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In
August 1905 one company each
from the I. and II. Seebataillone were formed
into a Marine Expedition Corps under Hauptmann von Schlichting and
Leutnant Engelbrecht for
service in German East Africa as the Maji-Maji Rebellion spread
across the colony. The unit consisted of nine officers and 219 other
ranks.
They travelled via
Vienna and Trieste and arrived in Dar Es Salaam on board the
Austrian Lloyds Steamer "Koerber" in September. As in South West
Africa the Seebataillon troops were split up
amongst different Schutztruppe units. They did not see heavy action
and were used mostly for defensive and garrison duty freeing up
Schutztruppe Askaris to fight in the frontline. They returned to Germany in early 1907.
Uniforms of the Marine Expeditionskorps in East Africa
The Marine Infantry sent to East Africa were issued
Khaki Tropical
Uniforms as worn in China and South West Africa with 1900
Bortfeldt tropical helmets and khaki field caps.
They were issued with
stocks of the South West African Schutztruppe Mounted equipment and
Gew98 rifles.
They had four machine
guns operated by members of the naval I. Matrosen Division. These
sailors were also issued Marine Infantry khaki uniforms and tropical
helmets.
In addition they carried
they grey Litewka tunics, blue home uniform trousers, blue field
caps and black greatcoats, though these were not commonly needed in
Africa.
Sources and Links-
Marine-Infanterie
Medal Net - Deutschostafrika 1905-07
"Unsere Marineuniformen" by J Zienert
"Die deutschen Marinen 1818-1918"
by R Noeske and C Stefanski |
