Skip to content
Vestes Bellica Military history archive

Vestes Bellica

Vestes Bellica

Search Vestes Bellica

Find articles from the collection and the blog.

The German Schutztruppe in German South West Africa. Photo collection.

Note.

The original photographs shown below from the estate of a member of the Keetmanshoop garrison (probably around 1908/09) also include depictions of members of the Herero and Nama pastoral peoples living in German South West Africa (DSWA) (the latter at that time derogatorily referred to as Hottentots). Those responsible for this website are aware of the injustice associated with the German colonial period and of the current historical assessment of the events following the uprisings of 1904–08 as genocide. This assessment is shared.

Photo estate of a Schutztruppe soldier stationed in Keetmanshoop.

Family home.
Family home.
Artillery depot in Keetmanshoop.
Artillery depot in Keetmanshoop.
Artillery depot in Keetmanshoop.
Artillery depot in Keetmanshoop.
Clothing depot in Keetmanshoop.
Clothing depot in Keetmanshoop.
Clothing depot in Keetmanshoop.
Clothing depot in Keetmanshoop.
Hospital in Keetmanshoop.
Hospital in Keetmanshoop.
Trading post in Keetmanshoop
Trading post in Keetmanshoop
Trading post in Keetmanshoop
Trading post in Keetmanshoop
Trading post or warehouse in Keetmanshoop.
Trading post or warehouse in Keetmanshoop.
Distillery (?) and bottling of beverages.
Distillery (?) and bottling of beverages.
Tailor's room with natives (probably children of the Nama people).
Tailor's room with natives (probably children of the Nama people).
Officer's quarters in Keetmanshoop.
Officer's quarters in Keetmanshoop.
Residence of the armorer.
Residence of the armorer.
Administrative building in Keetmanshoop.
Administrative building in Keetmanshoop.
Building in Keetmanshoop (train station).
Building in Keetmanshoop (train station).
Racetrack in Keetmanshoop.
Racetrack in Keetmanshoop.
Racetrack in Keetmanshoop.
Racetrack in Keetmanshoop.
Windmill (probably in Keetmanshoop).
Windmill (probably in Keetmanshoop).
Member of the German Schutztruppe.
Member of the German Schutztruppe.
Member of the German Schutztruppe.
Member of the German Schutztruppe.
Member of the German Schutztruppe.
Member of the German Schutztruppe.
Civilian or Schutztruppe member in civilian clothing.
Civilian or Schutztruppe member in civilian clothing.
Members of the German Schutztruppe in a parlor.
Members of the German Schutztruppe in a parlor.
Members of the German Schutztruppe in a parlor (leisure time).
Members of the German Schutztruppe in a parlor (leisure time).
Member of the German Schutztruppe in a parlor.
Member of the German Schutztruppe in a parlor.
Members of the German Schutztruppe in cloth uniform.
Members of the German Schutztruppe in cloth uniform.
Schutztruppe soldier in tropical uniform (Cameroon 1910).
Schutztruppe soldier in tropical uniform (Cameroon 1910).
Drinks.
Drinks.
Military and civilians.
Military and civilians.
In the hunting room.
In the hunting room.
At the piano.
At the piano.
Festivity.
Festivity.
Gathering in the pavilion.
Gathering in the pavilion.
Gathering in the pavilion.
Gathering in the pavilion.
Members of the garrison with civilians.
Members of the garrison with civilians.
Members of the garrison with civilians in the field.
Members of the garrison with civilians in the field.
Members of the garrison with civilians in the field.
Members of the garrison with civilians in the field.
A patrol resting beside a railway bridge.
A patrol resting beside a railway bridge.
Schutztruppe soldiers on horseback and on camels.
Schutztruppe soldiers on horseback and on camels.
Rider of the Schutztruppe with a packhorse. On the rider in the center it is clearly visible how the rifle was secured and carried in the rifle scabbard on the horse.
Rider of the Schutztruppe with a packhorse. On the rider in the center it is clearly visible how the rifle was secured and carried in the rifle scabbard on the horse.
Camel-mounted company in the field.
Camel-mounted company in the field.
Member of the Schutztruppe on horseback.
Member of the Schutztruppe on horseback.
Funeral of a Schutztruppe soldier.
Funeral of a Schutztruppe soldier.
Prepared grave for a deceased rider of the Schutztruppe.
Prepared grave for a deceased rider of the Schutztruppe.
Honor salute at the funeral of a Schutztruppe soldier.
Honor salute at the funeral of a Schutztruppe soldier.
Graves of deceased Schutztruppe soldiers.
Graves of deceased Schutztruppe soldiers.
Graves of deceased Schutztruppe soldiers.
Graves of deceased Schutztruppe soldiers.
View of Windhoek.
View of Windhoek.
Military station near Windhoek.
Military station near Windhoek.
Buildings of the military station near Windhoek (likely residences).
Buildings of the military station near Windhoek (likely residences).
Seat of the governor in Windhoek.
Seat of the governor in Windhoek.
Mounted review of the Windhoek garrison. Probably a parade on the occasion of the inauguration of the equestrian monument on 27.01.1912.
Mounted review of the Windhoek garrison. Probably a parade on the occasion of the inauguration of the equestrian monument on 27.01.1912.
Inauguration of the monument in Windhoek on 27.01.1912.
Inauguration of the monument in Windhoek on 27.01.1912.
Station not further specified or located.
Station not further specified or located.
Cattle herd near Keetmanshoop.
Cattle herd near Keetmanshoop.
Shifting sand dunes.
Shifting sand dunes.
Rock formation.
Rock formation.
Surf on the coast.
Surf on the coast.
Group of ostriches.
Group of ostriches.
So-called shipyard of the Herero.
So-called shipyard of the Herero.
So-called shipyard of the Herero.
So-called shipyard of the Herero.
Members of the Herero people (as designated).
Members of the Herero people (as designated).
Members of the Herero people (transport).
Members of the Herero people (transport).
Members of the Herero people (transport).
Members of the Herero people (transport).
Natives with traditional weapons.
Natives with traditional weapons.
Natives in Western clothing.
Natives in Western clothing.
Farmer with native workers or servants.
Farmer with native workers or servants.
Unspecified view.
Unspecified view.
Unspecified view.
Unspecified view.
Farmer on a plantation, probably on the Orange River.
Farmer on a plantation, probably on the Orange River.
Farmer (and military personnel) on a plantation or cultivated plot.
Farmer (and military personnel) on a plantation or cultivated plot.
Funeral procession on the occasion of the burial of a native.
Funeral procession on the occasion of the burial of a native.
Flogging (occasion not further explained).
Flogging (occasion not further explained).
Prisoners from the Herero people.
Prisoners from the Herero people.
Schutztruppe soldiers in a Nama camp.
Schutztruppe soldiers in a Nama camp.
Natives in tribal dress (with a musical instrument?).
Natives in tribal dress (with a musical instrument?).

Recommended Articles