Schutztruppe Corduroy Uniforms
German South West Africa 1896-1915

Figure 1
NCO
in Kord Waffenrock

Figure 2
Trooper
in Kord Waffenrock

Figure 3
Trooper
in Kord Litewka

Figure 4
Trooper
in Kord Litewka

   
Corduroy uniforms were first worn by the Schutztruppe's ancestor, the Truppe Des Reichs-Kommissars, in South West Africa in the late 1880s. Since then several modifications had been made to the tunic including the addition of blue collar and cuffs with Litzen, and yet the basic corduroy uniform was found to be ideally suited in its durability, natural camouflage colour and protection from the climate of South West Africa.

Although the corduroy uniforms are often shown in Contemporary Illustrations as being grey in colour the uniform regulations of 19th November 1896 describe it as sand coloured ("Sandfarben"). Surviving examples show it to have been various shades from brown to pale khaki, with later issues being noticeably lighter, no doubt made worse by sun bleaching in Africa.

The different types of corduroy tunic and uniform authorised from 1896 onwards were the Kord Waffenrock, its variant the Kord Interimsrock and the Kord Litewka. They replaced the old 1894 Kord Waffenrock (noticeable with their Polish style cuffs and breast pockets). The replacement did not happen overnight however and period photographs show the 1894 tunics still in use as late as 1899. Both the Waffenrock and Litewka were worn side by side by all ranks of the Schutztruppe in the 1900s. Period photographs sometimes show members of the same unit with some wearing one and some the other. The Interimsrock was rarely worn and then only by officers. On 29th December 1913 a new order officially replaced the Waffenrock (and the Interimsrock) entirely with the Litewka, which was now renamed the "Kord Feldrock".

Parade aiguillettes, marksmanship lanyards, musicians swallows nests and other specialist insignia were all worn on the corduroy uniforms (see Specialist Insignia Page).

The 1896 Kord Waffenrock
On 19th November 1896 a new corduroy tunic known as the "Kord Waffenrock" was authorised for the Schutztruppe as a home uniform for wear in Germany and as cold weather wear on service in Africa. A following order 11th March 1897 replaced its use as a home uniform with a new Grey Home Uniform, but retained the Kord Waffenrock for use in South West Africa.

The new Kord Waffenrock was identical in cut to the 1897 Home Uniform but made of corduroy. It had a stand and fall collar and Swedish style cuffs in colony colours (blue for South West Africa). Piping down the front and around the scalloped rear pleats was also in blue. It had single white Litzen on the collar and cuffs with a red central stripe (officers and senior NCOs had white metallic lace). The tunic had no visible pockets. It had eight white metal buttons down the front each bearing the imperial crown, six around the rear pleats, two on each cuff and one similar but smaller ones to hold each shoulder strap. Shoulder straps for other ranks were of twisted mohair cord in black/white/red for NCOs and other ranks.

NCO rank was shown in the form of white metallic lace around the collar and cuffs and buttons on the collar (see NCO Rank Insignia Page). Officers displayed their rank insignia on their shoulder straps (see Officers Rank Insignia Page).

Interestingly, the Kord Waffenrock was also authorised for use by the Schutztruppe of East Africa and Cameroon in the order of 1896 as a home uniform. It was replaced in the 1897 order with the grey cloth uniform, and so was officially worn for less than four months. I have so far not seen any photographic proof of its use by the East African or Cameroon Schutztruppe in that short period, nor have any surviving uniforms been found. The 1896 regulations stated that the East African Kord Waffenrock had piping, collar and cuffs in white and the Cameroon one had such distinctions in red.

The 1896 Kord Interimsrock
A corduroy interim tunic was also authorised for Schutztruppe officers
in the same order of 19th November 1896. It was of identical cut to the Waffenrock but with plain corduroy collar and cuffs rather than blue cloth ones and no Litzen on either. Blue piping was as usual down the front, around the rear scallpoed skirts and also on the collar and cuffs. Officers displayed their rank insignia on their shoulder straps in the usual manner (see Officers Rank Insignia Page).

The Kord Litewka/Feldrock
I have so far been unable to find the dated clothing order ("Bekleidungs Vorschrift") that authorised the corduroy Litewka. Certainly a serge or molton Litewka was authorised on 28th November 1899 and the corduroy Litewka seems to have been in common use in South West Africa shortly afterwards. 29th December 1913

The Kord Litewka had a concealed front, no piping, plain stand and fall collar, plain cuffs and four rounded pockets also with concealed buttons. The breast pockets were slightly sloped inwards as on the 1896 Khaki Uniform. It had two buttons on the plain rear to help support a belt and a small white metal button with the imperial crown to hold each shoulder strap. Shoulder straps for other ranks were the same twisted black/white/red cord as on other Schutztruppe uniforms.

NCO rank was displayed on the Litewka in the form of inverted chevrons on the upper left arm (see NCOs Rank Insignia Page). Officers displayed their rank insignia on their shoulder straps in the usual manner (see Officers Rank Insignia Page).

The Kord Litewka was exclusive to the South West African Schutztruppe and was not worn in other colonies. It was however also issued to Officers of the Marine Expeditionskorps (made up of Marine Infantry from the Seebatallione) during their deployment in South West Africa 1904-05.

Privately Tailored Variations
As with all privately tailored uniforms purchased by officers, NCOs and One Year Volunteers variations in cut were sometimes seen, such as the use of higher collars and occasional addition of extra pockets. One very interesting Schutztruppe corduroy tunic in a private collection has been seen in the cut of the 1896 Khaki Uniform with six buttons down the front,  four buttoned pockets and buttoned Swedish style cuffs.

Trousers
Trousers and riding breeches for use with the corduroy tunics were made in matching corduroy. They were initially piped down the outside seem in colony colours (blue for South West Africa) to match the tunic but from the order of 29th December 1913 piping was omitted from corduroy trousers. It seems from surviving examples that some may have been made without the piping prior to that date.

Field Cap
The orders of 19th November 1896 also authorised a peaked field cap for all ranks in matching corduroy. "The German Colonial Troops" by Kraus and Müller says the cap may have been introduced as early as 1894. This date seems unlikely to me as the new Schutztruppe formation sent from Germany that year are seen in period photographs still wearing the old Kepi style caps, though other photographs of the field cap worn with the 1894 Kord Waffenrock suggest it may well have been introduced ahead of the 1896 Waffenrock.

The field cap had a hatband and piping in colony colours (blue for South West Africa), a small imperial cockade at the front and a black leather peak. Like most German peaked caps it was issued with a wire retaining loop that held the shape of the top of the hat. This loop was often removed to give a more comfortable appearance.

The 1896 uniform regulations authorise the use of a black leather chinstrap held at either side with a small white metal button bearing the imperial crown. The uniforms regulations of 1898 simply say the cap is in the style of the Prussian infantry which at the time did not have a chinstrap (see the Kaiser's Bunker article on Imperial Army Caps). It seems from period photographs and surviving examples that most caps did not use the chinstrap but that a few (possibly privately purchased) caps did retain them. Other privately tailored variations on the field cap such as not having the blue hatbands or piping have been seen on surviving examples (see the Schutztruppe section of the Chevaulegers website). By an order of 29th December 1913 the peak was changed to grey leather although from period photographs it seem the old black leather versions were still more commonly in use up until 1915.

As with the Kord Waffenrock, the corduroy field cap was also authorised for use by the Schutztruppe of East Africa and Cameroon in the order of 1896, although it was replaced in the 1897 order with a grey cloth cap, and so was officially worn for less than four months. I have so far not seen any photographic proof of its use by the East African or Cameroon Schutztruppe in that short period, nor have any surviving uniforms been found. The 1896 regulations stated that the East African cap had hatband and piping in white and the Cameroon one had such distinctions in red.

On active service, the South West African Schutztruppe more commonly wore the grey felt Südwester hat (with hatband and edging in colony colours and held up on the right hand side with a large imperial cockade).

The Illustrations

Figure 1 is based on a photograph of a Gefreiter of the South West African Schutztruppe probably taken before the outbreak of the Herero Rebellion in 1904 and is typical of the appearance of the Schutztruppe in the early years of the twentieth century. He wears the Kord Waffenrock as described above.

Note the single small collar button at the rear of the collar Litzen worn with no additional lace around the collar or cuffs, showing this NCO to be a Gefreiter (Lance Corporal or Private 1st Class- see NCO Rank Insignia Page). The rank of Gefreiter for German personnel in the Schutztruppe was unique to South West Africa. In the Schutztruppe of East Africa and Cameroon the lowest ranking Germans were Unteroffizier (Corporals).

Like most South West African Schutztruppe on active service this Gefreiter was the Südwester slouch hat. He wears the short brown leather riding boots of the Prussian Dragoons of the Imperial army, as were standard issue to mounted other ranks in the Schutztruppe.

The photograph upon which this illustration is based can partially be dated by the early pattern of South West African Schutztruppe equipment that he wears. This all in one brown leather equipment (incorporating belt, shoulder straps, ammunition pouches, water bottle loop and bayonet frog- see Schutztruppe Mounted Equipment Details Page) is of an early pattern without press studs on the ammunition pouches or additional pouches on the shoulder straps as were later added.

His rifle cannot be seen clearly in the photograph upon which this illustration is based, though judging from the period it may well be a G88 with an S71/84 bayonet.

Figure 2 is based on a photograph of a Trooper of the South West African Schutztruppe probably taken during the Herero Rebellion 1904-07 wearing the Kord Waffenrock seen from the rear. Note the piped and scalloped rear skirts of the Waffenrock are of the same design as worn on the home uniform.

His equipment is again the South West African Schutztruppe issue as described above buckling at the back and with two ammunition pouches on each side at the rear. On the right side it had a brass eye for attaching a water bottle and on the left side it had an integral bayonet frog worn here with a kS98 bayonet with steel scabbard. Company coloured bayonet knots were authorised for other ranks of the Schutztruppe in 1896 if not before. I have coloured the bayonet knot in red and white to show the colours of the 2nd Field Company, although of course in the original monochrome photograph it is impossible to tell which company the trooper is from.

Figure 3 is based on a photograph of an Trooper of the South West African Schutztruppe machine gun unit probably taken during the Herero Rebellion 1904-07 wearing the Kord Litewka introduced in 1900. Machine gunners and artillerymen wore no insignia to distinguish their arm of service from normal Schutztruppe mounted infantrymen. This trooper wears the matching corduroy peaked cap with hatband and piping in cornflower blue for South West Africa and matching corduroy trousers tucked into short brown leather riding boots with stirrups.

Figure 4 is based on a photograph of a Trooper of the South West African Schutztruppe again probably taken during the Herero Rebellion 1904-07. This view shows the plain rear of the Kord Litewka with two buttons at the belt line. This trooper wears matching corduroy riding breeches, a Südwester, and short leather boots with gaiters.

Short boots and gaiters were usually worn by officers. It is entirely possible that the figure in the original photograph is in fact an officer. Aside from their shoulder straps which were sometimes removed in action, officers wore little to distinguish themselves from other ranks in South West Africa. On active service they usually discarded their swords and sometimes carried carbines. This practice was particularly useful in the face of the Herero and Nama who were often expert snipers.


Other Ranks 1896 Kord Waffenrock
(See Rödelsee Museum Collection Page)
Photo ©  Arne Schöfert

Close up of the Collar with Litzen
(See Rödelsee Museum Collection Page)
Photo © Arne Schöfert

Close up of the Cuff with Litzen
(See Rödelsee Museum Collection Page)
Photo © Arne Schöfert

Officers Kord 1896 Waffenrock
Note the larger metallic Litzen
(See Siebentritt Collection Page)
Photo © Traditionsverband

Imperial Crown Button
(See Schutztruppe 1896 Khaki Uniform Details Page)
Photo © Doppler Collection

Kord Litewka
(See Swakopmund Museum Photos Page)
Photo © Phil Buhler

Other Ranks Shoulder Strap
(See Museum of the Boer Republics,  Bloemfontein)
Photo © MC Heunis

Corduroy Cap
(See Rödelsee Museum Collection Page)
Photo © Arne Schöfert


Südwester Hat
(See Südwester Details Page)
Photo © Doppler Collection

Other Ranks Riding Boots
(See Rödelsee Museum Collection Page)
Photo © Arne Schöfert

Schutztruppe Mounted Equipment
(See Mounted Equipment Details Page)
Photo © Doppler Collection

Schutztruppe kS98 Bayonet
with NCOs Bayonet Knot
(See Bayonet Details Page)
Photo © Nate Freidlander

  Period Photographs  
     
NCO in Kord Waffenrock
(See Full Size Photograph)
Photo
© Guido Welk
Officer in Kord Interimsrock
(See Full Size Photograph)
Photo © 
Anonymous Private Owner
Trooper in Kord Litewka
(See Full Size Photograph)
Photo ©  Doppler Collection
     
 

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