South West African Landespolizei

 
     
 

 
 

Photo © Peter Klein

 
 
 
This is a photograph of Polizei-Sergeant Fritz Bursig and an unknown African Polizei-Diener of the South West African Landespolizei taken in or near Windhoek in 1913. Both are mounted on mules.

Sergeant Bursig wears the 1907 Landespolizei Dark Khaki Uniform with green collar and shoulder straps and yellow metal buttons bearing the imperial crown. Note the Sergeant's single rank pip on the collar. He wears the Landespolizei Südwester hat with an imperial crown badge holding up the right side. His trousers are matching dark khaki and are tucked into leather gaiters worn with short ankle boots. Note the rifle (possibly a G98) held in its saddle bucket.

The African Polizei-Diener wears a khaki uniform (possibly an old Schutztruppe one) again with the Landespolizei Südwester hat. The Polizei-Diener wore a yellow metal "LP" badge on their hats, though it is difficult to tell from this photograph if he wears one or possibly an imperial crown badge like the Sergeant. He wears matching khaki trousers tucked into leather gaiters worn with short ankle boots.

 
     
 

 
 

Detail of the same Photograph

Please respect the generosity of Peter Klein in sharing this photograph with us by not reproducing it without prior permission. 

 
     
 
Please contact me here if you have other photographs of the German colonies or the soldiers and sailors that served there. I am especially keen to hear from people with family photograph collections and am always happy to try to assist in identifying uniforms, units, places and dates for family history research.

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