African Soldiers in the Cameroon Schutztruppe 1894-1916

Figure 1
Schutztruppe Soldier

Figure 2
Schutztruppe Musician

Figure 3
Schutztruppe Medic

Figure 4
Schutztruppe Soldier

Figure 5
Schutztruppe Mounted Feldwebel

   

Uniforms of African Soldiers in the Cameroon Schutztruppe
Khaki Naval Style Uniforms
When the Schutztruppe were first formed they wore the same naval style khaki tops edged in red as worn by the Cameroon Polizeitruppe but without the Polizeitruppe red sash. Period photographs have shown the use of the same NCO rank chevrons as seen on later uniforms. I have seen no period photographs showing the use of musicians swallows nest on the naval style uniforms. They also wore the same three quarter length khaki trousers as the Polizeitruppe and like them were barefoot.

Headdress
The Schutztruppe wore the same rolled red felt fez with a knotted blue/black tassel as the Polizeitruppe with a small Imperial eagle with spread wings on the front. It is not known if the early eagles were still in Polizeitruppe yellow metal or the white metal seen on later Schutztruppe eagles.

Sudanese Askari Uniforms
Period photographs of the first Sudanese askaris employed by the Cameroon Schutztruppe in the early 1890s show them wearing the same uniforms as the Sudanese askaris in East Africa- plain khaki tunics with stand and fall collars, plain shoulder straps, no pockets and five buttons down the front. Period photographs have shown the use of the same NCO rank chevrons as seen on later uniforms and the use of musicians swallows nests although no other specialist insignia has been seen on the Sudanese uniforms.

Like the East African askaris they wore khaki tarbushes, at least one period photograph shows an imperial eagle worn on the front of the tarbush although it is impossible to tell in other photographs if the eagle was always worn. They wore puttees, which appear darker than their khaki uniforms in period photographs and so were probably dark blue/grey, as worn in East Africa and later by most African soldier in the Cameroon Schutztruppe. The Sudanese troops proved to be unsuited to Cameroon's damp tropical climate and were soon withdrawn from service.

1900 Khaki Uniforms
Sometime around the turn of the Century new uniforms were issued for the African soldiers of the Cameroon Schutztruppe (Carl Henckel dates the change as 1900- see
Illustrated Plates Page). These new uniforms were similar to the East African askari uniforms in that they consisted of a short khaki tunic without pockets and five (or sometimes only four) plain white metal buttons fastening the front. It had a khaki stand and fall collar with red edging and a red Litzen style bar in the centre. The cuffs had a red chevron, while the shoulder straps were plain khaki.

NCO rank insignia was shown in the from of red chevrons of the upper left arm as worn by the East African askaris (see NCO rank insignia below). Musicians wore swallows nests on their shoulder (see Specialist Insignia Page) but no other specialist insignia was worn.

The red rolled felt fez with a blue/black knotted tassel was retained with a white metal imperial eagle on the front.

Matching khaki trousers were worn with dark blue/grey puttees. Later issues of puttees were grey. Most African soldiers in the Cameroon Schutztruppe wore brown leather boots but some went barefoot either due to shortage or out of preference.

From its introduction this uniform was worn in action, on parade and for most duties. In the First World War it caused some confusion as the invading French Senegalese Tirailleurs also wore khaki uniforms with a red fez.

White Fatigue Uniforms
African soldiers in Cameroon were also issued a fatigue dress made up of a white naval style shirt (which was also usually worn beneath the khaki tunic) and matching white three-quarter length white trousers. The shirt had short sleeves, a blue edging on the square collar and three horizontal blue stripes on the chest. No rank or specialist insignia was worn on this uniform. This uniform was also worn by the Polizeitruppe on the Marshall and Caroline Islands of the German Pacific colonies.

Senior NCO Uniforms
African Sergeant Majors ("Feldwebel") in the Cameroon Schutztruppe and Polizeitruppe were uniquely entitled to wear the uniform of a German NCO- a four pocketed 1896 khaki tunic and trousers, both piped in blue (see Schutztruppe 1896 Khaki Tunic Details Page). The only difference was that they had plain khaki shoulder straps rather than the German NCOs twisted cords in the imperial colours. Their headdress was the regulation Südwester slouch hat with a large imperial cockade pinning up the right hand side and the hatband and piping in red for Cameroon (see Südwester Hats Details Page). The African Sergeant Majors did however still wear their rank chevrons in red rather than the white metallic lace used by German NCOs. Their trousers were the same as for German NCOs, khaki with blue piping down the outside seam. Brown leather boots were worn, although one photograph shows a Feldwebel wearing the short white boots usually worn by German officers and NCOs with their white tropical uniforms.

Equipment
From their formation, the African soldiers of the Schutztruppe carried brown leather 1887 ammunition pouches (usually two on the front with an optional third on the back) on a brown leather belt with a plain brass belt buckle. By 1914 these had mostly been replaced with brown leather 1909 ammunition pouches along with the issue of the K98 rifle. The African soldiers of the Cameroon Schutztruppe were also issued with the same backpack, bread bag, water bottle and tent quarter or blanket as were the troops of the regular German army, but most photographs show them wearing much less equipment. Unlike the regular army they were not issued with entrenching tools. Some photographs show show soldiers of the Cameroon Schutztruppe wearing a bandolier of ammunition pouches rather than pouches on their belts.

The mounted units of the Cameroon Schutztruppe wore the same uniforms as the dismounted troops, but their equipment was of the type issued to the mounted Schutztruppe of German South West Africa (see Mounted Equipment Page) but worn with the straps crossing the chest.

Weapons
The Cameroon Schutztruppe were originally issued the JB71, though photographs also show the use of the Kar88 by mounted troops.

By 1914 most of the Schutztruppe had been re-armed with the Kar98az, leaving stocks of the old JB71 for new recruits in wartime. According to Hew Strachan's "First World War in Africa" Cameroon had 3,861 rifles of the modern 1898 type with two and a quarter million rounds and only 2,920 rifles of the 1871 model with half a million rounds. Due to the shortage of ammunition, spent rounds were reloaded with locally made gunpowder (or using Nitro-glycerine requisitioned from civilian mining operations) with varying results and original 1898 rounds were prioritised for use in machine guns. Attempts were also made at locally made rifles but their unreliability made them extremely unpopular.

To fit the Jägerbüsche 71 rifle, S71/84 bayonets were issued. When the K98 rifle began to be issued it came with the kS98 bayonet. During the First World War captured bayonets were also sometimes put into use. The Collectors Book of German Bayonets by Roy Williams shows a photograph of a French Lebel bayonet with Cameroon Schutztruppe unit markings on it. Bayonet knots were not worn.

Each company was also issued with at least one Maxim machine gun by 1914. Some Feldkompagnien had an artillery piece or two with an additional artillery detachment was based in Duala.

The other ranks in Cameroon's mounted detachments carried a lance with a two pointed pennant divided into three horizontal stripes of the Imperial colours.


Cameroon Schutztruppe Fez
(See Imperial War Museum Collection Page)
IWM Collection


African Soldier's Buckle
(See Belt Buckles Details Page)
Photo © Doppler Collection


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


SW African Mounted Equipment
(See Mounted Equipment Details Page)
Photo from an Anonymous Collector


Schutztruppe 1896 Khaki NCOs Tunic
(See Schutztruppe Khaki Tunic Details Page)
Photo © Doppler Collection


Cameroon Schutztruppe S71/84 Bayonet
(See Cameroon Schutztruppe Bayonets Page)
Photo © Roy Williams


Cameroon Schutztruppe kS98 Bayonet
(See Cameroon Schutztruppe Bayonets Page)
Photo © Keith Lam

 
     
  The Illustrations

Figure 1 is based on a photograph of a Cameroon Schutztruppe Soldier. This illustration shows the typical uniform of Cameroon Schutztruppe soldiers from around 1900 until 1916. He wears the red rolled fez with a blue/black tassel and a white metal imperial eagle. The tunic is the khaki tunic introduced around 1900 with red chevrons on the cuffs and collar edging and bar. The trousers are matching khaki with dark blue/grey puttees and brown leather ankle boots. He carries a lightweight version of his full marching equipment without the rucksack. He does carry a rolled blanket or tent section and bread bag on his back with a water bottle on his brown leather belt. His rifle is the K98az carbine.

Figure 2 is based on a Cameroon Schutztruppe Musician probably taken either during the First World War or shortly before its outbreak. He wears the same uniform and equipment as the previous figure but with musicians swallows nests on the shoulders. Musicians of the Cameroon Schutztruppe wore traditional German army swallows nests in khaki and red or red and white (see Specialist Insignia Page) on their shoulders and fought as riflemen in action, as can be seen by his K98az carbine. By 1914 most soldiers wore grey puttees.and the 1909 model ammunition pouches and equipment in brown leather as seen here.

Figure 3 is based on a photograph of a Schutztruppe Medic taken in action during the First World War. He wears the same uniform as the soldiers described above but with the tassel removed from his fez. He also wears a red cross armband to distinguish him as a medic or stretcher bearer. Such armbands were worn by stretcher bearers and medics in all colonies.

Figure 4 is based on a photograph of a Schutztruppe Soldier wearing fatigue dress made up of a white naval style vest and trousers. Note the blue edging on the collar and three horizontal blue stripes on the chest. Other photographs show this uniform being worn under the khaki tunic or on other occasions with no khaki tunic and only the white top and khaki trousers. Again this solider carries 1909 ammunition pouches and a K98az carbine. In the original photograph upon which this illustration is based, this solider appears next to the musician in Fig 2.

Figure 5 is based on a photograph of a Mounted Schutztruppe Feldwebel. As described above, African Sergeant Majors in Cameroon wore the same uniform as their German counterparts. This consisted of a Südwester hat with red edging and hatband for Cameroon, an 1896 khaki tunic piped in blue. For mounted duties this NCO wears corduroy riding breeches, brown leather gaiters and ankle boots (whereas period photographs show mounted other ranks wearing their usual khaki trousers and puttees with ankle boots). Like the mounted other  ranks in the Cameroon Schutztruppe he carries the same type of ammunition pouches used by the mounted Schutztruppe in South West Africa but with the straps crossed over his chest. His K98 carbine is carried in rifle bucket attached to his saddle.

 
     
 

NCO Rank Insignia for African Soldiers in the Cameroon Schutztruppe

Figure A
Gefreiter
Figure B
Unteroffizier
Figure C
Sergeant
Figure D
Feldwebel
 
Figure A shows the insignia worn by an African Lance Corporal ("Gefreiter") in the Cameroon Schutztruppe. It consisted of a single red chevron worn on the upper left arm.

Figure B shows the insignia worn by an African Corporal ("Unteroffizier") in the Cameroon Schutztruppe. It consisted of two red chevrons worn on the upper left arm.

Figure C shows the insignia worn by an African Sergeant ("Sergeant") in the Cameroon Schutztruppe. It consisted of three red chevrons worn on the upper left arm.

Figure D shows the insignia worn by an African Sergeant Major ("Feldwebel") in the Cameroon Schutztruppe. It consisted of four red chevrons worn on the upper left arm of a German Schutztruppe NCOs tunic piped in blue. A German NCOs Südwester hat was also worn. The shoulder straps were plain khaki as worn on the African other ranks uniforms.

 

Specialist Insignia for African Soldiers in the Cameroon Schutztruppe and Polizeitruppe

Figure E
Music Player
Figure F
Musician
Figure G
Medic
Figure H
Customs Polizeitruppe

Figure E shows the insignia worn by a Music Player. Schutztruppe African musicians were divided into two grades- Musician ("Musiker") and Player ("Spielmann").  The lower ranking players wore swallows nests with a khaki base with eight vertical stripes underlined by one horizontal stripe in red as seen here.

Figure F shows the insignia worn by a Musician. The higher ranking musicians wore swallows nests with a red base colour with eight vertical stripes underlined by one horizontal stripe in white.

Figure G shows the red cross armband worn by a Medic. The Cameroon Schutztruppe did not appear from period photographs or written sources to have worn specialist badges for medics, signallers and gun layers as the East African Schutztruppe did.

Figure H shows the red "Z" (for "Zoll" or customs) worn by the 50 Cameroon Customs Police recruited in 1910. The badge is described and illustrated in several sources such as "Die Kaiserliche Schutz- und Polizeitruppe für Afrika" by Reinhard Schneider and "Uniformen der Marine und Schutztruppen" published by Waldorff Astoria Cigarette Cards, though I have yet to see a period photograph of its use. See also Cameroon Polizeitruppe Page.

 

Period Photographs

 
This photograph shows the original Sudanese askaris recruited for the Cameroon Schutztruppe in the mid 1890s. They wear the same Sudanese askari uniform as worn in East Africa. It consists a plain khaki tunic and trousers with a khaki covered tarbush. It cannot be seen from this photograph if they have the same imperial eagle badge as worn in East Africa. The German officers and NCOs wear the 1896 white tropical uniform with white tropical helmets.
Photo © Mark Skurka see For Sale page for details
 
 
 

 
  This photograph shows the Cameroon Schutztruppe wearing their old khaki naval style tops with square cut collars, probably prior to 1900. The African troops all wear the rolled fez with imperial eagle, short trousers and no footwear. The German officer wears an 1896 khaki uniform with a grey felt Südwester most likely with a red hatband and edging for Cameroon.
Photograph originally from Bundesarchiv /
WikiCommons


This photograph shows details of the 1900 khaki uniform for African soldiers of the Cameroon Schutztruppe. The red fez with imperial eagle can clearly be seen. Note the red edging and bar on the collar and the matching cuff chevrons. Neither solider wears puttees or boots. They are armed with the JB71 rifle. Note the brown leather equipment with ammunition pouches and the soldier on the right carrying a rolled up blanket on his back while a water bottle can be seen on his left hip. The bayonet scabbard looks too long for an S71/84 bayonet and maybe for a
Hirschfänger 71.
Photo © Joe Robinson


Four African Soldiers of the Cameroon Schutztruppe. Three of the men wear the 1900 khaki uniform with red cuff chevrons and collar lace of the African other ranks. They wear the red fez with white metal eagle. The figure centre left is a Feldwebel and wears the uniform of the German NCOs with a Südwester hat edged in red for Cameroon.

Photo ©
Mark Skurka see For Sale page for details


Cameroon Schutztruppe on parade in Dschang. The African soldiers wear the 1900 kahki uniform with red fezzes, putees and bare feet. They are armed with the JB71 rifle. The German mounted officer and dismounted NCO wear white tropical uniforms and tropical helmets. The officers helmet is a privately purchased variation.
Photo © Joe Robinson

 
     
 

 
  Some of the 5. Feldkompagnie based at Ebolowa. The German officers and NCOs wear 1896 Schutztruppe khaki uniforms with Südwester hats edged in red for Cameroon, one wears a white tropical helmet. Of the African soldiers some are wearing the khaki tunic with red collar edging, and some the white fatigue shirt with blue collar and three horizontal chest stripes. The red rolled fez with imperial eagle is worn by most of them. As well as the soldiers the photograph seems to include African servants or porters dressed in white vests and bareheaded or with plain fezzes.
Photo from the Bundesarchiv / WikiCommons
 
     
 

 
  The Cameroon Schutztruppe band playing in Duala. The bandsmen all wear the 1900 khaki uniform with red fez and blue/grey puttees. Most seem to be barefooted although at least two on the right seem to be wearing German white tropical ankle boots. Note the musicians swallows nest insignia worn on the shoulders of the African bandsmen. The German NCO wears the 1896 Schutztruppe khaki uniform with a Südwester hat edged in red for Cameroon, leather gaiters and ankle boots. Note his single rank chevron showing him to be an Unteroffizier.
Photo from the Bundesarchiv / WikiCommons


Cameroon Schutztruppe on parade. The German officers and NCOs wear the 1896 white tropical uniform with tropical helmet. The African other ranks wear the khaki uniform with red cuff chevrons and collar lace with red fez with white metal imperial eagle.
Photo © Mark Skurka see For Sale page for details

Main Sources
"Die Deutsche Schutztruppe 1889/1918" by Werner Haupt
"Das Deutsche Heer, Friedensuniformen bei Ausbruch des Weltkrieges" by H. Knötel and P. Pietsch
"Die Kaiserliche Schutz- und Polizeitruppe für Afrika" by Reinhard Schneider
"Askari und Fitafita - Farbiger Söldner in den deutschen Kolonien" by Thomas Morlang
"Uniformen der Marine und Schutztruppen" published by Waldorff Astoria Cigarette Cards
"Official History of the War- Military Operations in Togoland and the Cameroons" by Brigadier General F.J. Moberley
And photographs in the Frankfurt University Archives

 
     
 

Please contact me here if you have more information or photos on this topic. 

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