The dress worn by native forces in German East Africa prior to World War One can be divided into three periods -- the days of the Company askaris, the period of the Wissmann Unit, and lastly that of the Imperial Protective Force.

In Order to protect Company officials, safeguard its stations, and exercise the rights of sovereignty granted by the Sultan of Zanzibar, a force of askaris was formed. Their number was small however and hardly up to such an undertaking. When the German East Africa Company attempted to flex its muscles in 1887 and establish rule, prompt resistance followed. Things escalated and 1888 saw the outbreak of the so-called Arab Rebellion (1888-1890).

Although the Arab Rebellion didn't have anything to do with slave traders, saying so made great headlines and useful propaganda for those who wanted intervention. This finally came in 1889. Hermann von Wissmann was appointed Reich Commissar for East Africa and put together what was referred to as the Wissmann Unit. This ad-hoc native force with its nucleus of German officers and nco's was successful and by 1890 the situation was under control.

The administration of German East Africa passed from the German East Africa Company to the German Reich in January 1891. On March 22, 1891 its army of mercenaries became the Imperial Protective Force (Schutztruppe) for East Africa. Numerous campaigns and punitive expeditions kept the force occupied during the 1890's, and a second major conflict, the Maji-Maji Uprising, occurred in 1905.

Uniforms of Native Troops in German East Africa

Introduction
German East Africa Company
The Wissmann Unit
Native Sailors
Village Police
Imperial Protective Force
Sources