Pictures show British troops in Germany between wars

The fascinating story of how British armies in Germany after the First World War tried and failed to prevent the feelings of discontent which led to the rise of Hitler has been told in a new book.

Images from the book ‘The British Army of the Rhine after the First World War’ by Michael Foley show British troops crossing the Rhine as they prepare to establish their section of the occupation area in ologne. 

Others show the German ‘Brown Shirts’ stood in formation shirtless after being banned from wearing the uniform by the Treaty of Versailles.

And in another photo a fresh young Winston Churchill, then the newly appointed Secretary of State for War, arriving to inspect British troops during the occupation of Cologne.

The new secretary of state for war at the time, a young Winston Churchill MP, arrived in Germany in August 1919 to inspect the British Army of Occupation on the Rhine

British soldiers in 1928 with a pet dog and a baby outside a restaurant in Germany after the First World War where they tried to prevent the feelings of discontent which led to the rise of Hitler

British soldiers in 1928 with a pet dog and a baby outside a restaurant in Germany after the First World War where they tried to prevent the feelings of discontent which led to the rise of Hitler

The Allies are pictured competing against each other in an athletics meeting in Coblenz. The story of the Brits time in Germany after the first world war has been told in a new book 'The British Army of the Rhine after the First World War' by Michael Foley

The Allies are pictured competing against each other in an athletics meeting in Coblenz. The story of the Brits time in Germany after the first world war has been told in a new book ‘The British Army of the Rhine after the First World War’ by Michael Foley

Following the signing of the armistice between the allies and Germany in 1918, British troops crossed the Rhine into Germany and entered a country torn by violence and unrest where revolution threatened and civil war seemed more likely every day.

The German public did not want them there and, in many cases, they did not want to be there, with most soldiers expecting to be discharged shortly after the war ended.

‘It is important to have some level of understanding of the situation in Germany that the men of the occupation forces found themselves having to deal with,’ writes Foley.

‘They were not only going into a country that they had just beaten in the war (with all the resulting negative feelings that were going to be shown against them), but they also had to deal with the fact that the German population were going through a time of severe suffering and political upheaval in which the occupying forces often became involved.

A Christmas meeting of anti-Spartacists in defence of Bremen in the Red Gymnasium. The Spartacist uprising, also known as the January uprising, was a general strike in Germany from 4 to 15 January 1919

A Christmas meeting of anti-Spartacists in defence of Bremen in the Red Gymnasium. The Spartacist uprising, also known as the January uprising, was a general strike in Germany from 4 to 15 January 1919

The Domplatz was the site of many military parades by the British troops during their time in Germany. Following the signing of the armistice between the allies and Germany in 1918, British troops crossed the Rhine into Germany

The Domplatz was the site of many military parades by the British troops during their time in Germany. Following the signing of the armistice between the allies and Germany in 1918, British troops crossed the Rhine into Germany

Boat trips on the Rhine were a popular leisure activity organised by the British Empire Leave Club. A group of soldiers are pictured packed onto a boat surrounding a table covered in what appears to be refreshments 

Boat trips on the Rhine were a popular leisure activity organised by the British Empire Leave Club. A group of soldiers are pictured packed onto a boat surrounding a table covered in what appears to be refreshments 

This photograph was taken by one of the members of the occupation force of men in the showers. The German public did not want them there and, in many cases, they did not want to be there, with most soldiers expecting to be discharged shortly after the war ended

This photograph was taken by one of the members of the occupation force of men in the showers. The German public did not want them there and, in many cases, they did not want to be there, with most soldiers expecting to be discharged shortly after the war ended

‘As the end of the war approached, it was to have a major effect on Germany. It was not only the fact that they had lost the war that upset the German population. Many, but not all, of the German people had already been suffering for many years from a shortage of food. What was to come after the war was to be an even bigger shock for the population.

‘From the way the country went after the withdrawal of the occupation forces, it would seem that the presence of the Allied troops were keeping the lid on an underlying move towards extremism by the population. Whether this was caused by Allied policy during the occupation and in the harsh sanctions enforced by Versailles is debatable.

A squad of Brownshirts who, at this time, had been banned from wearing their uniform by the Treaty of Versailles and so appeared bare-chested. The men instead sported trousers, braces, a tie and their helmets  

A squad of Brownshirts who, at this time, had been banned from wearing their uniform by the Treaty of Versailles and so appeared bare-chested. The men instead sported trousers, braces, a tie and their helmets  

Although the majority of the German Army was disbanded after the war, many of the men still wore their uniforms and followed a military life, often as part of volunteer forces

Although the majority of the German Army was disbanded after the war, many of the men still wore their uniforms and followed a military life, often as part of volunteer forces

A parade of French troops on the street, which seems to be lined with British soldiers. Foley states that it is important to have some level of understanding of the situation in Germany that the men of the occupation forces found themselves having to deal with

A parade of French troops on the street, which seems to be lined with British soldiers. Foley states that it is important to have some level of understanding of the situation in Germany that the men of the occupation forces found themselves having to deal with

‘The movement towards a dictatorship may well have happened after the war whatever the Allies did. There is little doubt that Germany did not have a background of democracy and although there may well have been many Germans who believed in this political system and wanted peace there were many others who did not.

‘Rather than being the reason for the rise of Adolf Hitler, it could be said that the occupation actually delayed the rise of the Nazis rather than caused it. Whatever the truth of the matter, it seems obvious that the First World War did little to solve the problems of Europe. The results of the post-war decisions by the politicians were the reason for this and, in some cases, may have made the situation in post-war Europe even worse than they had been before.’

The British Army of the Rhine after the First World War by Michael Foley is published by Fonthill Media, and can be purchased here. 

British troops posing for a soldier alongside a German anti-aircraft gun. The men were  going into a country that they had just beaten in the war with all the resulting negative feelings that were going to be shown against them

British troops posing for a soldier alongside a German anti-aircraft gun. The men were going into a country that they had just beaten in the war with all the resulting negative feelings that were going to be shown against them

The area around the Rhine often flooded during the winter months. This was the flood that occurred in 1919 while the British troops were there 

The area around the Rhine often flooded during the winter months. This was the flood that occurred in 1919 while the British troops were there 

During the early days of the occupation, clear signs of military were visible, as can be seen from the guns along the bank of the Rhine

During the early days of the occupation, clear signs of military were visible, as can be seen from the guns along the bank of the Rhine

The sign of the British Empire Leave Club, founded in Cologne, which provided comfort for soldiers of the occupation forces

The sign of the British Empire Leave Club, founded in Cologne, which provided comfort for soldiers of the occupation forces

British troops crossing the Rhine as they prepare to establish their section of the occupation area in Cologne. From the way the country went after the withdrawal of the occupation forces, it would seem that the presence of the Allied troops were keeping the lid on an underlying move towards extremism by the population

British troops crossing the Rhine as they prepare to establish their section of the occupation area in Cologne. From the way the country went after the withdrawal of the occupation forces, it would seem that the presence of the Allied troops were keeping the lid on an underlying move towards extremism by the population

The use of black troops caused a number of complaints during the occupation. This shows a unit of colonial cavalry on the streets of Germany

The use of black troops caused a number of complaints during the occupation. This shows a unit of colonial cavalry on the streets of Germany

An identity card for a German female member of the public living in the occupied area

An identity card for a German female member of the public living in the occupied area

Foley said in his book the movement towards a dictatorship may well have happened after the war whatever the Allies did

Foley said in his book the movement towards a dictatorship may well have happened after the war whatever the Allies did



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