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 various clasps for DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA.  The clasps were awarded for participation in various actions in German New Guinea from 1893 to 1914 and were worn only on the 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) but specialized history books are the best English language source.  The collector should note that this series of clasps is in very high demand.

Protection Troops  (German New Guinea, ca. 1896)

These clasps were awarded only to Imperial German Colonial Protection Troops and Police Troops - with the exception of the DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1913/14 clasp (if awarded for service in New Guinea on 31 August 1914) which was additionally awarded to all military, most goverment personnel, and some civilians.  Some military &/or naval personnel were attached to the Protection Troops or Police Troops and received the appropriate clasp(s).  New Guinea troops did not total over 600 at any one time.  Part of the interest in this clasp is that many of the actions were against smugglers, pygmies, bandits, pirates, and cannibals - each being a fascinating story in itself but beyond the scope of this guide.  While the medal is somewhat rare, these bronze clasps are very rare.  Currently, this clasp is only known one type:  same width as the ribbon, wide lettering, and with sharp flat prong backs.  

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1893  Actions in July 1893 by Herbertshöhe (which later became a district seat).  Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1893-Clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000003238069 

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1897  Actions during 1897 in the mountain region of Friedrichs-Wilhelmhaven.  Actions in October 1897 against the pirate towns on the islands of Madine (or Madina) and Selapiu.  Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1897-clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000002841537

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1899  Actions in April 1899 near Tinputz and Datvel.  Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1899-Clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000003239629 

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1900  Actions in January 1900 in the area of Kabin.  Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1900-clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000002903968 

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1901  Actions in July 1901 in the St. Mathias (Matthias) Islands area.  Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1901-clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000002881128   

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1902  Actions in April through July 1902 in the Varzin area.  Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1902-clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000002909132 

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1903  Actions in November and December 1903 in the Witu Islands group.  Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1903-clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000002886427

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1904  Actions in August through October 1904 in the Baining area.  Actions in September 1904 around the village of Messi.   Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1904-Clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000003242476

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1905  Actions in September 1905 in the Awar area.  Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1905-Clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000003236164 

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1906  Actions in May 1906 in the Kananitu mountains area.  Actions in May 1906 near the village of Tagueroi.  Actions in September 1906 near the village of Tsiwo.  Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1906-Clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000003239121 

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1907  Actions in June and July 1907 in the Buin area.  Actions in July and August 1907 in Arop, Maloli, Ser, and Karsan.  Actions in November and December 1907 in the Orokuza area.  Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1907-Clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000003245480 

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1908  Admiralty Islands Punitive Expedition in April 1908.  Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1908-clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000002892610 

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1909  Ndrano Punitive Expedition in April 1909.  Actions in April and May 1909 in the Wakaia area.  Asmata Punitive Expedition in September 1909.  Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1909-Clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000003250642 

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1910  Actions to calm the unrest in February and March 1910 in the mountain region of Potsdamhafen.  Actions in November 1910 in the mountain region along the Rai Coast.  Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1910-Clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000003241330

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1911  Womba Punitive Expedition in January and February 1911.  Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1911-clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000002900803 

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1912  Kagam Punitive Expedition in June through November 1912.   Punitive Expedition in June and July against the Zedu, Bemari and Koipassin.  Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1912-Clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000003244723

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1913  Umboi Island Expedition from 25 February to 5 March 1913.  Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1913-clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000002892771 

DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA 1913/14  Neumecklenburg Expedition from 14 December 1913 to 21 March 1914.  Also awarded for service in German New-Guinea on 31 August 1914.  Possibly the most common clasp encountered in private collections.  There's substantial speculation in Germany that many recipients were soldiers of fortune or mercenaries, which appears to account for the very unusual medal groupings with this clasp.  Protection Troops and Police Troops not in possession of this clasp were individually evaluated as to whether they were considered a combatant or non-combatant for purposes of the award of the WWI Cross of Honor.  Note that any recipient of this clasp for service on 31 August 1914 would have been automatically entitled to the WWI Cross of Honor (Combatant) when it was instituted in 1934 - but by then, Germany had lost this colony.   This clasp appears to have the highest survival rate of any from the New Guinea series.  Please see:  http://reviews.ebay.com/DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA-1913-14-clasp_W0QQugidZ10000000002860343 

Copies and forgeries are known.  Most copies (typically cast) were made for collectors or re-enactors who required an example.  Please review my copy medal guide http://reviews.ebay.com/Worldwide-Military-Medals-Copy-Medal_W0QQugidZ10000000001875117 and forgery medal guide http://reviews.ebay.com/Worldwide-Military-Medals-Forgery-Medals_W0QQugidZ10000000001875079 for a more detailed explanation.  My best advice is:  Buy only from a reputable dealer who specializes in Imperial German medals and who will offer you a 100% guarantee for this clasp.

Please visit my blog (http://blogs.ebay.com/tsa-li) and/or guides for further information.  Thank you for your visit!