The German Navy In China

Figure 1
Officer

Figure 2
Naval Gunner

Figure 3
Naval Rating

Figure 4
Naval Gunner

Figure 5
Naval Pilot

 
Figure 1 is based on a photograph of a Naval Officer of the Tsingtao garrison taken during captivity in Japan. He wears a white summer officer's peaked cap, with black hatband and a small black/silver/red cockade surrounded by a gold wreath and imperial crown on the front (see right). A similar cap was also issued in dark blue.

He wears a double breasted blue winter officer's jacket with his rank displayed by gold bars surmounted by an imperial crown on his cuffs. In common naval officer's fashion he wear wears a high neck white shirt and thin black tie under the jacket and blue naval trousers.


German Naval Officer's Cap
(See Naval Uniforms Details Page)
IWM Collection

Figure 2 is based on a photograph of a NCO of the Kiaochou Naval Batteries taken just after the fall of Tsingtao. He wears a blue winter naval cap with an Imperial cockade and a black tally with "5. MATROSENARTILLERIE KIAUTSCHOU 5." (or other corresponding battery number) in gold across the front with the ties trailing down at the back (see below left), a blue winter other ranks double breasted jacket with blue collar patches bearing one gold bar to signify his rank and his specialist status is displayed by gold insignia on his upper left arm (see right). He wears blue winter naval trousers tucked into jackboots. He carries his kit and possessions in a naval rucksack ("Seesack") on his back, these were often decorated with unit insignia (again see the Naval Uniforms Details Page for examples). As a prisoner of war he has been stripped of weapons and ammunition but many of the land based naval units would have been armed with the Mauser 98 rifle and would have carried M1908 ammunition pouches on their belts.


Specialist Insignia of a Naval Gunner
(See Naval Uniforms Details Page)
Photo Copyright Doppler

Figure 3 is based on a photograph of Matrose Christian Vogelfänger from "SMS Jaguar" taken during captivity in Japan in regulation uniform. He wears a blue winter naval cap with a small black/white/red cockade and a black hat band with "SMS JAGUAR" in gold across the front with the ties trailing down at the back (see below centre), a white summer naval top with light blue collar scarf (although the colour did vary from light to dark blue- see right) with three white edging stripes, tied at the front with a black neck tie with white cord. He also wears blue winter naval trousers. This mixture of summer and winter uniform items was not uncommon.

Matrose Christian Vogelfänger (1896-1980) from Düsseldorf, served on the SMS Jaguar during the siege of Tsingtao. He was taken Prisoner of War and kept at the Tokyo-Asakusa and Narashino camps in Japan where he had a dog named Strolch and wrote a diary, some of which can be read at the Tsingtau Info website. In the 1960's he was still a member of the Tsingtao Comrades Group (Tsingtau-Kameradschaft).

Figure 4 is based on a photograph of a NCO of the Naval Batteries taken just after the fall of Tsingtao. He wears a blue winter naval cap (see white summer example below left) and uniform. His rank is displayed by a gold chevron on his upper left arm. On the white summer uniform this chevron would have been in dark blue.


Back of the sailor's collar
(See Naval Uniforms Details Page)
Photo Copyright Doppler


A White Summer Naval Cap from the
Kiaochow Naval Batteries

(See Naval Uniforms Details Page)

Photo Copyright Doppler


A Blue Winter Naval Cap from the
SMS Jaguar
(See Port Arthur Collection Page)
Photo Copyright Private Collector


A White Summer Naval Cap from the SMS Iltis
(See Port Arthur Collection Page)

Photo Copyright Private Collector


Figure 5
is based on a posed pre-war photograph of Leutnant zur See Gunther Plüschow, the German Naval Pilot in Tsingtao during the 1914 siege. His flying helmet is non-regulation and along with the goggles may have been personal additions. He wears a leather flying jacket similar to those worn by pilots and drivers in the regular army of the time, although this one may possibly be privately purchased. The jacket has naval officer's rank insignia added to the cuffs (in this case the imperial crown above a single gold bar indicating a Leutnant). The jacket is tied at the waist with a regulation Naval Officer's belt in silver braid with red and black stripes and gold buckle (see right). His trousers appear from the cut to be riding breeches in navy blue. He also wears leather gaiters above his ankle boots. This was typical of naval officers ashore. He caries a leather satchel for his charts and observation notes.

Leutnant zur See Gunther Plüschow (1886-1931), nick-named the "Dragon Pilot" due to a tattoo of a dragon on his left arm, was the only German airman on active duty based in Tsingtao in 1914. During the siege he ran spotting missions in a Rumpler Taube over the Japanese and British fleets and was unofficially credited with the first aerial "kill" of the war. When the garrison surrendered and went into captivity he escaped and made his way back to Germany via China, Japan, America and Gibraltar where he was briefly captured by the British and taken to England, only to escape once more and make his way back to Germany via Holland. On his return he was ironically arrested as a spy at first, but was eventually recognised and awarded the Iron Cross First Class. He was the only German prisoner to escape from a British mainland POW camp during either World War. He also wrote several books including one on his experiences in China and his journey back to Germany called "Escape from England" (see Book Reviews page). After the war he explored uncharted areas of Chile and Patagonia where he died in a flying accident in 1931.


A Naval Officers belt buckle
(See Seebataillon White Uniform Page)
Photo Copyright Doppler


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