Adolf Hitler’s brown “Brownshirt” uniform, including the distinctive hat, originated from surplus khaki-brown Lettow-shirts designed for German East African troops under General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck during World War I. Unused due to a British blockade, these durable shirts were bought cheaply in 1921 by Freikorps leader Gerhard Roßbach to outfit his paramilitary group, later influencing the SA’s uniform by 1924–1925. The brown attire, paired with a peaked cap and swastika armband, symbolized resilience and mass appeal, reflecting the undefeated spirit of the African campaigns. Hitler wore it during early Nazi rallies, cementing its role in the party’s rise until he shifted to grey after 1933.
