Uniforms of the German East African Schutztruppe Askaris 1914-18
The Schutztruppe askaris started the First World War dressed as they had been since the mid-1890s (see Schutztruppe Askaris 1896-1914). Many kept all or some of this uniform for several years. But as the war wore on without fresh supplies of uniforms, the once smart askaris became less and less uniformly dressed. New uniforms and equipment came from captured and improvised stocks which were often dyed a shade of khaki with the root of the Ndaa tree. Later in the war fewer askaris were seen wearing the original issue uniform and tarbush (and when the tarbush was worn it was often with the eagle removed). Most units wore a variety of non-regulation clothing and uniforms, slouch hats and fezzes, German or allied field caps and even woolly hats.

The following first hand description of three askaris in 1917 is taken from "Blockade and Jungle" by Christen P Christensen (See Book Reviews Page) and is typical of askaris from the later war period- "I had a look at our reinforcements...they were three askaris. The man on one side of me had on an ordinary felt hat, and something that had once been a shirt, but it was so tattered and torn that his gleaming black skin showed through it in many places. He also had an excellent pair of trousers, which didn't look as if they were German in origin, and a good pair of boots on his bare feet. However he was well supplied with cartridge pouches, and also had two machine gun belts across his chest like bandoliers. His gun was a long barrelled, small bore Portuguese rifle, which gave a peculiar sharp, ringing crack. He was a veteran....The second third of our relieving troops....was a good man too, another veteran. He had still an askari cap and neck cloth, but not another stitch on him except for trousers and a well filled cartridge belt. He had an old fashioned '71 rifle, which made a lot of smoke and gave out a dull roar like a shot gun....The man beside (him)...had on an English khaki shirt, but otherwise more or less regulation German uniform, he was shooting briskly and vigorously with an English rifle."

The Illustrations
Figure 1 is based on a photograph of a Schutztruppe Askari probably taken in late 1914 or early 1915. He still wears his original uniform, but has removed the eagle from his tarbush to be replaced with an adornment of feathers. This was quite commonplace it seems, with some askaris simply having one feather stuck into a fez or slouch hat and others, often NCOs, making quite elaborate decorations. He wears a civilian striped shirt under his uniform and has a pair of  captured leather gaiters instead of issue puttees. He is armed with a British Lee Enfield Rifle, possibly one of the 455 captured at the Battle of Tanga along with over 600,000 rounds of ammunition. Later in the war more captured rifles (the Portuguese 1904 Mauser-Vergueiro was popular) and even hunting rifles came to be in common use. Rather than a bayonet he carries a machete at his side.

Figure 2 is based on a photograph of a Schutztruppe Askari taken in 1915 after a raid on the Uganda railway. He still clings on to the tatters of his original uniform which is missing several buttons and torn to shreds in places. His tarbush has either been replaced by a hat woven from grass or has been covered with grass tied around it. The askaris frequently decorated their headgear with leaves or grasses for camouflage. His boots appear to be home made, something at which the askaris became very adept. Boots were made from scraps of leather, animal hides or even flexible tree bark.

Figure 3 is based on a photograph of a Schutztruppe Askari NCO of the 21. Feldkompagnie taken in the latter stages of the war. The slouch hat and bandolier are typical of late war askaris but certainly not regulation Schutztruppe issue. The tunic appears to be a captured Portuguese item with the original arm of service collar patches removed. When allied uniforms and headgear were worn the insignia was of course removed. Instead a Schutztruppe askari red on khaki NCO rank chevron has been added to the left sleeve. As the war dragged on fewer insignia regulations were followed, but rank chevrons were seen throughout the war. His trousers may be captured or original issue, his puttees are probably improvised. He wears German 1909 ammunition pouches.

Figure 4 is based on a photograph of another Schutztruppe Askari NCO taken in the latter stages of the war. He also has little of his original uniform left and wears a non-regulation shirt and civilian fez. Later in the war some askaris received the newer 1909 ammunition pouches but many such as this figure had bandoliers or captured allied cartridge pouches along with locally made water bottles, knapsacks and colourful blankets.

Figure 5 is based on a photograph of a Schutztruppe Askari taken in the latter stages of the war. Field caps such as this were quite commonly worn by askaris (especially NCOs) later in the war. They all came from captured stocks, this one is probably British. Again the original insignia was removed. His tunic may possibly be original although it looks well worn in the original photograph. The shorts are probably captured British or South African issue, or may be cut down from another pair of trousers. He carries 1909 German ammunition pouches, a British Lee Enfield rifle and what appears to be a Portuguese 1904 bayonet. This method of carrying the rifle slung lengthways over the shoulder was typical of askaris.   

East African Schutztruppe Askaris on the March c1914-16 Although the soldiers mostly wear standard Schutztruppe issue uniform, some appear to have non standard items, shorts or missing puttees. Most notable is the leading NCO with a bold feather display on his Tarbush. Photo by Walther Dobbertin, Bundesarchiv / Wikimedia Captured German East African Schutztruppe Askaris, 1916 This photograph shows German East African Schutztruppe askaris captured by British Rhodesian troops during the First World War at Ilembula, December 1916. In the centre foreground is an Askari Officer or Effendi. He is distinguished by wearing a pocketed tunic with turn back cuffs. It is the Schutztruppe 1896 khaki uniform usually worn only by German officers and NCOs but worn by Effendi without the blue piping or shoulder straps. This particular tunic seems too big for the wearer. It is possible that he inherited it from a fallen Effendi when he was promoted. Behind the Effendi are four NCOs (only three of whom can be clearly seen from this angle). They all wear NCO rank chevrons in red on the upper left sleeve. The  on the right also has marksmanship award bars on his cuffs. Behind them are the rank and file askaris. Similar to the NCOs, most still have their original khaki uniforms and tarbushes although some are in battered shape and none wear the eagle on their tarbushes anymore. Some wear uniforms with pockets or of a darker shade which may have been made in the colony or captured. The askaris have been disarmed and some of their equipment lies scatted on the ground, including ammunition pouches on the left and knapsacks on the right. They most still wear waist belts with plain askari belt buckles although the Effendi has an officers open buckle. The Rhodesian troops on the far left wear a mixture of British khaki tropical uniform and Wolseley tropical helmets. As can be seen it would be very hard to tell them from Schutztruppe officers of the period. The soldier on the edge of the photograph has a Lee Metford or Long Lee Enfield rifle with its 1888 pattern bayonet. Photo © Chris Wood East African Schutztruppe Porters (on the left) and Askaris (on the right) c1917 At this late stage in the war the askaris are not wearing Schutztruppe uniform. Note the non-matching shades and cuts of their uniforms, with different pocket and collar shapes. The askari in the foreground with a fez and bandolier is armed with a British Lee Enfield Rifle. Photo from Bundesarchiv / Wikimedia East African Schutztruppe Askaris in Camp c1917 As with other photos on this page, at this late stage in the war the askaris are not wearing Schutztruppe uniform. Note the non-matching shades and cuts of their uniforms. The askari on the left wears a captured greatcoat. Askaris were not issued greatcoats by the Schutztruppe. Despite the lack of uniformity the two askaris on the right with shouldered rifles still have NCO chevrons on their left sleeves. Photo © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv NCOs of the 21. Feldkompagnie c1917 As with other photos on this page, at this late stage in the war the askaris are not wearing Schutztruppe uniform. Note the non-matching shades and cuts of their uniforms. They mostly wear rough slouch hats although one askari in the background has a captured peaked cap. Note the mixed types of ammunition belts and bandoliers worn. Again, despite the lack of uniformity the four askaris in the foreground still have NCO chevrons on their left sleeves. Photo by Wilhelm Erhart © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv Askaris of the 21. Feldkompanie c1917 Again there is little if anything of the original uniforms to be seen and the askaris wear a mixture of captured and improvised uniforms, equipment and weapons. Photo by Wilhelm Erhart © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv The Second Battery of the East African Schutztruppe on the March c1918 Oberleutnant zur See Richard Wenig the commander of the gun captured at Mahiwa (mounted on the left) leading troops of the Schutztruppe 2 Batterie. Very few Schutztruppe officers were mounted at this stage in the war. Wenig is mostly likely an exception because he had lost his left foot in action around the Rufiji in 1916 and wore a handmade prosthetic for the remainder of the war. He was one of the last German officers to surrender along with von Lettow-Vorbeck in November 1918. The askaris to the right wear a mixture of Schutztruppe, captured and improvised uniforms, equipment and weaponry as was common in late war photographs. Photo from Wilhelm Erhart © Frankfurt University Koloniales Bildarchiv East African Askaris c1916-18 These eyewitness water colour paintings shows East African Askaris wearing mixtures of Schutztruppe, captured and improvised uniforms, equipment and weaponry. Their ragged appearance is brought vividly to life in this series of watercolours by W Rehfeld published as "Bilder vom Kriege in Deutsch-Ostafrika". This whole collection can be seen at the Reichskolonialamt website. Illustrations by W Rehfeld at Reichskolonialamt