The Imperial German Colonial Medal (Kolonialdenkmünze) was established by Kaiser Wilhelm II on 13 June 1912 with revisions on 17 February 1914.  The medal with clasps was awarded retroactively.  This guide will address only the clasp for DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1899 which was only worn officially on the bronze combatant version of the Kolonialdenkmünze.  If you are interested in details of these events, some internet sites provide further information (the absolute best specialist sources are in German while the Australian sources are improving) but specialized history and linguistic books are the best English language sources.

The clasp DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1899 was awarded for actions in April 1899 near Tinputz and Datvel (on the east coast of the main island of Bougainville - now in the Bougainville Province of Papua New Guinea).  A number of Police Troop patrols each led by a German Polizeimeister (Police Sergeant), consisting of less than 110 men total, were sent out to establish security due to raids on the cocoa farmers and the natives who supported the German colonial administration.  Currently, sources indicate that a German Leutnant (Lieutenant) was in charge of these patrols but it is undetermined if he qualified for the clasp.  Personnel assigned to ships which transported the Troops were not entitled to this clasp unless they actually participated in the actions.  There is at least 1 case of a sailor (possibly a medical aid) who reportedly accompanied some of the Troops but it is believed that he received the non-combatant (steel) Imperial German Colonial Medal without clasp.  Tinputz seems to have caught the imagination of historians and collectors.  There were casualties on both sides.  

This clasp was awarded only to Imperial German Colonial Police Troops.  While the medal is somewhat rare, these bronze clasps are very rare. A verified clasp to a recipient that served at Tinputz (Datvel is inconsequential) is in extraordinarily great demand by a very small group of specialty collectors.  Any documentation raises the interest (and price) substantially.   Currently, this bronze clasp is only known one type:  same width as the ribbon, wide lettering, pebbled background and with sharp flat prong backs.

• In 1984, a KDM with this clasp to a verified combatant (with documents) at Tinputz was sold in Germany for €250
• In 1999, a single clasp was sold in Germany for €231  

If you are interested in obtaining this clasp, my best advice is:  Purchase only from a dealer who specialized in Imperial German medals and will offer you a 100% guarantee.  For your convenience, other associated guides can be found at:  http://reviews.ebay.com/Imperial-German-Medal-Guides-Index_W0QQugidZ10000000002386112  and/or  http://reviews.ebay.com/Imperial-German-Colonial-Medal-DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA_W0QQugidZ10000000002379852.  If you found this guide helpful, a Yes vote is appreciated.  This will help me gauge the level of interest in this and similar topics for further guides.  Please visit my blog (http://blogs.ebay.com/tsa-li) for further information.  Thank you for your visit!