German Colonial Uniforms - Tropical Helmets


Tropical Helmets of the German Colonial and Overseas Forces

Tropical helmets worn by Imperial Germany's colonial and overseas troops were made of several different materials, most commonly woven reeds, cork, wood pulp or pith and sometimes wholly or partially of rubber. The basic helmet was then covered in cloth, usually white or khaki but sometimes other colours were painted white. Ventilation pommels were often removable and could be replaced with a Pickelhaube-style spike by some units. Khaki covers were sometimes worn over white helmets when on campaign, and conversely white covers were sometimes worn over khaki helmets. These covers often had a hole at the top and were held in place by unscrewing the ventilation pommel and replacing it over the cover. Because of the circular nature of the weave in reed helmets they were usually quite low in height with a rounded brim. Cork helmets were often higher, with individually shaped front and rear peaks. Rubber rubber peaks were sometimes made to go with cork helmets. The practice of dyeing white uniforms into a light brown shade with tea, coffee or local plant extracts on campaign could not be applied so successfully to tropical helmets as the cork disintegrated in boiling water. German tropical helmets issued to the overseas forces were made by several different companies (such as A Emter in Berlin, H Pfeiffer in Hamburg, Lehmann and Wundenberg in Hanover and most famously, Ludwig Bortfeldt in Bremen). Helmets were also purchased from Britain, France and the United States. Furthermore, officers and senior NCOs often had their helmets privately made by other companies. These different manufacturers often made helmets to slightly different specifications of size and shape thus some period photographs show wide ranges of shaped helmets even within one unit grouping. East African Schutztruppe German Officers and NCOs of the Wissmanntruppe, formed in 1889, wore tall English style cork sun helmets, covered in white cloth. Some though judging from period photographs, not all had an Imperial cockade at the front, some are seen with a pugaree around the helmet. Khaki covers could be worn on active service. New regulations for the Schutztruppe formed in 1891, kept the same tall white helmets with khaki covers and confirmed the use of an imperial cockade at the front. An imperial eagle with spread wings in yellow metal was worn on the front of the helmet above the cockade and a yellow metal spike with a cruciform base was added. Medical officers and officials helmet eagles had folded wings with some being of white metal (with matching spikes) depending on arm of service. Officers wore a yellow metallic cord around the hatband. On garrison duty the cord and eagle were not worn and the spike was replaced by a simple ventilation pommel. On field duty a khaki cover was worn with the cockade on the outside. It also seems from period photographs and surviving examples that khaki helmets were worn during this period although not authorised. On 19th November 1896 new regulations kept the same basic form of the white helmet and also permitted khaki helmets. The eagle and spike were now dispensed with and the officers cord was changed to a white metallic one. On 29th December 1913 further regulations brought in a new helmet, lower in height and only authorised in khaki (although a white cover could be worn on parade). NCOs were now permitted to wear a black/white/red twisted cord around the hatband. Schutztruppe Officers in German East Africa c1914 The difference in shape between the tall 1891/96 Helmet worn on the left and the lower more rounded 1913 Helmet in the centre and right is clear in this photograph. Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv Photographs of the Schutztruppe during the First World War show them wearing both the 1896 and 1913 helmets side by side. In addition many privately owned tropical helmets from various sources were worn by new recruits in the Schützenkompagnien. Some of the Schützenkompagnie soldiers are seen in contemporary photographs with a small metal imperial eagle on the front, possibly the same as worn by Askaris on their tarbush. Captured British Wolseley helmets were also popular with the Schutztruppe. South West African Schutztruppe Tropical helmets were introduced for the South West African Schutztruppe in 1892. They were tall cork helmets covered in khaki cloth, with white metal imperial eagles (with spread wings for officers and folded for other ranks), imperial cockades and a white metal spike with cruciform base. These helmets were discarded in the mid 1890s. The Schutztruppe of South West Africa did not wear sun helmets thereafter. Cameroon Schutztruppe The Cameroon Schutztruppe followed the same regulations as those in East Africa (described above). Photographs show many variations of shape of helmet were worn, made by different manufacturers. Again reservists during the First World War are seen in contemporary photographs with a small metal imperial eagle on the front, possibly the same as worn by African troops on their fez. Polizeitruppe Polizeitruppe German officers and NCOs in East Africa, Cameroon, Togo, New Guinea and Samoa wore tall white tropical helmets with imperial cockades on the front. From 1906 a small yellow metal imperial eagle was added above the imperial cockade and from 1912 senior police NCOs ("Wachtmeister") were authorised to wear a black/white/red twisted cord around the hatband. Again many variations in shape, style and manufacturer can been seen in period photographs. Khaki covers may have been worn on active service. Togo Polizeitruppe c1914 The two German NCOs wear white 1891 Tropical Helmets Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv South West African Landespolizei The Landespolizei in South West Africa were issued tropical helmets only in two areas, the Caprivi Strip and the diamond mining are South of Lüderitzbucht. Their helmets were white, with a small imperial cockade on the front and a brass imperial crown above it. Army Officers Seconded to the Colonies Regular Imperial Army officers were occasionally seconded to the colonies. They wore Schutztruppe uniform but with army insignia. Their tropical helmets had both the imperial cockade and their own army unit’s state cockade below it. Colonial Officials Except in South West Africa, the doctors, paymasters, gunsmiths and other officials that accompanied the Schutztruppe wore white and khaki Schutztruppe helmets. On the front was an imperial cockade. Above the cockade some officials wore insignia in the form of a brass or white metal imperial eagle or shield with different insignia depending on their special trade. Photographs of surviving officials helmets sometimes show them worn with a hatband on their tropical helmets in the same colours as the hatband on their field caps. Most German civilian officials in the colonies were entitled to wear uniform. From governors to postmen, many wore tropical helmets with variations on the imperial eagle and cockades. East Asian Expeditionary Corps and Occupation Brigade In December 1900 the East Asian straw hat was officially replaced with a tropical helmet made by Ludwig Bortfeldt of Bremen and patented in September 1900. It was a khaki covered cork helmet with rubber front and rear peaks. It had an imperial eagle with folded wings (usually in brass, though pioneers and staff officers wore white metal) and a hatband in arm of service colours (infantry- white, cavalry - red, artillery and pioneers - black edged in red). Pinned onto the right side of the hatband was a large imperial cockade. The helmet came with a removable khaki neckshade. One period photograph shows that the ventilation top could be removed and replaced with a spike on parade. A curious feature of Bortfeldt helmets is their rear peak, which could be folded upwards and out of the way when the wearer was firing from a prone position. One interesting version of the East Asian tropical helmet was the tropical shako. It was made to the same rough shape as the Jäger shako, but made of khaki covered cork and with the same brim as the East Asian tropical helmet. It also had the same eagle, cockade and removable neckshade as the tropical helmet. It was worn by the East Asian Jäger (with a green hatband, until they were disbanded in 1901) and East Asian train troops (with a blue hatband). In 1904 the khaki summer uniform was replaced with a lightweight field grey summer uniform. The khaki helmet was also replaced with a new field grey Bortfeldt helmet. This new helmet was similar in style, with imperial eagle, hatband, cockade and folding rear peak but it was slightly smaller. This helmet continued in use until the disbandment of the East Asian force in 1909. The mass production of 15,000 Bortfeldt 1900 Khaki Helmets and their subsequent replacement in 1904 along with the gradual disbandment of the East Asian Occupation Brigade meant that Germany had a large surplus of these helmets kept in storage which would later appear on the Middle Eastern and Balkan fronts during the First World War. Imperial Navy In 1885 officers of the imperial navy were authorised to wear tropical helmets in hot climates. They were made from woven reeds covered in white cloth and had a yellow metallic double cord around the hatband (or a single cord for junior officers). Period photographs show imperial cockades were usually worn on the front. In 1891 tropical helmets were also authorised for other ranks, again made from woven reeds but covered in khaki cloth. Several variations and improvements were made on these helmets until they were replaced by the Bortfeldt 1900 helmet as used by the East Asian troops (described above). The new Bortfeldt helmets were still issued with imperial cockades at the front and in white for officers with yellow metallic cords and khaki for other ranks. A few photographs show black cap tallies with the name of the wearer's ship worn around the hatband of the tropical helmet although this does not appear to have been standard practice. Naval Landing Party, Ponape 1910-11 They wear 1900 Bortfeldt khaki Tropical Helmets, note the figure fourth from left has the rear peak folded up. Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv Marine Infantry - Seebataillone In 1898 the III. Seebataillon in Tsingtao were issued white tropical helmets. They had a white metal imperial eagle superimposed over an anchor in the style worn on the Seebataillon shakos, over a small imperial cockade. Several changes to the design of the helmet occurred over the following years. On 28th June 1900 the eagle was authorised in bronze rather than white metal, and in 1905 the helmet was officially changed to a khaki one for other ranks with officers and senior NCOs still wearing white. These uniform orders do not however tell the full story and are often contradicted by photographic evidence. For example, khaki helmets have been seen in photographs of the Seebataillone as early as the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. From such photographs it seems that the I. Seebataillon had khaki helmets, while the II. Seebataillon had white helmets (sometimes worn with khaki covers). The III. Seebataillon also received khaki helmets around this time, either shortly before or after the Boxer Rebellion. During this period, as mentioned above photographs of officers and senior NCOs of all battalions seem to be mostly wearing white helmets. Furthermore photographs clearly show that the Marine Expeditionskorps in South West Africa wore khaki helmets in 1904, so the regulation order of 1905 for khaki helmets seems to have been largely retrospective. Later photographs of III. Seebataillon officers and senior NCOs in China sometimes show them wearing khaki tropical helmets. Officers were also authorised to wear a gold coloured cord around the hatband of the helmet. Early issues of the helmet were quite low in height with a rounded brim. Later helmets were taller with a more steeply inclined brim and removable neckshades. The 1900 Bortfeldt tropical helmet with its folding rear peak was issued to Seesoldaten in South West Africa during 1904-05, and also to the III. Seebataillon in China from about the same period. Throughout these changes, officers often wore privately purchased versions which sometimes varied in shape. Some photographs taken on campaign in South West Africa and China show the helmets worn without their metal eagles. Photographs of troops on manoeuvres in Tsingtao show them sometimes wearing a red hatband around the tropical helmet. This was to distinguish opposing sides during simulated battles. German Army in Palestine and Macedonia Stocks of the old East Asian 1900 Khaki Bortfeldt helmets with their folding rear peaks and removable neckshades were re-used during the First World War by the Pascha I and II ("Asienkorps") expeditions in Palestine and also by German troops in Macedonia. They initially retained the imperial eagle, coloured arm of service hatband and pinned cockade from their previous service. Later photographs show some or all of this insignia removed. Some photographs of the Pascha I show them wearing their cockades on the front rather than the right side, and at least one photograph shows them worn on the left side. The Asienkorps stopped wearing tropical helmets in action soon after their deployment as they looked too similar to the British sun helmets, and caused friendly fire incidents. German Army Doctors, Macedonia c1917 They mostly wear what appear to be 1913 Schutztruppe Tropical Helmets, with their low wide form, though some officers have helmets from other, possibly private sources. Most have arm of service hatbands (most likely in dark blue with red edging for the medical service) and large imperial cockades on the left or right sides. Photo © Joe Robinson Privately Purchased Tropical Helmets Officers and some NCOs in the German armed forces purchased their own uniforms and equipment, often from private tailors and outfitters. Although their tropical helmets were required to abide by regulations they often had many variations in shape and style. Unofficial Tropical Helmets All manner of locally produced and imported tropical helmets were in circulation in the German colonies worn by settlers, tradesmen and doctors. These often found their way into military use when these same men were called up as reservists in the First World War. Captured Tropical Helmets Particularly in German East Africa during the First World War, the Schutztruppe resorted to wearing captured enemy tropical helmets as their own became worn out. Particularly popular were the British Wolseley Helmets. Austro-Hungarian Tropical Helmets Austria-Hungarian army units in Create 1897-98 and Palestine 1916-18 wore tropical helmets made by P&C Habig in Vienna. See- Austro-Hungarian Tropical Helmets Post War Constructions and Forgeries The myriad of different types of tropical helmet, both issue and privately purchased make it almost impossible to tell if a helmet in a modern collection is a one of a kind rarity or a modern fake. Props from theatre productions and films have also made their way into onto the market from time to time further confusing collectors and historians. Be aware of fakes! Highly Recommended Reading- "Tropenhelme der kaiserliche Marine, der Ostasiatischen Truppen und der Schutzruppen" by Ulrich Schiers (published by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Heereskunde available to order here) "Military Sun Helmets of the World" By Peter Suciu with Stuart Bates (see Military Sun Helmets for more information).		1891 Naval Other Ranks Helmet This is a helmet constructed with woven reeds covered in khaki cloth, note the low round shape. (See Below for Close up Photographs) Photo © Doppler Collection 1900 East Asian Bortfeldt Helmet Made of pith with rubber peaks (folding at the rear), note the higher shape and less rounded appearance. Also note the East Asian imperial eagle with folded wings. Photo © Private Collector 1891 Schutztruppe Officers Helmet Note the Schutztruppe imperial eagle with spread wings and spike only worn on parade. (See Below for Close up Photographs) Photo © C Dale taken at the Rastatt Military Museum Early Schutztruppe Helmets from Africa On the left is an example of the short lived 1892 South West African Schutztruppe khaki tropical helmet with a white metal spike and eagle (with spread wings for officers) and an imperial cockade. On the right is an 1891 East African (or Cameroon) Schutztruppe tropical helmet as worn on garrison duty without the eagle or spike bur retaining the imperial cockade. Photo © Traditionsverband from the Siebentritt Collection Schutztruppe Tropical Helmet c1913 This helmet bears the wide rounded shape of the 1913 Schutztruppe helmet and has the imperial coloured cord of an NCO. Photo © C Dale taken at the Rastatt Museum Diplomatic Service Helmet This helmet with brass imperial eagle, a fluted spike and chinscales belonged to Wilhelm Wassmuss in Persia. Photo from Braunschweigisches Landesmuseum / Wikimedia 1900 East Asian Bortfeldt Helmet Photo © C Dale from the Imperial War Museum Collection 1900 Bortfeldt East Asian Helmet This helmet still has its imperial eagle and arm-of-service coloured hatband (in this case red for the cavalry) but not its imperial cockade usually seen on the right hand side. Photo © Traditionsverband from the Siebentritt Collection 1900 Bortfeldt Tropical Shako for the East Asian Train Company Photo by Kilimandscharo of the Kolonial Geschichte Forum taken at the Rastatt Military Museum 1904 Bortfeldt Helmet for the East Asian Infantry Photos © Private Collector III Seebataillon Eagle with Anchor On the front of a Bortfeldt 1900 Helmet Photo © Private Collector Privately Purchased Helmet This is a privately purchased tropical helmet worn by a doctor in South West Africa. It is not regulation issue and has no cockade or insignia, but is yet another example of the variety of styles of tropical helmets worn in the German colonies. Photo © Arne Schöfert from the Kolonialmuseum Linke British Wolseley Helmet The British Wolseley tropical helmet was commonly worn by British troops in Africa, India, China and the West Indies. It was also popular with the German Schutztruppe in East Africa when captured during the First World War. Photo © C Dale from the Imperial War Museum Collection Austro-Hungarian Tropical Helmet This is of the type latterly issued to the Austro-Hungarian Army in Palestine with a badge at the front bearing the "K" monogram for Kaiser Karl. Photo © Peter Suciu - see Austro-Hungarian Tropical Helmets Curious Tropical Helmet Note the post horn below the white metal Imperial eagle, dark hatband, grey green colour and tall shape. This helmet does not conform directly to any known regulations. It has been suggested that the helmet is from a colonial postal service or that it is a miscoloured helmet from the East Asian cavalry. It may also be a later made composite of parts of different helmets. Photo © Private Collector

Examples of Surviving German Colonial and Overseas Tropical Helmets
The photographs below are from Museums and Private Collections. Thanks to the helpful Museum staff and Private Collectors who allowed their collections to be photographed for this website. Please respect their generosity in sharing these photos with us by not reproducing them without prior permission.

1891 Schutztruppe Officers Helmet
Photos © C Dale taken at the Rastatt Museum

This is a Schutztruppe officers tropical helmet as authorised for the Schutztruppe of East Africa (and later Cameroon) in the uniform regulations of 4th June 1891. It is a tall cork or pith helmet covered in white cloth. It has a Pickelhaube style spike and an imperial eagle with spread wings above a small imperial cockade. Around the hatband are two bands of yellow metallic lace, as worn only by officers. The spike was only worn on parade and was otherwise replaced with a white ventilation pommel. The eagle was also removable for active service. A khaki cover could be worn over the helmet in the field in which case the cockade was worn on the front of the cover. The spike and eagle were permanently discarded from tropical helmets in the uniform regulations of 19th November 1896. At the same time the officers yellow metallic lace around the hatband was changed to white metallic lace.

1891 Schutztruppe Officials Helmet Photos © Doppler Collection

This is an 1891 Schutztruppe tropical helmet made from cork or Elderberry wood pulp. Regulations only provided for white helmets in the early 1890s but khaki helmets such as this one can sometimes be seen in period photographs. This helmet has a yellow metal imperial eagle with folded wings as worn by Schutztruppe officials (including gunsmiths, paymasters and doctors) in German East Africa and Cameroon in the early 1890s and an officers imperial cockade on the front.

1896 Schutztruppe NCOs Helmet
Photos © Peter Suciu of Military Sun Helmets

This is an NCOs Tropical helmet as authorised for the Schutztruppe of East Africa and Cameroon from 1896. This new helmet was made in khaki rather than white and having a khaki cover. It has a senior NCOs cockade.

1913 Schutztruppe NCOs Helmet
Photos © C Dale taken at the Rastatt Museum

The museum caption for this tropical helmet describes it as one belonging to the East Asian Pioneers. It does not however have the appearance of one. The East Asian Pioneer helmet would be a Bortfeldt helmet with a white metal imperial eagle and a black hatband edged in red according to regulations. A similar pioneers helmet was on display at the Rastatt museum several years ago.

This helmet looks more like a 1913 Schutztruppe NCOs helmet from East Africa or Cameroon. The Schutztruppe uniform regulations of 29th December 1913 authorised a lower style of helmet than previously used with a twisted cord in the imperial colours for NCOs and a small imperial cockade at the front, as seen here.

The 1913 helmet was authorised in khaki, this helmet is however covered in white cloth. It also has a more rounded shape than usually seen in period photographs of the East African Schutztruppe. This shape indicates that it may be at least partially made of woven reeds rather than pith. Several photographs of the Cameroon Schutztruppe show them wearing similar shaped helmets. They may have been privately purchased or as Schneider suggests be of French origin.

British Wolseley Helmet used the East African Schutztruppe
Photos © C Dale taken at the Bavarian Army Museum

The Wolseley tropical helmet (named after General Sir Garnet Wolseley, who commanded the British forces in Egypt and the Sudan in the 1880s) was the most commonly issued tropical helmet to the British forces serving on all overseas fronts before, during and after the First World War. Note the slightly pointed front peak and pugaree worn around the hatband. It was also popular with the German Schutztruppe in East Africa when captured. This particular example was worn by Hauptmann Franz Köhl, commander of the II. Batterie of the Schutztruppe artillery in East Africa during the First World War. Köhl was one of the few officers that General von Lettow-Vorbeck recommended for the Pour-le-Mérite medal but as the recommendations were never received in Berlin the awards were not made. He was later promoted to Oberst in the post war army.

1900 Bortfeldt Helmet for the East Asian Occupation Brigade
Photos © Doppler Collection

This is a typical other ranks Bortfeldt 1900 Khaki Tropical Helmet as issued to the East Asian Expedtionary Corps and Occupation Brigade from late 1900 onwards and to German units in Palestine and Macedonia during the First World War. It still has its original yellow metal imperial eagle with folded wings but has lost its arm-of-service coloured hatband and imperial cockade. Note the crease for folding up the rear peak, the "B.A.O. 1902" (East Asian Uniform Depot - "Bekleidung Amt Ost-Asien") stamp on the underneath and the detachable neckshade with its hook and eye attachment. Also note the crown has been snipped off the eagle's head. This was a common practice on imperial German headdress after the abdication of the monarchy in November 1918.

1900 Bortfeldt Helmet for the East Asian Infantry
Photos by Khukri originally shown on the Pickelhaubes Forum

This is another typical 1900 Bortfeldt Helmet. This one is in slightly better condition than the previous example with its chinstrap and eagle still intact. It also still has its white infantry arm of service hatband and other ranks imperial cockade (attached on the wrong side). A clue to the reason for its immaculate condition may be found in that it is lacking any issue stamps inside and so may never have left Germany.

1900 Bortfeldt Tropical Shako for the East Asian Train Company
Photos by Kilimandscharo of the Kolonial Geschichte Forum
taken at the Rastatt Museum

This is an interesting version of the East Asian tropical helmet, the tropical shako. It was made to the same rough shape as the Jäger shako, but made of khaki covered cork and with the same brim as the East Asian tropical helmet. It also had the same eagle, cockade and removable neckshade as the tropical helmet. It was worn by the East Asian Jäger Company (with a green hatband, until they were disbanded in 1901) and as seen here by the East Asian Train Company (with a blue hatband).

1904 Bortfeldt Helmet for the East Asian Infantry
Photos © Private Collector

This is an example of the smaller 1904 Bortfeldt Tropical Helmet for the East Asian Occupation Brigade or the later East Asian Detachment. Note the field grey covering and grey/green leather chinstrap. It still has its original white infantry hatband and other ranks Imperial cockade. The eagle is a replacement from a Pioneer helmet in white metal. The original would have been in yellow metal for the infantry. The crown is missing from this eagle, possibly cut of during the early Republican era in Germany.

There are three stamps inside. They read "B.A.O. 1904" for the East Asian Uniform Depot ("Bekleidung Amt Ost-Asien"), "4.C." for the 4th Infantry Company and "O.A.D." for the East Asian Detachment ("Ostasiatische Detachement"). The curious point here is that the former East Asian Occupation Brigade was renamed as the East Asian Detachment (as seen here on the markings) and reduced in size to 4 Infantry Companies (again as seen on the markings) in 1906. So the unit markings happened two years after the issue marking. Other examples of similar helmets show an earlier date of 1903, showing that it was made and possibly issued before being officially authorised.

III. Seebataillon Other Ranks Tropical Helmet c1900
Photos © C Dale taken at the Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin

This is an other ranks khaki naval helmet with the imperial eagle on an anchor and an other ranks imperial cockade. The curious point here is that the eagle officially changed from white metal to yellow metal in 1900, yet the helmet was only authorised in white up until that time- khaki helmets were officially authorised in 1905 although period photographs show their use before then. This pith helmet probably dates from around 1900 and pre-dates the later Bortfeldt helmet with its folding rear peak which was introduced in China during the early years of the 20th Century.

1900 Bortfeldt Helmet for the III. Seebataillon
Photos © Private Collector

This is a typical other ranks Bortfeldt 1900 khaki tropical helmet issued to the III. Seebataillon in Tsingtao. Similar helmets were issued to other Marine Infantry units serving in hot climates such as South West Africa and Skutari. The brass Imperial eagle over an anchor is in pristine form while the white of the cockade has aged to a shade of yellow. Note the webbing chinstrap.

1900 Bortfeldt Helmet for the III. Seebataillon
Photos © C Dale taken at the Rastatt Museum

This is a typical other ranks Bortfeldt 1900 khaki tropical helmet issued to the III. Seebataillon in Tsingtao. It is of the same design as the previous Seebataillon example but with the neckshade attached. Note the folding rear peak. It has a yellow metal imperial naval eagle on the front. Both the anchor points from under the eagles talons appear to have broken off. The helmet has also lost its small imperial cockade from the from of the hatband. On the underside of the helmet can been seen an issue stamp- "B.A.O. 1902" for the East Asian Uniform Depot ("Bekleidung Amt Ost-Asien").

1891 Other Ranks Naval Helmet
Photos © Doppler Collection

This is a typical 1891 other ranks naval khaki tropical helmet. Note the lower more rounded shape of helmets made from woven reeds and the inside view where the weaving can be clearly seen. The cockade on this helmet may have been added more recently although similar cockades were worn on naval helmets such as this one.

Period Photographs of German Colonial and Overseas Tropical Helmets

Zahlmeister-Aspirant Frodien, East African Wissmanntruppe c1889
He wears a white tropical helmet based on the British design on the time with an imperial cockade at the front.
Photo © Karsten Herzogenrath

Oberleutnant Hugo von Francois, South West African Schutztruppe, c1894
He wears the officers South West African Tropical Helmet with an eagle with outstretched wings and a small imperial cockade.
Photo from Omaheke.Blogspot originally published in "Nama under Damara. Deutsche Süd-West Afrika" by Hugo von Francois, 1896

Unteroffizier, South West African Schutztruppe
He wears the other ranks South West African Tropical Helmet with and eagle with down swept wings.
Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv

Officer, Cameroon Schutztruppe
He wears the 1891/96 white tropical helmet with an officers silver cord around the hatband and a small imperial cockade at the front.
Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv

NCO, East African Schutztruppe
The NCO wears the 1891/96 white tropical helmet, while serving drinks to a chimpanzee, named Hamiss.
Photograph by Walther Dobbertin, originally from Bundesarchiv / WikiCommons

Hauptmann Reinhard,
East African Schutztruppe, 1911
He wears the 1891/96 white/khaki tropical helmet with an officers silver cord around the hatband.
Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv

Music Master, East African Schutztruppe
He wears the 1891/96 white tropical helmet with a khaki cover, notice that the cover fits under the pommel of the helmet, leaving the pommel itself showing white.
Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv

Hauptmann, East African Schutztruppe, 1911
He wears a privately purchased tropical helmet, the shape of which is noticeably more rounded than the regulation 1891/96 helmet.
Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv

Reservists, East African Schutztruppe, 1914
They wear the lower, more rounded 1913, helmets, even then with variation between them. The officer in the right foreground has the silver cords of his rank around the hatband of his helmet.
Photo by Walther Dobbertin at the Bundesarchiv / WikiCommons

Polizeitruppe NCO, East Africa
He wears the white 1891/96 tropical helmet on which can be seen two badges. They would have been a small brass imperial eagle (authorised in 1906) and a small imperial cockade.
Photo © Tobias Weber

Vizefeldwebel training the Landespolizei of the Caprivi Strip in South West Africa
He wears Schutztruppe uniform and the 1896 Schutztruppe khaki tropical helmet.
Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv

Seesoldaten of the II. Seebataillon,
China 1900
They wear white rounded tropical helmets with the marine infantry brass imperial eagle and anchor above an imperial cockade. The figure on the left possibly has a khaki cover on his helmet.
Photo from Bundesarchiv / WikiCommons

Gefreiter of the III Seebataillon,
China, c1901-14
He wears a khaki 1900 Bortfeldt tropical helmet, with the marine infantry brass imperial eagle and anchor above an imperial cockade.
Photo © Joe Robinson

Pionier Hermann Stigelmeier, III. Seebataillon,
China 1911
He wears a khaki 1900 Bortfeldt tropical helmet, with the marine infantry brass imperial eagle and anchor above an imperial cockade.
Photo © Peter Klein

Rifleman,
2nd East Asian Infantry Regiment, c1901
He wears the khaki 1900 Bortfeldt tropical helmet, with a brass imperial eagle and a white hatband for the infantry.
Photo © Joe Robinson

Reiter Emil Eduard Sawatzki
East Asian Cavalry Regiment
He wears the 1900 Bortfeldt khaki tropical helmet with imperial eagle in yellow metal on the front and a red cavalry hatband. A large imperial cockade would be on the right hand side. Note the khaki neckshade.
Photo © Peter Klein

Rifleman,
1st East Asian Infantry Regiment, c1901
He wears the khaki 1900 Bortfeldt tropical helmet, with a brass imperial eagle and a white hatband for the infantry. He also wears the rarely seen spike instead of the helmet pommel.
Photo © Karsten Herzogenrath

Sergeant Treptor, Pascha I Expedition, Palestine 1916
He wears a khaki 1900 Bortfeldt Tropical Helmet with imperial eagle on the front, hatband in arm of service colours and a neckshade.
Photo © Roy Williams

Musician of the Asienkorps,
Palestine c1917-18
He wears a khaki 1900 Bortfeldt Tropical Helmet with hatband in arm of service colours and a large Imperial cockade at the front.
Photo © Joe Robinson

Prussian Guards Cavalry,
Macedonia c1917
He wears a khaki 1900 Bortfeldt Tropical Helmet with a red cavalry hatband in arm of service colours.
Photo © Joe Robinson

General of the Imperial Entourage,
Palestine 1898
The entourage of Kaiser Wilhelm II including the Leib-Gendarmeie bodyguard wore tropical uniforms for the imperial visit to Palestine in 1898. The tropical helmet was khaki and tall, similar to that briefly worn by the South West African Schutztruppe around 1891. It had a removable spike (which was fluted for officers and plain for other ranks) on a base (that was cruciform in shape for officers and round for other ranks). On either side of the helmet was a large cockade, on the right in Imperial colours and on the left in Prussian. The imperial eagle helmet plate and hatband varied for different troops.
Photo from G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection, US Library of Congress / WikiCommons

Diplomat, Tehran Persia 1914
He wears the 1891 tropical helmet for diplomats in white with, fluted spike with cruciform base and imperial eagle.
Photo © Stiftung Bibliotheca Afghanica

Reservist, Bavarian Army 1914
This old solider recalled to the Landwher or Landsturm in the First World War wears an unidentified tropical helmet backwards. It may well be a souvenir of former overseas service.
Photo © Joe Robinson

Sailors on Parade in Kiel, Germany
Curiously for Germany, they wear 1900 Bortfeldt tropical helmets with white covers. They have perhaps just returned from an overseas posting. The officer in the photograph wears a privately purchased tropical helmet is privately purchased and clearly of a different shape to those worn by the ratings. It also has an officers yellow metallic lace cord around the hatband.
Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv

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