German Colonial Uniforms

Imperial German Naval Uniforms
Reproduced from the Doppler Collection by kind permission
except where stated

This extensive collection of naval uniforms shows most of the main forms of dress worn by other ranks in the German Imperial Navy before and during the First World War.

As a general rule the German navy wore dark blue woollen uniforms in Winter or cold climates while white cotton uniforms were worn in Summer or hotter climates, both are shown here.

For details of how the uniforms varied under campaign circumstances see the individual pages on this website for East Africa, Tsingtao and the Ottoman fronts.

Please respect the owners' generosity in sharing these photos with us by not reproducing them without prior permission.

(Click on the pictures below to enlarge)



A blue winter other ranks naval cap ("Mütze") from the SMS Königsberg (note that the cap tally spells the ship's name in the alternative way with an "E" after the "O" to replace the umlaut).	A closer look inside the SMS Königsberg cap showing the owner's name tag.	A white summer cap from the SMS Lotheringen.

The uniform of a sailor of the SMS Lotheringen (the German name for the province of Lorraine, now in France) in landing gear ("Landungsnzug"). He wears the standard white cotton summer shirt ("Weißes Hemd") with the blue naval collar ("Exerzierkragen" or often familiarly called a "Kieler Kragen" after the port of Kiel) sewn onto it.	The rear of the sailor of the SMS Lotheringen in landing gear. The bread bag seen here is dated 1887.	Another close up of the sailor of the SMS Lotheringen in Landing gear. This time showing the 1895 model belt buckle worn by naval and colonial other ranks attached to a pair of M1871 blackened leather ammunition pouches. While most colonial troops had brown leather equipment, most naval troops (except the III. Seebatallion) had blackened leather.

Details of the cuff of the sailor of the SMS Lotheringen.	Detail of the rank chevron worn by the sailor of the SMS Lotheringen. The single sewn on navy blue stripe identifies him as an Obermatrose.	Issue stamp inside the sailor of the SMS Lotheringen's uniform showing it was issued in Wilhelmshaven (BAW for "Bekleidung Amt Wilhelmshavn") on 22nd December 1887.

Another close up of the sailor of the SMS Lotheringen in Landing gear. This time showing his M1871 model and ammunition pouches. Although much of this equipment was obsolete by regular army standards it was still sometimes issued to naval and colonial forces in 1914.	Another example of the white cotton shirt with naval collar. This one was originally worn by Robert Barsch of the SMS Iltis serving in China. Photo kindly shared with us by his nephew, Axel Scharr ©	The name tag ("Barsch") inside the shirt seen on the left. Photo © Axel Scharr

A pair of white shorts worn in tropical climates, again from Robert Barsch of the SMS Iltis. Photo © Axel Scharr	An other ranks double breasted woollen winter naval jacket ("Űberzieher" often referred to as a "Collani" in naval slang, after the Berlin tailors Berger & Collani who made many naval uniforms). The buttonhole bears the ribbon of an Iron Cross 2nd Class.	A close-up of the plain blue collar patch and buttons of the double breasted jacket.

The uniform of an NCO of the 4th Artillery Unit of the Kiautschou Naval Artillery (IV. Artillerie Abteilung, Matrosen Artillerie Kiautschou) that manned the defences at Tsingtao. He wears a China Campaign Medal on his left breast (issued for service in the Boxer Rebellion 1900-01- see Medals Page for more details) of his blue woollen winter naval top ("Wollenes Hemd" or woollen shirt) with removable naval collar. The mixture of white summer and blue winter uniform items was not uncommon.	A close up of the white cap from the 4th Kiautschou Naval Artillery figure.	A close up of other side of the white cap from the 4th Kiautschou Naval Artillery figure.

Another close up of the white cap from the 4th Kiautschou Naval Artillery figure.	A close up of the inside of the white cap from the 4th Kiautschou Naval Artillery figure.	A close up of the dark blue Naval top worn with a China Campaign Medal from the 4th Kiautschou Naval Artillery figure.

The specialist insignia of a telegraphist and single rank chevron of an Obermatrose from the upper left sleeve of the 4th Kiautschou Naval Artillery figure.	A close up of the issue markings on the inside of the uniform. They identify it as belonging to "IV MAK" (IV. Matrosen Artillerie Kiautschou) in red wax, with IV AA (Artillerie Abteilung) under the name tag. The name Petersen implies the owner was an ethnic Dane possibly from the newly added German territories of Schleswig-Holstein. The ethnic Danes were keen sailors and like the other newly added "Germans" from Alsace and Lorraine formed a disproportionately high part of the naval and colonial manpower.	The rear of the of the 4th Kiautschou Naval Artillery figure.

The white summer trousers of the of the 4th Kiaoutschou Naval Artillery figure.	A lightweight white naval working top ("Arbeitsbluse") with necktie and a single right breast pocket	The rear of the light weight white naval top with necktie.

The rear of the lightweight white top with the neck tie removed. Note that not all neck ties were removable, some were sewn into the top.	The removable neck tie from the lightweight white top.	The issue stamp inside the light weight white top, showing it was issued in Wilhelmshaven in 1914.

An other ranks dress jacket ("Affenjacke") from a sailor on the SMS Königsberg. Although the jacket is dated 1913 inside this would not have been worn in action by that date, the more practical double breasted jacket shown above being preferred.	A close up of the cuff buttons and detail from the other ranks dress jacket.	A close up of the sewn-on rank chevron from the other ranks dress jacket showing him to be an Obermatrose.

An NCO's dress jacket from one of the the Kiautschou Naval Artillery Batteries. It is similar to the previous other ranks jacket but of better quality with NCO's lace. It has an artillery marksmanship award on the right shoulder in the form of silver, back and red braid with a brass miniature of a gun shell on the end.	A close up of the Artillery Shooting Award on the NCO's dress jacket.	The rear of the NCO's dress jacket from the Kiautschou Artillery Batteries.

Detail of the ranking lace and buttons on the NCO's dress jacket showing his rank to be Maat.	The markings inside the NCO's dress jacket again tell much about its history. Its unit marking is MAK ("Matrosen Artillerie Kiautschou"), the issuing office is Wilhelmshaven, dated 1912 and belonging to Maat Karl Vogt.	A close up of the specialist insignia (showing him to be a gunner) on the NCO's dress jacket from the Kiautschou Artillery Batteries.

A rough working uniform as worn by stockers and submariners.	The issue stamp inside the working uniform. This time from the BAK (Bekleidung Amt Kiel). Note its very late war date suggesting it probably never saw action.	The trousers from the rough working uniform.

An NCO's cap from the I. Werft Division. Sailors of the Werft Divisions were used to guard naval bases and as marine infantry on board ships.	The other side of the Werft Division cap	The inside of the Werft Division cap showing the owner's name (Esser), unit number and date (1916).

A submariner's cap. Crimson piping was usually worn by members of torpedo boats crews..	The other side of the submariner's cap. The full cap tally reads "1. UNTERSEEBOOTS = HALBFLOTTILLE.1.". On board submarines the tally would have read the ship's name, while onshore like this one it would have read like this one.	An NCO's cap from the Imperial Naval Artillery. The cap tally reads "KAISERL. MATR. ARTILLERIE"

A naval officer's cocked bicorn hat. Worn for dress and parade duties, these hats were not worn in action.	A closer look cord and brass button.	A look inside the officer's cocked hat.

A Deck Officer's blue cap. The cap has a black hatband with imperial cockade and a black leather chinstrap and peak. The insignia for junior or deck officer was an imperial crown embroidered in gold.	A close up of the deck officer's insignia and imperial cockade.	A view of the inside of the deck officer's hat. Being of private purchase it has no issue stamp.

A close up side view of the deck officer's blue hat showing the brass button holding the chin strap. Note the naval anchor and imperial crown on the button.	A German naval officers white summer cap. Note the senior officers' insignia of an embroidered imperial crown with a wreath around the imperial cockade. (Imperial War Museum Collection)	An identification tag worn by Imperial German sailors. The markings identify the original owner as belonging to the SMS Helgoland, II MD is the 2nd Matrosen Division. The 13 refers to the year 1913.

	A cap tally from the SMS Tiger which served in China.

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