Contemporary Illustrated Plates

Although the original illustrations on this website are all based on original photographs, when researching their uniforms I have found many period illustrations helpful in showing colours, insignia and uniform details. Scans of many of them can be seen at Reichskolonialamt or bought in high quality from traders such as Historische-Uniformen or on E-bay. Some of the most informative of these plates are reproduced below. Click on the images below to see the the full series.

Schutztruppe, 1914 by H Knötel and P Pietsch Originally published as part of 'Das Deutsche Heer, Friedensuniformen bei Ausbruch des Weltkrieges', Diepenbroick-Grüter & Schulz, Hamburg 1935		Schutztruppe, 1890s by Moritz Ruhl "Die Deutsche Schutztruppe für Afrika" (reprinted several times under varying titles) written and illustrated by Moritz Ruhl, originally published in Leipzig, late 1890s.		Schutztruppe and Navy, 1899 by Carl Henckel Originally published as part of a series of postcards under the title 'Militär Informations-Postkarten'
South West African Schutztruppe by Eberhard Hettler Originally published as "Die Schutztruppe für Deutsche Südwestafrika 1889-1915" written and illustrated by Hauptmann Eberhard Hettler, published 1932		Schutztruppe and Polizeitruppe, 1914 Unknown Artist Originally published in 'Deutsches Kolonial-Lexikon' by Dr. Heinrich Schnee, Quelle & Meyer, Leipzig 1920		Schutztruppe and Marine Infantry, 1914 Unknown Artist Published as 'Uniformen der Marine und Schutztruppen' Cigarette cards by Waldorff Astoria Cigarette Factory, Munich 1933
Marine Infantry, 1914 by H Knötel and P Pietsch Originally published as part of 'Das Deutsche Heer, Friedensuniformen bei Ausbruch des Weltkrieges', Diepenbroick-Grüter & Schulz, Hamburg 1935		East Asian Expeditionary Corps, 1900 by Eberhard Hettler Originally published as 'Deutsches Ostasiatisches Expeditionskorps1900-01'in 1932		East Asian Expeditionary Corps, 1900 by Moritz Ruhl Originally published as 'Unsere Truppen in Ostasien'.