German Colonial Uniforms

South West African Mounted Equipment

South West African Mounted Equipment, second pattern
with pouches on the shoulder straps and gaps on the belt for the integral bayonet frog and water bottle.
Photo © Private Collection

The first German soldiers in South West Africa in 1889, the Francois-truppe carried brown leather M1871 box ammunition pouches. These continued in use by some dismounted troops until decades later. In the early 1890s the mounted Schutztruppe were wearing bandoliers of ammunition over their shoulders. The new recruits of 1894 brought with them a prototype of the new style of mounted equipment that was to follow.
From the late 1890s, the Schutztruppe in South West Africa used a unique all in one pattern of personal equipment which incorporated ammunition pouches, a water bottle holder and a bayonet frog on a belt supported by shoulder straps that crossed at the back. This equipment was known in German as "Patronengürtel mit Schultertrageriemen" or ammunition pouches with shoulder straps.
This equipment was ideal for their roles mounted infantry. Like cavalry, they did not need to carry a backpack, bread bag or blanket as these could be carried on the horse. Unlike cavalry, they did not need a sword or lance for mounted fighting but they did need to personally carry ammunition, their bayonet and a water bottle to hand for their intended dismounted role in action.
Thus the South West African Schutztruppe equipment consisted of a leather harness complete with 12 ammunition pouches- round the front and back and up each shoulder strap. Each pouch held two clips of five rounds and had a leather a strap holding down the pouch flap. On the left hip was riveted a bayonet frog and on the right, a brass loop to attach a water bottle. The equipment buckled at the back with an open buckle. Because this equipment was designed for mounted troops where the horse (or camel) could carry much of the load, no provision was made for back packs, tent sections, blankets, canteens or bread bags.
From there on a basic pattern was consistent but there were three general modifications. I have no accurate dating of the modifications other than through period photographic evidence.
The first type had all twelve ammunition pouches in a continuous run around the waist and had no pouches on the shoulder straps.

The second version had a gap in the pouches on either side for easier access to the water bottle and bayonet leaving only ten pouches on the belt. It then the added the two pouches to the front of the the shoulder straps.

The third pattern retained the pouch placement but added metal fasteners buttons to hold the pouches down.

I asked Peter Ellis of Leather Rebels (a modern Professional Wrestling Belt making firm) for his opinion of the manufacture of the equipment. He said, "From what I can see, they were made using vegetable tan leather hides, brown leather dye finished with probably a wax-based coating for durability and to make them resistant to the elements, heat/cold and waterproof. These must have been stitched by hand using a large industrial scale sewing machine."

This style of equipment was never issued to the regular German army in Europe. It was however worn by mounted troops of the Schutztruppe in Cameroon. When worn in Cameroon the harness was worn in a slightly different fashion with the straps crossing over the front as well as the back. It was also used by the Marine Infantry in East Africa during the Maji-Maji Rebellion 1905-06.
Large stocks of this equipment were captured by South African forces when German South West Africa surrendered in 1915. It was thereafter used by them on campaign against the Schutztruppe in East Africa.

Reiter Heinrich Gathemann
Francois-Truppe 1889
He wears the 1889 Francois-truppe corduroy uniform with a small other ranks Südwester hat. On his belt he has two 1871 ammunition pouches and a large bowie knife.
Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv

SW African Mounted Equipment, third pattern
with fastening buttons for the ammunition pouches.
Photo © Doppler Collection

More photos of the Mounted Equipment



Prototype South West African Mounted Equipment 1894 Truppe Des Reichs-Kommissars, Potsdam 1894 This photograph was taken at an inspection by Kaiser Wilhelm II in Potsdam. The Schutztruppe wear the 1891 Corduroy Waffenrock with standing collar and kepis or Südwester hats. The equipment has a naval style belt and buckle but also has additional ammunition pouches on the shoulder straps. Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv



First Pattern South West African Mounted Equipment What we call the first pattern had all twelve ammunition pouches in a continuous run around the waist and had no pouches on the shoulder straps. It is seen most commonly in photographs taken prior to or in the early stages of the Herero Rebellion of 1904.
Reiter South West African Schutztruppe 1904 This photograph was taken on campaign during the Herero Rebellion in South West Africa. He wears the 1900 Corduroy Litewka and corduroy field cap. He has the first pattern South West African equipment with the ammunition pouches going all around his waist and none on the shoulder straps. Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv	Reiter South West African Schutztruppe He wears the Südwester hat and 1896 khaki uniform. He has the first pattern equipment. Note there is no gap in the pouches for the bayonet frog, which hangs empty. Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv	Reiter South West African Schutztruppe He wears the Südwester hat and 1894 Corduroy Waffenrock although others in this cropped group photograph wear the later 1896 Uniform. He carries the first pattern South West African equipment with the ammunition pouches going all around his waist and none on the shoulder straps. Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv


Second Pattern South West African Mounted Equipment The second pattern had a gap in the pouches on either side for easier access to the water bottle and bayonet leaving only ten pouches on the belt. It then added the distinctive two pouches to the front of the the shoulder straps. The second pattern equipment is seen most commonly in photographs of new Schutztruppe recruits in the early stages of the Herero Rebellion of 1904.
Reiter South West African Schutztruppe 1904 This photograph was taken in a photographic studio in Germany before deployment to the Herero Rebellion in South West Africa. He wears the 1896 Corduroy Waffenrock and Südwester hat. He has the second pattern equipment with two ammunition pouches on his shoulder straps. He is armed with a Gew88 rifle with an S71 bayonet and a pair of binoculars. These were quite probably props from the studio rather than Schutztruppe issue. Photo © Sam Wouters	Gefreiter South West African Schutztruppe 1904 This photograph was also taken in a photographic studio in Germany before deployment to the Herero Rebellion in South West Africa. He wears the Südwester hat and 1896 Corduroy Waffenrock with a small button on the back of his collar Litzen to denote his rank. He has the second pattern equipment with two ammunition pouches on his shoulder straps. Note the gap in the ammunition pouches on the side for access to his S98aA bayonet worn with an NCO Troddel. Photo © Sam Wouters	Reiter South West African Schutztruppe This photograph was taken in Germany before deployment to South West Africa. He wears the Südwester hat and 1896 Corduroy Waffenrock. He has the second pattern equipment with two ammunition pouches on his shoulder straps. He is armed with a Kar98 carbine with stacking hook. His bayonet is the S71/84 for which the carbine had no fitting. Photo © Sam Wouters

These three photos show a set of the second pattern of mounted equipment (owned and photographed by an anonymous collector). This photo shows the full extent of the twelve ammunition pouches.	A closer look at the left hand side of the belt with its riveted bayonet holder.	A look at the right hand side of the belt with its riveted brass loop to hold the water bottle. Note the lack of buttons to hold the ammunition pouches down as opposed to the previous set of equipment.


Third Pattern South West African Mounted Equipment The third pattern retained the same pouch placement but added metal fastener buttons to the pouch flaps. This pattern equipment is commonly seen in the period after the Herero and Nama Rebellions and during the First World War.
Gefreiter South West African Schutztruppe This photograph was taken in Narubis in South West Africa showing a mounted artilleryman of the Schutztruppe. He wears the Südwester hat and khaki 1896 khaki uniform with a small collar button to denote his rank. He has the third pattern equipment with fasteners on each ammunition pouch. Note the gap in the pouches to accommodate the water bottle, although on this occasion he has attached his water bottle to the saddle of his horse. Also note the rifle bucket on the saddle for his Gew98 rifle. Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv	Reiter South West African Schutztruppe, 1914 This photograph was taken at the outbreak of war and shows another artilleryman of the Schutztruppe. He wears the Südwester hat and khaki 1896 khaki uniform. He has the third pattern equipment with fasteners on each ammunition pouch. Note the gap in the pouches to accommodate the water bottle. Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv	Reservist R. Köhler, South West African Schutztruppe 1914-15 This wartime reservist in Windhoek wears the Südwester hat and khaki 1896 khaki uniform. He has the third pattern equipment with fasteners on each ammunition pouch and is armed with the modified Schutztruppe Gew98 (note the curved bolt handle). Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv


These photos from the Doppler Collection show the third pattern of mounted equipment.	A look at the left hand side of the ammunition pouches.	A closer look at the right hand side of the pouches and strap. Notice how the straps for the shoulder are buckled on the breast, making it easy to cross them over as worn in Cameroon. Note also the brass buttons added to each pouch.

This photo shows the right hand side of the belt with its riveted loop to hold the water bottle.	The left hand side of the belt with its riveted attachment for the bayonet.	The rear of the equipment with its crossed straps and additional ammunition pouches. Note that this example is unfortunately missing its belt buckle.

Other Units Using the South West African Mounted Equipment Although this pattern of equipment was never used by the German army at home, as well as the South West African Schutztruppe it was also worn by mounted units of the Cameroon Schutztruppe, Marine Infantry of the Expeditionskorps to East Africa in 1905, units attached to the South West African Schutztruppe such as the Cameroon Company and the South African Free Corps in the First World War and captured stocks were allegedly used by the South African army in the East African campaign of the first world war. So far, I have not seen photographic evidence of their use by the South African army. Please contact me here if you have.

Mounted Trooper Cameroon Schutztruppe He wears the second pattern equipment. Mounted troops of the Cameroon Schutztruppe were issued the same personal equipment as worn in South West Africa but wore the straps across chest as seen here. Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv	Seesoldat Mohr Marine Expeditionskorps in East Africa c1905 He wears the third pattern equipment. Marine Infantry sent to German East Africa during the Maji-Maji Rebellion also worn the same pattern equipment as the mounted troops of South West Africa. Photo © Karsten Hezogenrath	Soldier of the Cameroon Company, South West Africa 1914 He wears the third pattern equipment. The Cameroon company serving in South West Africa wore the uniforms and equipment of the South West African Schutztruppe. Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv