German Schutztruppe Colonial Troops, May 1914

A German officer, sergeant, and Askaris of the Schutztruppe (protection force) for German East Africa, deployed in line with right flank refused. These 15 mm Peter Laing miniatures represent an infantry platoon in colonial wargames using The Sword and the Flame rules.

Germany became a colonial power in 1884 - much later than other European nations - when Togo, the Cameroons and South West Africa were taken. In that same year, the Neuguinea-Kompanie in Berlin purchased Deutsch-Neuguinea, also known as Kaiser Wilhelms-Land. In East Africa, German troops secured the territory of the Sultan of Zanzibar in Tanganyika. They defeated the Arab Rebellion there in 1888-89 and eventually broke the resistance of the Wahehe tribe (1891-98). In 1896, Germany seized the provinces of Kiautschou and Tsingtau in China which led to the country’s involvement in the Boxer Rebellion (1900-01). Deutsch-Samoa became a Protectorate in 1899, when the United States and Germany divided the islands between them, following a period of political unrest among the native population.

The German Schutztruppe was established under the direct supervision of the Imperial Colonial Office in Berlin. Not all of the colonies had Schutztruppe units in place, some only required local police forces, officered by Germans, whereas the Protectorate of Kiautschou received a large naval and marine infantry detachment.

Deutsch-Ostafrika, May 1914

Kommando / Daressalam
Rekruten-Depot (Replacement and Training Center), Signal-Abteilung (Signal Detachment) and Intendantur (Commissary).
1. Kompagnie - Aruscha
2. Kompagnie - Iringa and Ubena
3. Kompagnie - Lindi
4. Kompagnie - Kilimatinde and Ssingidda
5. Kompagnie - Massoko
6. Kompagnie - Udjidji and Kassulo
7. Kompagnie - Bukoba, Ussuwi and Kifumbiro
8. Kompagnie - Tabora
9. Kompagnie - Usumbura
10. Kompagnie - Daressalam
11. Kompagnie - Kissenji and Mruhengeri
12. Kompagnie - Mahenge
13. Kompagnie - Kondoa-Irangi
14. Kompagnie - Muansa and Ikoma

Strength: 68 officers, 42 doctors, 150 civil servants, artificers, NCOs etc., 2472 black soldiers.

Naval Assets on East African Station: Kleiner Kreuzer (Pocket Cruiser) "Königsberg" and Spezialschiff "Möve" (Survey Ship).

Deutsch-Südwestafrika, May 1914

Kommando / Windhuk
Gericht des Kommandos (Military Courts), Intendantur, Sanitätsamt (Medical Board) and Vermessungstrupp (Survey Detachment).
- Nordbezirk (Northern District) / Kommando Windhuk
  Artillerie- and Train-Depot, Lazarett (Hospital), Haupt-Sanitäts-Depot (Main Medical Depot), Bekleidungs-Depot (Clothing Depot), Ortskommandantur (Garrison HQ), Garnison- and Bauverwaltung (Garrison Offices and Construction Department)
- 1. Kompagnie - Regenstein, Seeis
- 4. Kompagnie (MG) - Okanjande
- 6. Kompagnie - Outjo and Otavi
- 2. Batterie - Johann-Albrechts-Höhe
- Verkehrszug 1 (Freight and Passenger Train) - Karibib
- Proviant-Amt (Supply Department) - Karibib
- Pferde-Depot (Horse Depot) - Okawayo
- Ortskommandantur (Garrison HQ) and Proviant-Amt - Swakopmund
- Südbezirk (Southern District) / Kommando Keetmanshoop
  Verkehrszug 2, Artillerie- and Train-Depot, Lazarett, Sanitäts-Depot, Bekleidungs-Depot, Proviant-Amt, Ortskommandantur, Garnison-Verwaltung (Garrison Offices)
- 2. Kompagnie - Ukamas
- 3. Kompagnie - Kanus
- 5. Kompagnie (MG) - Chamis and Churufabis
- 7. Kompagnie (Kamelreiter (Camelry) and MG) - Gochas and Arahoab
- 8. Kompagnie and Lazarett (Hospital) – Warmbad
- 9. Kompagnie - Kabus
- 1. Batterie - Narubis
- 3. Batterie - Kranzplatz bei Gibeon
- Pferde-Depot - Aus
- Kamelgestüt (Camel Stud Farm) - Kalkfontein N.
- Ortskommandantur and Proviant-Amt - Lüderitzbucht (Lüderitz Bay)

Strength: 90 officers, 22 doctors, 9 veterinarians, 59 civil servants, artificers etc., 342 NCOs, 1444 German soldiers.

Naval Assets on West African Station: Kanonenboote (Gun Boats) "Panther"* and "Eber" (Boar). (* undergoing repair in Germany)

Kamerun, May 1914

Kommando / Soppo
1. Kompagnie and Artillerie-Detachement - Duala
2. Kompagnie - Bamenda, Wum and Kentu
3. Kompagnie - Moran and Kusseri
4. Kompagnie - Soppo
5. Kompagnie - Buar and Carnot
6. Kompagnie - Mbeiki, Nola and Nguku
7. Kompagnie - Garua, Nassarau, Mubi, Marua and Lere
8. Kompagnie - Ngaundere
9. Kompagnie - Dume and Baturi
10. Kompagnie - Ojem and Mimwoul
11. Kompagnie - Akoasim, Ngarabinsam and Minkebe
12. Kompagnie - Bumo, Fianga, Gore and Schoa

Strength: 61 officers, 17 doctors, 23 civil servants, artificers etc., 98 German NCOs, 1550 black soldiers.

For a list of other German troops in the colonies, please refer to Marine and Polizeitruppe.

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World War One Miniatures