Souvenirs from the Schutztruppe and German Colonies
Reproduced from the Doppler Collection (except where otherwise noted) by kind permission



 


Much as holidaymakers of today bring back souvenirs of their time abroad so German soldiers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries did the same. Soldiers and sailors were very proud of their time spent in service abroad, especially in an age when the military was glorified and few people had the chance to travel to places as exotic as Africa and China. 

Some of the items in this collection are reminiscent of the places their owners had been to and lived in, others are more reminiscent of the units they served with. All are fascinating views into the history of the period.

Please respect the owner's generosity in sharing these photos with us by not reproducing them without prior permission.

(Click on the pictures to enlarge)
 

 
         
   
A military identification pass wallet from soldier Hartmann who joined the 1st Company of the 3rd Eisenbahn Regiment of the German South West African Schutztruppe 1902.   The front of the pass.   The inside of the pass showing service in Cameroon during 1915 and 1916.
   
A framed commemorative print from 1900 showing uniforms of the Schutztruppe from the 1890's.   A close up of the same commemorative print showing officers peacetime home uniforms.   Another close up of the same commemorative print showing officials peacetime home uniforms.
   
Another close up of the same commemorative print showing general officers peacetime home uniforms.   Another close up of the same commemorative print showing NCOs peacetime home uniforms and uniforms from Cameroon and Togo.   Another close up of the same commemorative print showing uniforms from German East Africa.
   
Another close up of the same commemorative print showing uniforms from German South West Africa.   A commemorative framed piece of embroidery to remember the service of a soldier of the East Asian Occupation Brigade in China 1901-03. Note the display includes the flags of the international force that defeated the Boxer Rebellion in 1900-01.   A similar commemorative framed piece of embroidery to remember the service of a sailor from the SMS Tiger who again served in China between 1901-04.
   
Another framed commemorative print. This one is to remember the service of Unteroffizier Hermes of the Schutztruppe Field Signals Abteilung in German South West Africa 1903-07.   Another close up of the same commemorative print  from German South West Africa.   Another close up of the same commemorative print  from German South West Africa.
   
Another close up of the same commemorative print from German South West Africa.   A commemorative lead goblet from German South West Africa showing members of the Seebatallion sent to assist in the Herero Rebellion in tropical helmets with the inscription "Errinerung an Deutsche Süd West Afrika"   The other side of the commemorative same goblet showing the natives of South West Africa.
   
A commemorative glass bottle from Cameroon.   The other side of the glass bottle.   A painted tobacco pipe from Cameroon.

 

 

A flask decorated to commemorate a reservists naval service 1905-08.   The other side of the flask with an interesting South Pacific theme.   A painted ostrich egg from German South West Africa.
       
    A metal figurine of a German East African Askari
Photo © Pascal Hulin
   
         

Please email the webmaster here if you have any items you'd be willing to photograph and show on this website.

 Except where otherwise stated, all photographs on this page are © Doppler 2005

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