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This is a posed studio
photograph of a Schutztruppe NCO, probably taken
in a photographic studio near Munsterlager training ground, Germany in 1904,
during the training of new Schutztruppe recruits for service in the
Herero Rebellion.
He wears the
Schutztruppe
Südwester Hat
in grey felt, with blue hatband and edging for South West Africa,
pinned up on the right hand side with a large imperial cockade (see
right).
His tunic is the 1896
Kord Waffenrock, with blue piping, cuffs and collar, white Litzen
on the collar and cuffs, white metal imperial crown buttons and
shoulder straps of white twisted cord with threads in red and black.
Note the button visible on his collar showing his rank to be a
Gefreiter (Lance Corporal- see NCO Rank
Insignia). He wears aiguillette twisted black/white/red cords across his left
breast. These were usually only worn on parade.
He carries the
Mounted Equipment and
Ammunition Pouches exclusive to the Schutztruppe in brown leather
with matching riding boots and stirrups. His company coloured bayonet
knot can been seen at his left side. While most of the new
Schutztruppe recruits bound for South West Africa in 1904 were being
equipped with the G98 rifle and kS98 bayonet, this man carries a G88
rifle with an S98
bayonet. The S98 bayonet was not made to fit the G88 rifle, it had no
muzzle ring and would not hold well on the G88's short fixing bar. It
was probably only used in this combination for the photograph.
Photographic studios of the time often had collections of rifles,
bayonets, swords and in this case a dog to use as props in posed
action shots.
Recommended External
Link- More posed photographs from
Munsterlager
This photograph was
kindly shared with us by Guido Welk from his family collection, the
name of this Schutztruppe soldier is however unknown. Please respect
Guido's
generosity in sharing this photograph with us by not reproducing it
without prior permission.
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South West African Schutztruppe Südwester Hat
(See
Südwester
Details Page)
Photo
© Doppler Collection
Schutztruppe Kord Waffenrock
with Ammunition Pouches
(See Röedelsee Museum Page)
Photo
© Arne Schöfert |
