This website
is intended to give an insight into the uniforms,
insignia, weapons and equipment of the Imperial German
colonial and overseas forces up to and including the First
World War for the family historian, war-gamer, modeller
or military historian.
Germany,
only having been unified in 1871 was a late-comer to the
colonial race. She began her colonial acquisitions in
1884 and by 1914 had managed to grab six colonies- German South West Africa,
German East Africa, Cameroon, Togo, New Guinea and
Samoa. The port of Tsingtao was also leased from China.
The units
primarily covered on this website are
the Colonial Armed Forces (Schutztruppe), Colonial Police Forces (Polizeitruppe and Landespolizei),
Imperial Navy overseas (including the Marine Infantry)
and army expeditions overseas (such as the East Asian
Expeditionary Corps to China and the Pascha Expeditions
to Palestine).
Also
included are related topics of interest such as German
overseas volunteers, Austro-Hungarian overseas units,
private armies in the African colonies, the Kaiser's
visit to the Holy Land and the German-Afghan Mission of
1916.
This website is always
a work in progress. Please feel free to send me more photos or
information that may add to the website or correct my errors. Equally, if
you are planning to use information from this website for publication or
serious research please contact me first to check my sources. I am also
happy to help with historical or family tree research on
the subject of the Imperial German Overseas Forces.
Use the above search bar to quickly find
the information you need from this website
Books
by the Same Author
Imperial German Colonial and Overseas Troops 1885-1918 Osprey Men at Arms by A Quesada & Chris
Dale
Available Here
Traditions of the Imperial German Infantry Regiments their histories,
uniforms and Pickelhauben
by Chris Dale
Available Here
Traditions of the Imperial German Cavalry Regiments their histories,
headdress and uniforms
by Chris Dale
Available Here
Imperial German Colonial Troops & Police in Africa by Reinhard Schneider
translated by Chris Dale
Available Here
Schutztruppe Südwester Hat
II.
Seebataillon, Marine
Schutztruppe Khaki Uniform
Gun from
SMS Königsberg
East Asian Cavalry
East
African Askari Medal Bar
Schutztruppe NCO
Schutztruppe Bayonets
Navy
Tropical Helmet
East African Polizeitruppe
Schutztruppe Officers Sword
Seebataillon NCO Cap
SW Africa
Campaign Medal
East Asian
Infantryman
German Samoan
Police Badge
Schutztruppe NCO
East Asian Helmets
Tsingtao
Police Armband
Schutztruppe Mountain Gun
Marines Departing for Cameroon
Austro-Hungarian
Tropical Helmet
Marine
Field Battery
Decorated Naval Flask
Schutztruppe Belt Buckle
Naval Cap
from SMS Iltis
Sketch of
the Fall of Tsingtao
Schutztruppe Artillery
South West African Police Pistol
Afghan Mission 1916
King
Njoya's Helmets
Medals of
a Boxer Veteran
NCO Pascha
I Expedition
Marine Infantry Uniform
POWs in New Zealand, 1917
East Asian Straw Hat
The Battle of Lugalu 1891
Schutztruppe Rifles
Askari Water Bottle
The Author with a C73 Gun
Windhoek, Namibia
