Franz Adolf Eduard Luderitz

13/06/2026

German garrison at Bagamoyo in German East Africa, with Askari troops, musicians and German officers and NCOs in white tropical uniform.

Learn more on the history of the coastal city of Bagamoyo in the link below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagamoyo

Learn more on the German colony of East Africa in the link below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_East_Africa

10/06/2026

We sometimes look at colonial times through rose tinted glasses, the reality was far more harsh. This was the case in German South West Africa ☀️ where the heat and arid environment broke many in the Namib desert, where water was the most precious commodity.

Wagon of Theodor Leutwein and the Imperial Schutztruppe, German Southwest Africa during the 1890s.

Theodor Leutwein was governor of German South West Africa from 1894 till 1905.

Life and times of Theodor Leutwein on the link below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodor_Leutwein

07/06/2026

For anyone who wishes to tour the colonial era of history, you encounter the meeting of cultures, in these interactions you find characters who manipulate situations for personal gain. This could be for personal reasons, or idealogical motivations.

In the case of South West Africa, German merchant Franz Adolf Eduard Luderitz, sent out Heinrich Vogelsang to South West Africa, with the mission to purchase land where they could not only conduct trade, but also settle German citizens in foreign lands.

Vogelsang arrived in Angra Pequena on the 9th of April 1883, and acquired the port on the 1st of May through a purchase agreement with the Nama–Oorlam Captain Joseph Frederiks II. The contract secured Angra Pequena and the surrounding area within a radius of 5 miles for £100 in gold and 200 rifles with accessories.

In a second contract signed on the 25th of August, he secured the company a 20 mile deep coastal strip from the Orange River to the 26th parallel south for £500 and 60 rifles; the area became known as Lüderitzland. That area, today part of the Sperrgebiet, was far bigger than Frederiks had thought he was selling. The contract specified its width as "twintig geographische mylen" (20 geographical miles) a term that the tribal chief was not familiar with; one German mile equals 4 arcminutes (7.4 kilometers) whereas the common mile in the territory was the English mile: 1.6 kilometers.

Was the German acquisition of land in South West Africa fraudulent? Therein lies the question. Because modern day German historians fall over themselves to condemn the actions of their forefathers, blinded to the fact that not all historical players had bad motives.

Even if the actions of Vogelsang were inherently fraudulent, this was not behaviour exclusive to the Germans, British, French and many other colonial explorers employed devious means to appropriate land in their quest for colonial lands.

Human beings by nature are devious in many of their social interactions, not only European colonial powers but all peoples across the world.

Learn more on the life and times of German merchant
Franz Adolf Eduard Luderitz, on the link below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_L%C3%BCderitz

Learn more on the life and times of German merchant and explorer Heinrich Vogelsang, on the link below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_Vogelsang

05/06/2026

04/06/2026

03/06/2026

A member of the Schutztruppe (protection troops) with a downed Oryx antelope. Deutsche Südwestafrika (German South-West Africa) now Namibia 🇳🇦

Undated photo, most likely around the 1910s. Original photograph shared courtesy of the ullstein bild archives via Getty Images ~

01/06/2026

Parade on the Kaiser's birthday, of the Imperial Schutztruppe, regiment of mounted infantry, in Windhoek, German Southwest Africa 1897 ~

19th Century photograph stock illustration shared courtesy of Getty Images ~

01/06/2026

Illustration of uniform for Protection Troops (Schutztruppe) for German South-West Africa 1889–1915. Compiled by First Lieutenant Hettler.

Protectorate Troops for German South-West Africa 1889–1915. Compiled by First Lieutenant Hettler. Uniforms upon incorporation as an Imperial force. Remained in force, with the exception of headgear, until the Bkl.-V.* of 19 November 1896; continued to be worn even after that date. Medical officers, veterinary officers, quartermasters, and hospital staff: corded tunic with corresponding insignia colours.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Schutztruppe fur Deutsche-Sudwestafrika 1889-1915. Zusammengestellt von Oberleutnant Hettler. Uniformen bei Ubernahme als Kaiserliche Truppe. Blieb bis auf Kopfbedeckungen bis zur Bkl.-V. vom 19 Nov. 1896 Vorschrift, auch spater noch in Tragung. San.-Offz., Rossarzt, Zahlm.-Asp., Laz.-Geh. Kordrock mit entsprechenden Abzeichenfarben.

*what is the abbreviation Bkl.-V?

*Of interest translation with DeepL.com made Schutztruppe "Protectorate Troops" all articles I've read has always had translation as "Protection Troops!"