Boy soldiers

Hun1918 · Post by **Hun1918** » 03 Mar 2007 01:39

Hi
I found a very odd picture of a group of boys in german colonial uniform.

Any ideas?

Chris Dale · Post by **Chris Dale** » 04 Mar 2007 15:26

Hi Hun,
Great photo very interesting... I'd seen German boys in uniform in DSWA after the First World War http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=78465 and in DOA African boys were recruited and trained for the Signals unit of the Schutztruppe but I'd not seen young boys in DSWA uniform before the war. If it wasn't dated so clearly I would have thought it was after the war. I guess they are some kind of cadets... any other offers?
Cheers
Chris

lettow4beck · Post by **lettow4beck** » 08 Mar 2007 01:44

It could still be post-war, and more than likely is. The text says it is in remembrance of the year 1913. Also, the uniform of the adult doesn't appear to be regular Schutztruppe. Maybe it's some kind of Boy Scout troop. I know Deutsche Pfadfinder in DSWA wore a Schutztruppe-style uniform until quite recently.

Chris Dale · Post by **Chris Dale** » 08 Mar 2007 01:59

Well spotted, now I look closer I see collar patches on the adult that don't look like anything I've seen the Schutztruppe wear. They could well be Pfadfinder.

I also find it curious that they originally wrote 1903 then changed it to 1913. Just odd that.

Cheers
Chris