German East Asian Troops 1901-09
Field Grey Winter Uniforms

Figure 1
Infantryman
2nd East Asian Infantry Regt
1900 Winter Uniform

Figure 2
Trooper
East Asian Train Company
1900 Winter Uniform

Figure 3
NCO
East Asian Artillery Detachment
1901 Other Ranks Greatcoat

Figure 4
Officer
East Asian Infantry
1902 Officers Formal Tunic

Figure 5
NCO
East Asian Cavalry Squadron
1904 Winter Uniform

 

Uniforms of the German East Asian Army 1901-09
On 9th February 1901 new uniforms in field grey (and khaki for Summer) were authorised for the East Asian Expeditionary Corps (and its later successors, the East Asian Occupation Brigade and East Asian Detachment). These uniforms are usually referred to as the 1900 uniforms as parts of them and their design had been authorised or introduced by the Prussian war ministry between September and December of 1900. Confusingly the Earlier East Asian Expeditionary Corps Uniforms are also referred to as 1900 uniforms.

Whereas as the earlier East Asian uniforms had been hastily assembled from mostly existing stocks to enable the corps to be put into action as soon as possible, the new uniforms were well thought out, with a view to working as a prototype new uniform for the German army in Europe. This was the first time the German army had been issued a uniform and helmet in field grey ("Feldgrau") which would later become synonymous with the image of the German soldier.

The new uniforms had only the imperial insignia as used by the Schutztruppe and imperial navy, rather than the different state insignia for Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony etc. The East Asian garrison now came under the direct control of the Kaiser and his war ministry in Berlin rather than the individual state parliaments.

The different field grey uniforms are described below with arm of service insignia illustrated at the bottom of this page. There is a separate page of this website to describe the Khaki Summer Uniforms.

1900 Field Grey Tunic
The new tunic ("Rockbluse") had a stand a fall collar, plain turn back cuffs and a fly front fastening, concealing six horn buttons. The rear skirts were scalloped and had three yellow metal buttons on either side. Red piping followed the edges of the collar, cuffs, fly front and rear skirts. There were four plain pockets, all with concealed horn buttons. The shoulder straps were in arm of service colour (see below for Arm of Service Details) and were attached at the top with a yellow metal button (bearing the company number for the infantry).

Rank insignia for NCOs was shown in the form of white lace with black and red threads on the cuffs and lower edge of the collar, along with buttons on the collar (see NCO Rank Insignia Page). NCOs also wore a single chevron in white lace with black and red threads on the upper left arm.

Officers usually purchased privately made uniforms with better quality materials, but (with the two notable exceptions of the 1902 formal tunic and officers greatcoat) generally wore the same pattern uniforms as other ranks. Officers rank insignia was shown on the shoulder straps (see Officers Rank Insignia Page) which had a backing of the arm of service colour (see arm of service insignia below). Officers wore the same single chevron on the upper left arm as worn by NCOs but in silver lace with black and red threads. This chevron was discarded by officers from 1902.

Specialist insignia for musicians, standard bearers, marksmen, medics and others was worn the style of the regular German army but in new field grey variations (see Specialist Insignia Page). Staff officers and the pioneers had white metal buttons in place of yellow metal on the shoulder straps and rear skirts. See below for examples of other types of specialist insignia worn by the East Asian Army.

1900 Trousers
The trousers were matching field grey and had red piping and a single rear pocket on the right hand side. Riding breeches were issued for mounted units, these were not piped for other ranks, although officers breeches retained the piping.

1901 Other Ranks Greatcoat
In 1901 the East Asian troops were issued with a new greatcoat ("Mantel"). It was of a similar cut to the Prussian army other ranks greatcoats of the period, being single breasted with six buttons down the front, a hip pocket and a slit on each side and three buttoned scalloped rear skirts. The coat was made of field grey cloth with matt yellow metallic buttons bearing the Imperial crown. The shoulder straps were field grey with piping in Arm of Service colours and insignia in red as later worn on the 1904 tunic.

1902 Officers Greatcoat
On 3rd April 1902 a new double breasted officers greatcoat ("Paletot") was authorised. It was of a similar cut to the Prussian army officers greatcoats of the period, being double breasted with two rows of six buttons down the front, three buttoned scalloped rear skirts. The coat was made of grey cloth with matt yellow metallic buttons bearing the Imperial crown. Officers shoulder straps were worn.

1902 Officers Formal Tunic
In 1902 a field grey formal tunic ("Gesellschaftsrock") was introduced for officers. This replaced the 1900 dark blue formal tunics worn by the East Asian Expeditionary Corps. The 1902 tunic was similar in cut to the 1897 Schutztruppe Home Uniform. It had a high stand and fall collar with large Litzen, officers shoulder straps, Swedish style cuffs with Litzen, eight buttons down the front bearing the Imperial crown, no pockets and piping down the front and around the three buttoned scalloped rear skirts. Collar, cuffs and piping were in Arm of Service colours as worn on the hatband of the field cap, with the exception that infantry officers wore red. Litzen was in yellow metallic thread and buttons were also in yellow metal. The Litzen and buttons of pioneer and staff officers was white.

1904 Field Grey Tunic
A new field grey winter tunic was introduced for all ranks in 1904. Its principal difference from the 1900 field grey tunic that it replaced, was in the pocket arrangement and design of the shoulder straps. The 1904 breast pockets were external and pleated, with a slightly pointed flap. It had no hip pockets. The shoulder straps were now made of matching field grey cloth with only piping in arm of service colour rather than the whole strap and insignia in red. All other details of the tunic and uniform remained the same. A lightweight version of this tunic was introduced as Summer uniform (see East Asian Tropical Uniforms) as well as a cold weather version lined with fur (according to "The German Colonial Troops 1889-1918" by Jürgen Kraus and Thomas Müller the cold weather tunic had no red piping).

 


Pickelhaube and 1904 Field Grey Tunic
Note the usually concealed horn buttons, pleated breast pockets and lack of hip pockets identifying it as the 1904 tunic (as well as an internal stamp for "BAO1905"), the white shoulder straps with the number 2 identify it as being from the 2nd East Asian Infantry Regiment. The Pickelhaube is marked "BAO1901". Below the tunic is a photographic portrait of a soldier of the 2nd East Asian Infantry in a 1904 uniform.
Photo © John Strott

     
Other Ranks East Asian Infantry Pickelhaube
Photos © German Militaria
     

1900 Spiked Helmet (See also East Asian Pickelhauben Page)
The new spiked helmet ("Pickelhaube") was based on the 1895 Prussian army helmet used by most of the German army and the East Asian Expeditionary Corps up until this point but with several notable differences.

Firstly rather than being made of blackened leather the 1900 helmet was made of field grey pressed felt with front and rear peaks in field grey leather. This was a test idea for the German command to produce cheaper and more camouflaged headdress for the army in future. Pressed felt Pickelhauben came to be in common use by the German army during the First World War when supplies of imported leather could not be obtained.

Secondly, as the new East Asian Occupation Brigade was an imperial unit rather than one nominally individual state authority as the Expeditionary Corps had been, the new helmet had only imperial insignia. This insignia took the form of an imperial eagle in yellow metal, which was intended to be removed in action. The helmet had an imperial cockade under the right hand chinstrap boss and no cockade at all on the left side where the state cockade had previously been displayed.

The spike was also had differences in design. It was also intended to be removed in action and replaced with a small round metal lid that screwed in its place. Some examples of the East Asian helmet show it with elongated ventilation holes at the base of the spike.

Helmet covers were not worn with the 1900 helmet. With the the spike and imperial eagle removed for action, the helmet had a plain low profile field grey appearance without the need for a cover.

The chinstrap for other ranks was of brown leather with two yellow metal buckles to adjust its length. Officers and senior NCOs had yellow metal chinscales. As with most uniform items, officers usually purchased privately made Pickelhauben with better quality materials.

The artillery wore a helmet with a ball instead of a spike ("Kugelhelm"). The pioneers and staff officers had a white metal eagle and chinscales (see below for Arm of Service variations).

1900 Train Shako
The train company wore a Jäger style shako ("Tschako") again made in field grey felt. It had field grey leather front and rear peaks and edging around the top. Like the Pickelhaube it had a yellow metal imperial eagle on the front and an imperial cockade on the right side chinstrap. An oval imperial cockade was worn above the eagle at the at the front of the shako, coloured white/black/white/red (with white metallic lace on officers cockades). On parade a black horsehair plume could be worn at the front. It was intended that for active service the plume, oval cockade and imperial eagle would be removed.

The same shako was authorised for the Jäger Company in February 1901, although I have so far found no period photographs to prove its use before the disbandment of the Jäger Company in May 1901.

1900 Field Cap
The other ranks field cap was made in field grey with a hatband in arm of service colour and red piping around the top (see Arm of Service Insignia below). At the front of the hatband was a small imperial cockade. The peak was made from dark grey leather with a green underside. The chinstrap was of brown leather two yellow metal buckles to adjust the length and a small yellow metal button bearing the imperial crown on either side of the cap to hold it. The chinstrap on at least one surviving cap is made from grey leather to match the peak, while other surviving caps have neither a chinstrap nor the buttons to hold it (see examples in "The German Colonial Troops 1889-1918" by Jürgen Kraus and Thomas Müller).

The officers cap was similar in most respects tom that of the other ranks but had an officers quality cockade and a wire retaining loop to hold the shape of the top of the cap more rigidly. Officers caps did not have the chinstrap.

Footwear
New brown leather jackboots were introduced, 5cm higher than previous issues. Mounted troops had high brown leather riding boots in the style of the Prussian Cuirassiers. Brown canvas ankle boots were also issued. As with most uniform items, officers usually purchased privately made boots and shoes with better quality materials.

Other Cold Weather Uniform Items
Kraus and
Müller describe several other uniform items as being issued to the East Asian troops though no period photographs or surviving examples have yet been found. They include grey knitted scarves, balaclavas, wrist warmers and double breasted waistcoats for cold weather wear.

Equipment
The equipment authorised for the East Asian troops in the regulations of February 1901 was made of grey leather. It consisted of a belt with an open brass buckle, as used by the Prussian  dragoons. The ammunition pouches for dismounted other ranks were of a new type holding 15 rounds, very similar to those introduced in the Prussian army in 1909 except that they were not attached in groups of three but rather were individual pouches usually worn on groups of three either side of the buckle, with an optional two worn at the back. Period photographs often show single pouches often being carried. At least one photograph shows several cartridge pouches worn in a continuous row across the front with no visible gap for the buckle, which may have been worn to one side in this case.

The backpack was also of a new type on trial for the Prussian army. It consisted of a wooden frame covered with leather holding a grey canvas pack. According to Kraus and Müller, after the disbandment of the East Asian troops in 1909, these backpacks were re-issued to the askaris of the East African Schutztruppe. The bread bag was a slight variation on the brown canvas bag used by the Prussian army but with three straps to attach to the belt. The canteen was slightly smaller than the Prussian army model. The water bottle, tent section and blanket appear to have been the same as the Prussian army versions.

Mounted and lighter armed other ranks (including the cavalry, artillery, train and infantry machine gunners) carried bandoliers of up to five ammunition pouches on a belt over the left shoulder.

Officers carried similar bandoliers but with two pouches. Their peacetime duty belts were similar to those of Schutztruppe officers (made of white metallic lace with two black stripes and a central red stripe along the length, with a buckle bearing the imperial crown within a laurel wreath) the only difference being that the buckle of the East Asian officers was of yellow metal. Pioneer and staff officers wore white metal like the Schutztruppe.

Weapons
The same other ranks weapons as used by the East Asian Expeditionary Corps were still in use up until 1909- G98 rifles, K98 carbines and S98 bayonets (Pfm 71/98 bayonets for pioneers- see Bayonets of the East Asian Army). Officers carried the 83 Reichsrevolver as before. Artillery drivers carried the Prussian artillery sword as before, and the cavalry and officers still carried the Prussian army 1889 sword. From 1901 a new sword was authorised for the East Asian mounted troops and officers. It was the same as the 1889 sword but with an imperial eagle and monogram rather than the Prussian royal eagle and monogram carried before. These swords were gradually introduced for other ranks as replacements were needed though were ordered by officers upon receipt of the new regulations. The cavalry still carried the Prussian army lance but with a new lance pennant with the imperial colours in three horizontal bars (black/white/red from top to bottom) for other ranks and a white pennant with a black imperial eagle for NCOs.

     
  The Illustrations  
     
 

Figure 1 is based on a photograph of an Infantryman of the 2nd East Asian Infantry Regiment taken in China. He wears the 1900 field grey uniform with red piping and white infantry shoulder straps bearing the regimental number in red. Note the four plain pockets of the 1900 tunic.

The spiked helmet is the 1900 field grey felt version for the East Asian troops. The spike and eagle were to be removed for action.

His field grey trousers piped in red are tucked into his brown leather marching boots.

Note also the grey leather equipment with open belt buckle and six ammunition pouches. He is armed with the G98 rifle and S98 bayonet.

Figure 2 is based on a photograph of a private soldier of the East Asian Train Company taken in China. He also wears the 1900 field grey uniform but with the blue shoulder straps of his arm of service.

He wears the Train Company's Jäger style shako in field grey felt. His equipment is the grey leather bandolier over the left shoulder.

Figure 3 is based on a photograph of an NCO of the East Asian Artillery Detachment. He is wearing the 1901 other ranks greatcoat with field grey shoulder straps piped in red with an artillery red flaming grenade badge.

Note the single chevron of white lace with black and red threads denoting him as an NCO or officer, though his exact rank is not displayed on the greatcoat.

His helmet is the artillery "Kugelhelm" with a ball in place of the spike. He carries ammunition pouches on a bandolier and a curved artillery sabre.

Figure 4 is based on a photograph of an Oberleutnant of an East Asian Infantry Regiment wearing the formal tunic or Gesellschaftsrock. Note the red collar and Swedish cuffs with yellow metallic Litzen, eight yellow metal buttons down the front and officers shoulder straps.

The shoulder straps for an infantry Oberleutnant were in white metallic lace with threads of black and red on a red backing. On the straps would be the regimental number in and a single rank pip in yellow metal.

On his left breast is the 1900-01 China Campaign Medal showing him to be a veteran of the Boxer Rebellion.

Figure 5 is based on a photograph of an Unteroffizier of the East Asian Cavalry Squadron wearing the 1904 field grey tunic. Note the pleated chest pockets and absence of hip pockets.

His rank as Unteroffizier is displayed by a single row of white lace with black and red threads around the collar and cuffs and no rank buttons on the collar (see NCO Rank Insignia Page). On the left arm he has an NCOs chevron, on the left breast the ribbon of the 1900-01 China Campaign Medal and on the right a marksman's lanyard (see Specialist Insignia Page).

His cap is the 1900 field grey cap for other ranks with red piping at the top and a red hatband for the cavalry. Again his field grey trousers are piped in red and worn loose over short ankle boots. His belt is grey leather with an open buckle.

His sword is the 1889 Cavalry Sword or possibly the 1901 East Asian variant with an imperial eagle on the hilt. His sword knot is the "Faustriemen" leather strap with NCOs tassel in imperial colours.


Pickelhaube, Officers Sword and Pioneer Bayonet
(See East Asian Collection Page)
Photo © François Fischer

1900 East Asian Artillery Kugelhelm 
Note the ball replacing the spike for the artillery
Photo taken at the Fort de la Pompelle Museum near Rhiems, France
by Khukri and originally shown on the Pickelhaubes Forum

China Campaign Medal
(See Medals Page)
Photo
© Doppler Collection

     
   

Arm of Service Distinctions for the German East Asian Army 1900-09

Figure A
1st Infantry Regt
Figure B
2nd Infantry Regt
Figure C
3rd Infantry Regt
Figure D
Cavalry Squadron
Figure E
Artillery Detachment
Figure F
Pioneer Company
Figure G
Train Company
Figure H
Medical Half Company


The illustrations above show the arm of service distinctions worn by the East Asian Occupation Brigade and its successor the East Asian Detachment on their field grey uniforms 1901-09. Note that all arms of service wore red piping on the uniform and upper edge of the field cap.

Figure A shows the insignia worn by the 1st East Asian Infantry Regiment ("1. Ostasiatische Infanterie Regiment") on the field grey 1900 uniform. The Pickelhaube bore a yellow metal spike and imperial eagle. The hatband of the field cap was white. Shoulder straps were white with the number 1 in red. On the 1904 uniform the 1st East Asian Infantry Regiment wore field grey shoulder straps piped in white with the number 1 in red.

Figure B shows the insignia worn by the 2nd East Asian Infantry Regiment ("2. Ostasiatische Infanterie Regiment") on the field grey 1900 uniform. The uniform was the same as for the 1st Regiment except with the number 2 on the shoulder straps. On the 1904 uniform the 2nd East Asian Infantry Regiment wore field grey shoulder straps piped in white with the number 2 in red.

Figure C shows the insignia worn by the 3rd East Asian Infantry Regiment ("3. Ostasiatische Infanterie Regiment") on the field grey 1900 uniform. The uniform was the same as for the 1st Regiment except with the number 3 on the shoulder straps. The 3rd East Asian Infantry Regiment was disbanded in 1902, so did not wear the 1904 uniform.

Figure D shows the insignia worn by the East Asian Cavalry Squadron ("Ostasiatische Eskadron Jäger zu Pferd") on the field grey 1900 uniform. The Pickelhaube bore a yellow metal spike and imperial eagle. The hatband of the field cap was red. Shoulder straps were also red. On the 1904 uniform the East Asian Cavalry Squadron wore field grey shoulder straps piped in red.

Figure E shows the insignia worn by the East Asian Artillery Detachment ("Ostasiatische Feld Artillerie Abteilung") on the field grey 1900 uniform. The artillery helmet ("Kugelhelm") was similar to the infantry Pickelhaube but bore a yellow metal ball instead of a spike. The hatband of the field cap was black edged in red. Shoulder straps were red with a yellow flaming grenade insignia. On the 1904 uniform the East Asian Artillery Detachment wore field grey shoulder straps piped in red with a red flaming grenade.

Figure F shows the insignia worn by the East Asian Pioneer Company ("Ostasiatische Pionier-Kompanie") on the field grey 1900 uniform. The Pickelhaube bore a white metal spike and imperial eagle. The hatband of the field cap was black edged in red. Shoulder straps were red with a stylised letter P in yellow. On the 1904 uniform the East Asian Pioneer Company wore field grey shoulder straps piped in red with a stylised letter P in red.

Figure G shows the insignia worn by the East Asian Train Company ("Ostasiatische Train-Kompanie") on the field grey 1900 uniform. The train company wore a Jäger style shako ("Tschako") again made in field grey felt with a yellow metal imperial eagle. The hatband of the field cap was blue. Shoulder straps were also blue. On the 1904 uniform the East Asian Train Company wore field grey shoulder straps piped in blue.

Figure H shows the insignia worn by the East Asian Medical Half Company ("Ostasiatische Sanitäts-Halbkompanie") on the field grey 1900 uniform. The Pickelhaube bore a brass spike and imperial eagle. The hatband of the field cap was dark blue edged in red. Shoulder straps were also dark blue piped in red. On the 1904 uniform the East Asian medics wore field grey shoulder straps piped in dark blue. Officer doctors of the East Asian Medical unit wore standard officers shoulder straps with a brass rod of Asclepius badge upon them.

The East Asian Jäger Company ("Ostasiatische Jäger Kompanie") was authorised to wear the 1900 field grey uniform with the same shako as worn by the Train company with a yellow metal imperial eagle. The hatband of their field cap was light green, as were the shoulder straps. It is not known if this uniform was actually issued before the Jäger Company was disbanded in May 1901.

The East Asian Transport Troops ("Vekehrstruppen") were also authorised to wear the 1900 field grey uniform with a Pickelhaube with a white metal imperial eagle and spike. The hatband of their field cap was black with red piping. Their shoulder straps were red with a yellow stylised E on them (or a yellow lightning bolt according to Kraus and Müller, though this may have been for the Telegraph troops). It is not known if this uniform was actually issued before the Transport troops were disbanded in May 1901.

East Asian Staff Officers wore the 1900 and 1904 field grey uniforms with a Pickelhaube with a silver plated imperial eagle and white metal spike. The hatband of their field cap was crimson as was the backing to their officers shoulder straps and the collar and cuffs of their Gesellschaftsrock (with silver metallic Litzen and buttons).

East Asian General Officers wore the 1900 and 1904 field grey uniforms with a Pickelhaube with a gold plated imperial eagle and yellow metal spike.  The hatband of their field cap was crimson as was the backing to their officers shoulder straps and the collar and cuffs of their Gesellschaftsrock (with gold metallic "Alt Larrisch" Litzen and buttons). Like other officers, generals only wore Litzen on the collar and cuffs of the Gesellschaftsrock, not on the Rockbluse.

East Asian Non-Combatant Officials such as paymasters, armourers and veterinarians wore the same uniforms as other East Asian Officers but with the insignia of Prussian army officials.

Other Insignia for the German East Asian Army 1901-09

Figure I
Non Commissioned Officer
Figure J
Military Police
Figure K
Chinese Police
Figure L
Imperial Armband

Standard specialist insignia as worn by the Imperial Army and Schutztruppe was also worn by the East Asian Occupation Brigade (see Specialist Insignia Page). Examples of musicians swallows nests, marksmanship lanyards and standard bearer's arm badges have all been seen in period photographs. Other types of insignia have also been noted in period photographs.

Figure I shows the Insignia of an NCO. NCOs of the East Asian Occupation Brigade wore a single white lace chevron with black and red threads on the upper left arm of all uniforms. NCOs wore similar lace around the cuff and around the front and lower edge of the collar along with collar buttons to signify rank (see NCO Rank Insignia Page). Officers wore the same single chevron on the upper left arm as worn by NCOs but in silver lace (with black and red threads). This chevron was discarded by officers from 1902.

Figure J shows the Armband of the Military Police. One photograph from the Traditionsverband website taken in Tientsin between 1907-09 shows a member of the East Asian Detachment wearing a curious armband on the lower left sleeve of his 1904 Winter tunic. It seems in the original photograph to be of a dark colour (possibly red) with darker lettering. The first letter is clearly an "M" but the second letter (as illustrated here) is off the edge of the cuff. It is probably a military police ("Militär-Polizei") armband.

Figure K shows the Insignia of the Chinese Police. At least three period photographs show members of the East Asian forces wearing dark coloured badges on the upper left arm with lighter insignia on them. The insignia seems to show a two figure number with Chinese lettering below. One photograph shows an oval badge with the number 96, while another other shows a round badge and the number "51". One also shows a group of the East Asian Expeditionary corps wearing Pickelhauben and blue Litwekas that all seem to be wearing the same type of insignia. The Chinese lettering under each is different and is therefore may be the same number in Chinese characters. The only clue as to their origin is that they look very similar to the dark blue badges with yellow insignia worn by the Tsingtao Chinese Police, and therefore they might indicate the wearer was attached to local police duties.

Figure L shows an Imperial Armband. These black/white/red armbands were worn by some troops of the East Asian Occupation Brigade and have been seen in several period photographs. One is shown worn with the 1900 khaki tropical uniform, another the 1904 field grey uniform. Both wear them on the lower left sleeve. A third photograph shows an armband in the imperial colours worn on the upper left arm of a 1900 field grey uniform with an unidentified shield-shaped badge on the armband. I have so far not been able to find the exact reason for the use of these armbands, except obviously to identify them from the troops of other European nations in China.

Period Photographs of the German East Asian Troops 1901-09 in their Field Grey Winter Uniforms


East Asian Infantry Gefreiter
He wears the other ranks 1900 East Asian Pickelhaube. His uniform is the 1900 Waffenrock with shoulder straps showing the number 2 for the 2nd East Asian Infantry Regiment. On his breast he wears the China Campaign Medal and the Prussian Wilhelm I Centenary Medal.
Photo © Joe Robinson


East Asian Infantryman
His uniform is the 1900 Waffenrock authorised in February 1901 yet he still wears the Straw hat dropped from regulations in August 1900. It is worn without the state cockade. Note also the clear view of the new 1900 ammunition pouches and open style belt buckle.

Photo © Joe Robinson


East Asian Mounted Infantryman
He wears the other ranks 1900 East Asian Pickelhaube. His uniform is the 1900 Waffenrock. He is armed with the Gew98 rifle and S98 bayonet. He is mounted on a locally sourced Chinese pony.
Photo © Joe Robinson

     


East Asian Infantryman
He wears the other ranks 1900 East Asian Pickelhaube. His uniform is the 1904 Waffenrock. He is armed with the Gew98 rifle and S98 bayonet.
Photo © Joe Robinson


East Asian Officer
He wears the officers 1900 East Asian Pickelhaube with pearl ring and chinscales. His uniform is the 1902 Interimsrock (note the Litzen on the collar) and the 1902 officers double breasted greatcoat. At his throat is the Chinese Double Dragon Order.
Photo © Joe Robinson


East Asian Machine Gunner
He wears the other ranks 1900 East Asian Pickelhaube. His uniform is the 1904 Waffenrock. He has the carrying starp for a machine gun over his shoulder and carries smaller ammunition pouches and a Kar98 carbine.
Photo © Joe Robinson

     


East Asian Mounted Infantryman
He wears the other ranks 1900 East Asian Pickelhaube. His uniform is the 1904 Waffenrock. Note his use of singular ammunition pouches and an imperial coloured armband. The mount is a Chinese pony.
Photo from Bundesarchiv / Wikimedia


East Asian Musicians
The original caption says they are from the 4th Mounted Company, Tientsin. They wear the field grey 1904 tunic. Note the white hatbands on their field caps denoting them as infantry. Interestingly, only two wear musicians swallows nests, two wear marksmanship lanyards and two have been awarded medals. The NCO in the centre is probably a Vizefeldwebel with his single row of rank lace on collars and cuffs and rank chevron on his upper left sleeve, while carry the sword of a senior NCO.
Photo from Bundesarchiv / Wikimedia


East Asian Infantry
Note mixture of 1900 tunics (with plain breast pockets) and 1904 tunics (with pleated pockets). Also note the white hatbands on their field caps denoting them as infantry. On the left of the photograph is an officer or NCO with a sword.
Photo from Bundesarchiv / Wikimedia


Band of the "Old East Asians" on parade in Tsingtao 1903
Photo from Bundesarchiv / Wikimedia


 Mounted Company of the "Old East Asians" on parade in Tsingtao 1903
Photo from Bundesarchiv / Wikimedia

     

Main Sources
"Uniformierung und Austrüstung der Ostasiatischen Truppen des Deutschen Reiches 1900-1909" by Jürgen Kraus in Zeitschrift für Heereskunde Nos 375, 382 and 389 (unsure of last edition number)
"Tropenhelme der kaiserliche Marine, der Ostasiatischen Truppen und der Schutzruppen" by Ulrich Schiers, published by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Heereskunde
"The German Colonial Troops 1889-1918" by
Jürgen Kraus and Thomas Müller
"Die deutsche Armee" illustrated plates by Moritz Ruhl
"Deutsche Expeditionstruppen und Schutztruppen" illustrated plates by Edgar Graf von Matuschka

 

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