DSW pictures

[Robert]

Meet Oberleutnant Weiss (first from left). Because of his protuding ears, he was know in the troop by the name "Löffelhund" - the translation of which is bat-eared dog as I read, sort of a desert fox.

Transporting mountain guns ("Gebirgsgeschütz 14", does this mean model 1914?)

The same gun ready for action. There are several artillery pictures in this batch, so the writer might have been in an artillery unit.

Destruction of a railway?

Major v. Estorff dedicated this grave plate to a herero named "Sepp" who was his servant. He died 1904 in the battle of Omaruru according to the inscription.

Windhuk 1912 is noted on the back side.

 

[chrispaulodale]

Hi Robert,
Thanks for posting those great photos. There's some interesting uniform variations going on there...
The last photo shows a parade that has variously been dated from 1904 to 1914. Interesting that you have it as 1912. It was a celebration parade to mark the anniversary of the formation of the DSWA Schutztruppe which I believe was 1894, so 1904 and 1914 would make more obvious choices. In the parade members of the Schutztruppe dressed in old Schutztruppe uniforms. Note they are wearing items such as spiked tropical helmets, kepis and Polish cuffs. All of which were not usually worn after the mid 1890s.
Hope that helps,
Cheers
Chris

 

[Robert]

Chris,
thanks fot the info! The back of that card has the following writing on it:

Uniformtypen
der Schutztruppe
Landesan..?
Windhuk 1912

It could have been written later on the back for rememberence, so possibly the writer just confused the date? Or the picture was actually taken in 1904 and the back side was written in 1912.