Scarce – Early German S.W.A. ‘Native Pass Token’ (BZ. SWKPD) (1908 – 1915)

This very early, original, scarce brass ‘native pass token’ from German – South West Africa is stamped ‘BZ. SWKPD PASS’ with the Imperial Crown above and the number ‘2561’ below. After the closing of the Swakopmund Concentration Camps in 1908, the former POW’s were subjected to stringent labour and pass laws, where they were forced to wear chains with these brass tags or tokens around there necks. This practice was stopped in 1915, when German SWA was taken over by the Union of South Africa. This token is in excellent condition and measures 5,2cm x 3,5cm, with a weight of 17,1g.