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Photo
©
Private Collection
This
photograph shows three One Year Volunteers in the South West African
Schutztruppe. It was taken by O Ziegler in Omaruru South West Africa
in 1907.
Two of the men in the photograph are
unknown but the one on the left is
Reiter Walter Sobtzick.
The soldiers wear the 1896 khaki uniform
piped in blue, grey felt Südwester hat and corduroy trousers with
riding boots. The man in the centre is a lance corporal
("Gefreiter") as can be seen from the buttons on his collar
(see close up photos below). Their status as one year volunteers is
shown by the cord in striped imperial colours around the shoulder
strap
(see
Specialist Insignia Page)
and
also by the Troddel bayonet knots which are again in Imperial
colours as opposed to the company coloured bayonet knots worn by
most other ranks (see
Bayonet Knots) on their kS98 bayonets. One Year Volunteers had a curious position
within the German armed forces. Whereas as most Germans were subject to
three years conscription in the regular armed forces followed by part
time participation in the the Reserve, Landwehr and Landsturm, a one year volunteer
could elect to serve only one year before going onto the reserves or
straight to officer training. Only the wealthy could choose to become a
one year volunteer for they had to pay for their own uniform, equipment
and rations. Because of this many one year volunteers' uniforms were tailor
made and of superior quality, their only other distinction being the
twisted cord in imperial colours around the shoulder strap. One year volunteers
were added as surplus to the strength of a unit and as well as in the
regular army they also served in the Seebatallione and Schutztruppe.
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Walter Sobtzick |
An Unknown Gefreiter |
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