The 1891 uniforms were principally distinguished by having three-buttoned Brandenburg style cuffs and yellow metal imperial crown badges on the corners of the collar. The uniform came in three different styles- a dark blue home uniform piped in white, a white tropical uniform piped in blue and a khaki field uniform piped in yellow. Interestingly the uniforms were originally designed to have Hungarian style cuffs (as worn by the Hussars of the Imperial army) but the these were changed to Brandenburg cuffs before being receiving the Kaiser's final authorisation.

Dark Blue Home Uniform
The dark blue home uniform was based on the Prussian 1842 infantry tunic with several distinctions. It had a stand and fall collar with yellow metal brass Imperial crowns in each collar corner. The cuffs were Brandenburg style with three buttons placed vertically. Curiously, several period photographs show the blue tunic worn with the lowest buttoned undone. Other photographs show the cuffs fully buttoned. The tunic had no visible pockets and was fastened with eight buttons down the front. Officers wore shoulder straps displaying their rank (see Officers Rank Insignia Page), held at the top with a small button. NCOs had no shoulder straps, but displayed their rank with large yellow metallic chevrons on the upper left arm. All buttons were of yellow metal with the imperial crown. The collar, cuffs, front and rear belt and skirts were all piped in white.

The regulations of 1891 stated that a white shirt collar was to be worn with the tunic (in its blue, white and khaki variations) and that it be visible over the tunic collar, period photographs show that it was not always worn this way. A black cravat ("Halstuch") was also authorised under the collar.

The trousers for the dark blue uniform were matching dark blue with white piping and officers having a strap going under the foot.

White Tropical Uniform
The tropical uniform for garrison duty was of white wool with Brandenburg cuffs and a stand and fall collar. It had a yellow metal imperial crown badge at each corner of the collar. It had four unpleated buttoned pockets and six buttons down the front, although some white tunics have been seen in period photographs with only five buttons. Officers wore shoulder straps displaying their rank (see Officers Rank Insignia Page), held at the top with a small button. NCOs had no shoulder straps. The rear of the tunic had a buttoned belt to adjust the width. All buttons were of yellow metal with the imperial crown. The collar, cuffs, front and rear belt and skirts were all piped in blue. The trousers for the white uniform were matching white, without piping.

Khaki Tropical Uniform
The tropical uniform for field duty was of khaki drill. The shade of khaki varied considerably with some period photographs and illustrations showing it to be a much darker brown than later used by the Schutztruppe. The cut and details of the uniform were the same as for the white uniform except with yellow piping. The trousers for the khaki uniform were matching khaki, without piping.

Rank Insignia
Officers rank insignia was worn in the form of shoulder straps in white metallic lace with threads of red and black. The straps had yellow metal pips to denote the different ranks. The Kommandeur and Oberführer wore senior officer braided straps, the Kommandeur had a single pip, the Oberführer did not. The Kompagnieführer wore the insignia of a Hauptmann, the eleven old lieutenants wore the insignia of a Premierlieutenant and the newer lieutenants wore the insignia of a Sekondlieutenant (see Officers Rank Insignia Page).

NCOs had no shoulder straps and their rank insignia was shown as yellow metallic chevrons on the upper left arm. The Feldwebel wore three chevrons, the Sergeant two and the Unteroffizier one. The uniform regulations do not specify the exact shape of the chevrons except to say that they were worn point down. Two distinctly different shaped chevrons have been seen in use in period photographs, one being with large slightly rounded chevrons with vertical edges and other being smaller chevrons with horizontal edges similar to those worn after 1896. The different shaped chevrons have been seen within small groups of NCOs of the same unit in period photographs.

I have so far seen no examples of specialist insignia (such as musicians swallows nests, marksmanship lanyards and other badges) worn with these uniforms in period photographs and none are mentioned in the uniform regulations of 1891. The insignia and uniform variations worn by non-combatant officials such as doctors, paymasters and gunsmiths are described below.

Headdress
Pickelhaube
On home duty in Germany, Schutztruppe officers and NCOs were authorised to wear a black leather Prussian infantry spiked helmet ("Pickelhaube") with several distinctions. The Schutztruppe Pickelhaube had a squared peak and an imperial eagle with spread wings in yellow metal across the front. The fittings and spike were also in yellow metal. Officers spikes were fluted and had a cruciform base pinned with a star in each corner. NCOs spikes were smooth with a base held by four plain buttons. An imperial cockade was worn under the right side chinstrap boss. No cockade was worn on the left side. The chinscales were also in yellow metal.
Recommended External Link - Traditionsverband Forum discussion on Schutztruppe Pickelhauben

For officers a band of gold lace ran around the hatband.

On garrison duty the eagle, spike and officers lace were removed. The spike was then replaced by a round white ventilation cap.

On field duty the same details were removed and a khaki cover worn over the helmet held in place by the white ventilation cap which was screwed on after the cover had been put on. The imperial cockade was also worn on the outside of the cover.

It seems from surviving examples that khaki helmets were also to made the same specifications although not authorised.

Field Cap
The field cap was white with a dark blue hatband and no piping. It had a small imperial cockade at the front and a black leather peak and chinstrap. The chinstrap was held on both sides with a small yellow metal button bearing the imperial crown. Two different types of this cap were authorized, one of white linen for use in the colonies and the other of white cloth or duffel-wool for use on home duty in Germany.

Other Uniform Items
Greatcoat
For home use greatcoats were the same as for the Marine Infantry but had the Schutztruppe's yellow metal buttons with an imperial crowns. Thus officers wore a grey double breasted "Paletot" with a dark blue collar and white facing, while NCOs wore a dark grey/black single breasted "Mantel" without the Marine Infantry insignia. I have yet to see a period photograph of either greatcoat being worn.

Officers Frock Coat
A knee length double breasted frock coat ("Überrock") was authorised for officers to wear on home duty. It was dark blue in the style of the Marine Infantry but with the Schutztruppe's yellow metal buttons each with the imperial crown It had six down each side and two on either side of the straight rear skirts. The high collar and the piping around the cuffs and rear skirts was white. Officers displayed their rank insignia on their shoulder straps in the usual manner (see Officers Rank Insignia Page). I have yet to see a period photograph of the frock coat being worn.

Sekondlieutenant
East African Schutztruppe c1891-96
He wears the dark blue home uniform with Pickelhaube. Note the Brandenburg cuffs with only two buttons closed and the Imperial crown badges on the collar.
Photo © Sergio Semino of Militaria-Online

Doctor Hugo Lichtenberg
East African Schutztruppe c1891-96
He wears the 1891 white tropical uniform (note the crowns on the collar and Brandenburg style cuffs). He wears an 1891 tropical helmet with cockade and yellow metallic lace around the hatband.
Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv

Officers 1891 Tropical Helmet
with the cruciform base spike and Imperial eagle as worn on parade duty. Note also the officers metallic lace strip around the hatband.
(See Tropical Helmets Details Page)
Photo © C Dale from the Wehrgeschichtliches Museum, Rastatt

Premierlieutenant
East African Schutztruppe c1891-96
He wears the 1891 white tropical uniform (note the crowns on the collar and Brandenburg style cuffs with only two buttons fastened). His rank can be seen as a single pip on each shoulder strap. He has the white peaked cap with hatband in blue.
Photo © T.S. Allen

Medical Assistants ("Lazareth-Gehülfen")
In 1891 there were eighteen medical assistants serving in the East African Schutztruppe. They were authorised to wear standard Schutztruppe NCOs uniforms but with heraldic eagles and smooth spikes on their tropical helmets and Pickelhauben. On the left upper arm they wore a single NCO chevron in light blue with a yellow backing.

Senior Medical Assistants ("Ober-Lazarethgehülfen")
In 1891 there were no senior medical assistants serving in the East African Schutztruppe, the post was created sometime between 1891 and 1894. Their uniform was the same as that of the medical assistants but with two light blue chevrons on a yellow backing.

Officials 1891 Tropical Helmet
Note the Heraldic Eagle with downswept wings.
(See Tropical Helmets Details Page)
Photo © Doppler Collection

Figure 1 is based on a photograph of a Schutztruppe Officer taken in Germany in the early 1890's. This officer wears the 1891 dark blue home uniform. Note the Brandenburg style cuffs (on which only two of the three button holes are fastened), stand and fall collar with imperial crown badges in the corners and eight buttoned front, all piped in white. The shoulder straps of white metallic cord with red and black threads but without rank pips show him to be a Sekondlieutenant. Although the regulations required that he wear his shirt collar showing this officer has not done so. Other period photographs show that the collar was at least sometimes worn in the correct manner. His trousers are matching dark blue, again piped in white. He wears the white tropical helmet with yellow metal imperial eagle and spike and a small imperial cockade on the front.

His belt is as for the Marine Infantry in white metallic lace with red and black stripes and an imperial crown within laurels badge as the buckle. His sword is the 1889 officers pattern with a Portepee knot in imperial colours. He wears short black leather boots.

Figure 2 is based on a photograph of a Schutztruppe Officer taken in East Africa in the early 1890's. This officer wears the 1891 white tropical uniform. Note the Brandenburg style cuffs piped in blue, the stand and fall collar with imperial crown badges in the corners and six buttoned front. Note also the unpleated pockets with a watch chain hung into his top left pocket. The shoulder straps of white metallic cord with red and black threads but without rank pips show him to be a Sekondlieutenant. His trousers are matching white. He wears the white tropical helmet without the imperial eagle and spike yet retaining the small imperial cockade on the front.

His belt is a non-regulation brown leather belt with open buckle. His sword is the 1889 officers pattern with a Portepee knot in imperial colours. He wears short white leather boots.

Figure 3 is based on a photograph of Hauptmann von Gravenreuth, a Schutztruppe Officer taken in 1891. He again wears the white tropical uniform authorised for use in East Africa and in Cameroon from the formation of their Schutztruppe in 1895. Von Gravenreuth had previously served in East Africa and was newly posted from Germany to Cameroon in early 1891, so wears the uniform of new cut (however it cannot be seen for sure from the original photograph upon which this illustration is based if he wears Brandenburg cuffs or the imperial crown on his collar). He wears no shoulder straps. What can be seen clearly here is the arrangement of the rear skirts on the 1891 uniform, with a short buttoned belt to adjust the waist above two buttoned skirts. He wears the Schutztruppe peaked field cap in white with a blue hatband. The peak and chinstrap are in black leather. He wears privately purchased riding boots.

Figure 4 is based on a photograph of a Schutztruppe NCO taken in East Africa in the early 1890's. This NCO wears the 1891 khaki tropical uniform. Note the Brandenburg style cuffs piped in yellow, the stand and fall collar with imperial crown badges in the corners and six buttoned front. He has no shoulder straps and has the single curved yellow metallic lace chevron of an Unteroffizier on the left arm. His trousers are matching khaki. He wears the white tropical helmet without the imperial eagle and spike yet probably retaining the small imperial cockade on the front.

His sword is the 1889 officers pattern, which was usually only authorised for those of Feldwebel rank. The original photograph upon which this illustration is based is not clear enough to make out if he carries a sword knot. He wears the short white leather boots from his white tropical uniform.

His belt is the authorised brown leather with a yellow metal buckle bearing a simple imperial crown in white metal. From the belt hangs a long S71 bayonet, the black leather scabbard of which is just visible. He wears short brown leather boots with the authorised brown leather gaiters fastened up the outside with seven buckles.