German Colonial
Photograph Collection (for sale September 2012)
This is a large
collection of original photographs and postcards taken in the German
colonies and overseas possessions. In all there are
232 photos of which 136 are original photographs and 96 are
photographic postcards. Many are unpublished and included is a
previously unseen album with 45 photographs taken by a British officer on campaign
in German East Africa during the First World War.
Some examples of the collection are shown below.
If you are seriously
interested in buying this collection contact
Mark Skurka

Machine Gun Company of the III. Seebataillon in Tsingtao
This photograph was taken on manoeuvres shortly before the First
World War. The other ranks wear khaki tunics and tropical helmets
with dark blue trousers. The observing officers wear white tropical
uniforms, white peaked caps and riding breeches with riding boots.
The officer in the centre looking through binoculars wears a naval
officers peaked cap with a black hatband rather than the Marine
infantry officers cap. The NCO behind him standing in the centre
background appears to have attached some leaves to his tropical
helmet as a form of camouflage.

Cameroon Schutztruppe in Camp
This photograph shows a German officer in the centre, he wears
an 1896 khaki tropical uniform piped in blue with a grey Südwester
hat edged in red for Cameroon. He wears riding boots and is armed
with a carbine and revolver. Next to him sits a European civilian.
The African soldiers are wearing the khaki naval style uniform worn
up until 1900 with the red fez and white metal imperial eagle. They
are armed with the JB71 rifle.

Infantry of the East Asian Occupation Brigade on parade in Tientsin.
They wear the 1904 field grey uniform and matching tropical helmets
with white hatbands for the infantry. Note the standard bearers in
the centre.

Porters in British service in German East Africa
This is a photo part of a collection taken by a British army officer
on campaign in German East Africa in the First World War. The
collection is previously unpublished and is all included in the
sale.

III. Seebataillon in China
Soldiers of the III. Seebataillon or possibly the East Asian
Marine Detachment. While the photograph shows soldiers that were
certainly in service in China, the lack of weapons or equipment may
indicate that this photograph was taken in a Japanese Prisoner of
War camp after the fall of Tsingtao. They wear khaki or blue field caps, the blue ones
have white hatbands. Their tunics are the grey Litewka most with
collar patches and Litzen. They wear dark blue trousers with white
piping and most wear marching boots.

Askaris of the East African
Schutztruppe
They wear khaki uniforms and the Tarbush headdress.

West Carolines Polizeitruppe
This photograph shows Polizeitruppe on the Island of Jap. All
wear the dark red sarong, some wear the white naval style top with
blue stripes on the chest and only one (possibly the NCO) wears a
khaki field cap.

Schutztruppe Officers with African Tribesmen
This photograph, probably taken in East Africa shows two
officers of the Schutztruppe in 1896 khaki uniforms. The figure on
the left (possibly an NCO) wears the 1896 tall white tropical helmet
while the figure on the right seems to have White East African
edging on his Sudwester hat. Both are armed with carbines. Behind
them and to the right stands their servant.

African Soldiers of the Cameroon Schutztruppe
Three of the men wear the khaki uniform with red cuff chevrons
and collar lace of the African other ranks. They wear the red fez
with white metal eagle. The figure centre left is Feldwebel
and wears the uniform of the German NCOs with a Südwester hat edged
in red for Cameroon.

New Guinea Polizeitruppe
The German police NCO is casually dressed in a white civilian
suit with a straw hat. The other ranks wear the khaki naval style
uniform and field cap both faced in red. Note the rank chevron on
the left sleeve of the NCO on the right.

Cameroon Schutztruppe on Parade
The German officers and NCOs wear the 1896 white tropical
uniform with tropical helmet with the exception of the senior
inspecting officer who wears the 1897 grey home uniform and
Südwester hat with red facing colours for Cameroon. The African
other ranks wear the khaki uniform with red cuff chevrons and collar
lace with red fez with white metal imperial eagle. Note the swallows
nest insignia on the shoulder of the African bandsmen in the centre.

III. Seebataillon in Tsingtao
This photograph was taken on manoeuvres shortly before the First
World War. The soldiers wear khaki tunics with dark blue trousers.
They wear the khaki tropical helmet and full marching equipment.
Note the musician with swallows nest insignia.

Togo Polizeitruppe
This photographs shows the Togo Polizeitruppe on parade in Lome. They
wear the khaki uniform with red edgings. Most of them wear the red
fez with some of the NCOs wearing the newly introduced khaki field
cap. Note the musicians on the left of the photograph with swallows
nest insignia on their shoulders.

Cameroon Schutztruppe on Parade
The German officers and NCOs wear the 1896 white tropical
uniform with tropical helmet. The African other ranks wear the khaki
uniform with red cuff chevrons and collar lace with red fez with
white metal imperial eagle.

Shanghai Volunteer Corps
Soldiers of the German Company of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps.
They wear khaki green uniforms with slouch hats, bandoliers and
riding boots.

Cameroon Schutztruppe c1890s
This photograph shows the original Sudanese askaris recruited
for the Cameroon Schutztruppe in the mid 1890s. They wear the same
Sudanese askari uniform as worn in East Africa. It consists a plain
khaki tunic and trousers with a khaki covered tarbush. It cannot be
seen from this photograph if they have the same mperial eagle badge
as worn in East Africa. The German officers and NCOs wear the 1896
white tropical uniform with white tropical helmets. Note the NCOs
chevrons visible on their left sleeves.

Machine Gun Company of the III. Seebataillon in Tsingtao
This photograph was taken on manoeuvres shortly before the First
World War. The soldiers wear khaki uniforms, mostly with blue field
caps with white hatbands. Some wear the khaki tropical helmet with a
red hatband to show which side they are on in the manoeuvre.

German Army Supply Column in Tropical Uniform
This photograph shows a mule column bringing up supplies. The
soldiers wear the 1917 khaki tropical uniform with peaked cap and
neckshade. Note the gas mask canister carried by the leading figure,
certainly placing him in the First World War. The khaki uniform was
commonly worn in German army units in Palestine but also in limited
numbers in Macedonia and Georgia.

Togo Polizeitruppe
This photograph shows the Togo Polizeitruppe in training. The African
soldiers wear the khaki uniform with the red fez. Note the German
NCO on the left in white uniform and tropical helmet. |