| The three photographs
above show Unteroffizier Broedertz of the South West
African Schutztruppe wearing the grey home uniform with
blue collar and cuffs and piping down the front. Note
the white Litzen (with a red centre stripe) and the
shoulder straps of twisted cords in the imperial
colours. His rank as Unteroffizier is shown by the
additional white lace around the collar and cuffs.
His trousers are matching
grey with blue piping. His belt is an other ranks black
leather belt with an imperial belt buckle.
In the photograph on the
right he is wearing the other ranks single breasted grey
greatcoat with blue collar patches also bearing white
Litzen. The shoulder straps are also blue.
In the photograph on the
left, his headdress is the Schutztruppe Südwester hat in
grey felt again with blue edging and hatband. It has a
large imperial cockade holding up the right side. The
photos in the centre and on the right show his wearing
his peaked field cap again in grey with blue hatband and
piping. It has a small imperial cockade on the hatband.
These Schutztruppe photographs
were taken at Karl Hill
studios, Emmerich am Rhein/Rees in the Prussian Rhineland.
The
photographs below show Broedertz in German army service.
The photograph on the left appears to show him in the
uniform of a Prussian Foot Artillery Feldwebel. As this
is a more senior NCO rank than the Schutztruppe
photographs above it would appear that this photograph
was taken after his service in South West Africa and may
indicate that Broedertz served as and artilleryman in
Africa.
The
photograph on the right shows Broedertz wearing medals
from the Herero Rebellion and the First World War. The medals
are an Iron Cross, first class on his breast and on his bar are the Iron Cross,
second class, the South West Africa Campaign Medal, the Prussian Other
Ranks long service award, first class, an unidentified medal and the
Hamburg Hanseatic Cross. These medals would indicate that the
photograph was taken in the later years of the First
World War if not shortly afterwards. The uniform is
unfamiliar to me and appears to be a private purchase
variation on standard issue, has no rank insignia and
the regimental number 29 on the shoulder straps..
A pencil
written note mentioning the name Broedertz on the back
of one of the cards in the collection is the only clue
as to his identity. |
