abteilung wore standard askari uniforms. One period photograph (from "In Wehr und Waffen" seen on the Uniforms of the World Forum) shows them wearing round spectacles with dark lenses, to protect their eyes from the glare of heliograph flashes.
This illustration is based on a photograph taken in German East Africa c1914.

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

Figure J shows the insignia worn by an askari of the Polizeitruppe. The insignia consisted of a red letter "P" on a white vertical oval patch worn on the upper left arm (see the East African Polizeitruppe Page). This Polizei-Askari also wears the single red rank chevron of an Ombascha or lance corporal.
This illustration is based on a photograph taken in German East Africa c1914

 
 

Period Photographs

 
     
 
The photograph on the left shows a Schutztruppe askari wearing the khaki uniform and tarbush with imperial eagle. He carries an imperial German flag as flown from German bases in the colonies and carried by Schutztruppe marching columns. Unusually he is armed with a Gew 88 rifle.
Photograph by Walther Dobbertin originally from Bundesarchiv / WikiCommons

The photograph on the right shows a Schutztruppe askari wearing the khaki uniform and tarbush with imperial eagle. Note the equipment in marching order and view of the Jägerbüchse 71 rifle and S71/84 bayonet. A larger version of this photograph can be seen here.
Photograph © Jeff Hayes

   
 
 

The photograph on the left shows a Schutztruppe askari wearing the khaki uniform and tarbush with imperial eagle. Note the musicians swallows nests on the shoulders and the view of the Jägerbüchse 71 rifle.
Photograph by Walther Dobbertin originally from Bundesarchiv / WikiCommons

The photograph on the right shows a Schutztruppe askari wearing the khaki uniform and tarbush with imperial eagle. Note the use of the field telephone.
Photograph by Walther Dobbertin originally from Bundesarchiv / WikiCommons

 
     
  A A Schutztruppe Feldkompagnie up to full strength on parade with their German officers and NCOs. Note the machine gun crew to the upper right of the photograph.
Photograph by Walther Dobbertin originally from Bundesarchiv / WikiCommons
 
     
 

 
  A Schutztruppe askari reading a newspaper to his comrades. The Germans taught young askaris to read and write at their Signals Depot in Dar-Es-Salaam. Note the askaris wearing the off duty red fez on the right of the photograph.
Photograph by Walther Dobbertin originally from Bundesarchiv / WikiCommons
 
     
 

 
  Schutztruppe askaris in target practice. Note the rank chevrons worn by the instructing Schausch and the Ombascha in the line on the right.
Photograph by Walther Dobbertin originally from Bundesarchiv / WikiCommons
 
     
 

 
 

A Feldkompagnie of askaris in line up in firing order during training.
Photograph by Walther Dobbertin originally from Bundesarchiv / WikiCommons

 
     
 

 
  A Schutztruppe askari band. Note the Askaris' S71/84 bayonets and the musicians swallows nest on their shoulders. The German music master in white has fringed swallows nests.
Photograph by Walther Dobbertin originally from Bundesarchiv / WikiCommons


Schutztruppe askaris of the 6. Feldkompagnie cleaning their JB71 rifles in Udjiji in 1912. They wear the usual khaki uniform but with several interesting points. The askaris on the left and in the centre wear the single rank chevron of an Ombascha on their left sleeves. The askaris on the left and right have marksmanship awards on their cuffs. They wear off duty red fezzes but in remarkably different shapes, with and without tassels.

Also of interest is their varied footwear. None wear puttees. The askari on the right wears his trousers loose over his marching boots, note the studded soles. The askari in the centre has bare feet while the askari on the left has tucked his trousers into his socks.
Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv

 
     
 

 
  Young askaris training with two heliographs as part of the Schutztruppe Signal Detachment. Note the red fezzes, signals badge seen on the upper arm of the third askari from left and the patchwork repairs on the askari on the left's trousers.
Photograph by Walther Dobbertin originally from Bundesarchiv / WikiCommons

Main Sources
"Lettow-Vorbeck's Soldiers" by Walther Dobbertin
"Die Deutsche Schutztruppe 1889/1918" by Werner Haupt
"Das Deutsche Heer, Friedensuniformen bei Ausbruch des Weltkrieges" by H. Knötel and P. Pietsch
"Geschichte der Kaiserlichen Schutztruppe in DOA" by Ernst Nigmann
"Askari und Fitafita - Farbiger Söldner in den deutschen Kolonien" by Thomas Morlang
"Die Kaiserliche Schutz- und Polizeitruppe für Afrika" by Reinhard Schneider
"The German Colonial Troops 1889-1918" by
Jürgen Kraus and Thomas Müller
And photographs in the Frankfurt University Archives

 
     

"German Schutztruppe
in East Africa 1889-1911"
Ernst Nigmann
Available from Battery Press
   
"Lettow-Vorbeck's Soldiers"
by Walther Dobbertin
Available from Battery Press
 

 

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

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