Schutztruppe Schutztruppe ( ) was the African colonial armed force of Imperial Germany from the late 19th century to 1918 , when Germany lost its colonies . Similar to other colonial forces , the Schutztruppe consisted of volunteer European commissioned and non - commissioned officers , medical and veterinary officers . Most enlisted ranks were generally recruited locally . In German East Africa they became famous as Askari . Police forces also were established in the colonies . Control of the German colonies of New Guinea ( including the Bismarck Archipelago and North Pacific islands ) and in German Samoa was performed by small local police detachments . Kiautschou in China was under naval administration . The colonial force for German East Africa was established by an act of the Reichstag on 22 March 1891 ; the colonial forces for German West Africa and German Southwest Africa on 9 June 1895 . Schutztruppe formations were organizationally never a part of the army or navy . In 1896 Schutztruppe headquarters was established and located at Berlin ’ s Mauerstrasse , in proximity to the German Colonial Office . German military law and discipline applied to the Schutztruppe . In 1914 there were three Schutztruppe commands , one in each of the German colonial regions in East , West , and Southwest Africa . German East Africa . At the outbreak of World War I , the Schutztruppe in German East Africa was organized into 14 field companies [ Feldkompagnien ] with 2 , 500 men under arms , with headquarters at the capital Dar es Salaam . Including carriers and laborers , the force totaled approximately 14 , 000 personnel . On 13 April 1914 , Lieutenant Colonel Paul Emil von Lettow - Vorbeck assumed command in German East Africa . He led his units throughout World War I , eventually being promoted to " Generalmajor . " The Schutztruppe in East Africa became the last German formation to surrender – days after the armistice in November 1918 . A pre - war company consisted of 160 ( expandable to 200 ) men in three platoons [ Züge ] of 50 to 60 men each , including two machine gun teams . Each of the 14 companies also had a minimum 250 man carrier contingent as well as native irregulars known as " Ruga - Ruga . " The Dar es Salaam garrison further included a recruitment depot , a signals department and quartermaster unit . Overall strength was 300 European recruits and 2 , 472 Africans , specifically 68 combatant officers , 60 warrant officers and NCOs , 132 non - combatant medical officers , civilian administrators , ammunition technicians , and 2 African officers and 184 African NCOs and 2 , 286 Askaris . During the Great War , companies numbered 15 through 30 were added , plus A through H temporary companies ; and 1st through 8th " Schützenkompagnies " [ rifle companies ] . The " Schützenkompagnies " were originally composed of white settlers , their sons , plantations administrators and trading company employees , i . e . , colonial volunteers , but some units became racially mixed as the war dragged on . Numerous other small detachments were also formed . German Southwest Africa . The Schutztruppe in German Southwest Africa was structured in 12 companies of mounted infantry totalling 1 , 500 men , primarily Germans . The 7th Company , stationed in the northern desert area of the colony , was mounted on imported camels . A single unit , called the Baster Company of non - local Africans was raised and deployed . Relations between the German administration and the natives in this colony had deteriorated to the point that few local Africans were recruited ; however , Boers and Afrikaners did join to renew their fight against Great Britain . The colonial forces for German Southwest Africa consisted of volunteers from the imperial army and navy ( including some Austrians ) , but essentially consisted of members of German regiments . Before their deployment to Africa these troops were prepared for their special tasks and future environment . Such a training base was at Karlsruhe . Because of the often humid conditions in the upper Rhine valley of the grand - duchy of Baden , the area provided some early acclimatization . The structure of the Southwest African forces was as follows : German Southwest Africa Command at Windhuk ( modern Windhoek ) consisted of headquarters , administration and legal ( judge advocate ) , medical corps , surveying and mapping units . Northern district command : Windhuk Southern district command : Keetmanshoop At the outbreak of World War I the force had a total strength of 91 officers , 22 physicians , 9 veterinarians , 59 civilian administrators , ammunition technicians , 342 NCOs and 1 , 444 German other ranks for a total of 1 , 967 personnel . German West Africa . German West Africa encompassed two colonial entities , Kamerun and Togoland . The Kamerun force in 1914 consisted of 12 companies , totaling 1 , 600 men with headquarters at Soppo and established in 1894 from the existing police force ( formed in 1891 ) . The structure of the Kamerun forces was as follows : Central Command : Soppo near the capital Buea The companies were assigned to 49 garrisons in Kamerun and consisted of 61 officers , 23 physicians , 23 civilian administrators , ammunition technicians , 98 German NCOs and 1 , 650 African enlisted ranks for a total personnel count of 1 , 855 . Togoland had a total police force of 673 personnel deployed throughout the colony . Approximately 1 , 000 troops were raised after the outbreak of World War I . With few arms , ammunition or provisions , by the end of August 1914 , all were forced to surrender to invading French and British forces . German language sites :