Kommandeure der Schutztruppe

[Peter H]

I'm trying to determine how the Schutztruppe was adminstered from Germany.

My understanding is that an overall Kommandeure der Schutztruppe was based in Germany?Is this correct?

[Chris Dale]

Hi Peter,
Yes, you're absolutely right there was an overall command at the Imperial Colonial Office. Heres' the rank list from May 1914. It's from Werner Haupt's book "Die deutsche Schutztruppe 1889-1918". Does that help?
Cheers
Chris
PS I've got a question about these rank lists. After each name it shows and couple of stylised crosses and a number, then some more letters. For instance it says- "Kom: Oberst v. Below +4 +3 + BZ3a, BrH2c etc etc". What do the crosses and numbers mean? Are they medal awards? What are the other letters and numbers? Are they previous postings?

[Glenn2438]

Chris,

the stylised crosses are depictions of Prussian awards held by the officer in question and the following letters and numbers are abbreviations for none Prussian awards. For example the BZ3A following Oberst von Below's name means an award of the Baden Orden vom Zähringer Löwen (Order of the Zähringen Lion) Knight's Cross 1st Class. Finally the dates and numbers refer to the officer's Patent of rank (his seniority in the present held rank).

Regards
Glenn

[Chris Dale]

Hi Peter,
Thanks for that info, that's exactly what I needed to know. Do you know anywhere where I can find out exactly which medals they all refer to?
Cheers
Chris

[Glenn2438]

Chris,

they are all contained at the front of the relevant Rangliste. An overview, however can be found here:

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=798

Regards
Glenn

[Chris Dale]

Hi Glenn,
Thanks very much, that's perfect!
Cheers
Chris

[Peter H]

Thanks Chris!

From: http://www.traditionsverband.de/

Stabsoffizier bzw. Chef des Oberkommandos der Schutztruppen (1897-1907)
31.08.1897 - 13.09.1906 Oberst Max Ohnesorg
13.09.1906 - 16.05.1907 Oberstleutnant Ferdinand Quade


Kommandeur der Scu~truppen im Reichskolonialamt (1907-1919)
17.05.1907 - 18.10.1908 Oberstleutnant Ferdinand Quade
19.10.1908 - 06.04.1914 Generalmajor Franz Georg von Glasenapp
07.04.1914 - 14.08.1914 Oberst Ernst von Below
14.08.1914 - 02.09.1914 i.V. Major Ferdinand Lempp
02.09.1914 – 22.03.1915 i.V. Konradin Sklode von Perbandt
24.03.1915 - 15.06.1917 m.d.W.d.G.b. Major Ferdinand Lempp
23.08.1917 - 10.10.1919 m.d.W.d.G.b. Major Kurt Strümpell

Obviously officers and such were transferred from Army or Seebattalion service into Schutztruppen commands.

Does anyone know how enlisted men became Schutztruppen?Were volunteers called from experienced army regulars or were conscripts accepted as well?

[Chris Dale]

Hi Peter,
Thanks for spotting the further info at the excellent Traditionsverband website.
As I understand it, all NCOs and Officers in the Schutztruppe were as you said, seconded from army units. I'm not sure about privates in the DSWA Schutztruppe some may have been conscripts. (In the DOA and Kamerun Schutztruppe all the private soldiers were African). Does anyone else know if conscripts were used in DSWA?
Cheers
Chris

[Glenn2438]

Chris,

Soldiers and sailors performing their active service could volunteer for the Schutztruppe for DSWA and the service thus rendered would be counted as part of their mandatory military service. Similarly German citizens residing outside continental Europe could also volunteer to perform their obligatory service with Schutztruppe for DSWA including einjährig-Friewilliger (One-Year Volunteer) service.

Regards
Glenn

[Peter H]

Ernst von Below had an interesting career--commanded the Tsingtau Seebataillon in 1909,commanded the 200. infantrie-Division(Jagers) by 1917.Awarded the PLM in late 1917 for the Caporetto campaign(?).


http://www.traditionsverband.de/magazin ... bild04.jpg

Army officers like Below and Lettow-Vorbeck once in a Schutztruppe role also gained distinction as members of a Seebataillon.Obviously the German Navy were OK with infantry specialists from the Army commanding their naval infantry?