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Here are our basic uniform and equipment standards.
We have extra gear and outfits for you to use for a
trial participation to see if you want to join our
hobby.
Thus you can see if you want to make the monetary
investment.
Check with the unit commander before you buy anything!
You will save much money and time getting the
acceptable items rather than getting the wrong
stuff, then having to spend more money and time to
be authentic.
Safety
Know how to handle a weapon safely
- treat as loaded and immediately check that it's
not loaded
- know how to operate the safe switches but never
trust them, it's good to keep ammunition out of
the firing chamber until actually ready to fire
Know how to fire a weapon safely
- don't fire when next to someone about 10 meters
away or less
- don't fire when in front of someone about 25
meters away or less
Know how to clean a weapon and clean it after every
event
NEVER bring live ammunition to any reenactment!
What you'll need, what is authentic
and what is NOT authentic, and where
to save money:
You'll need a State Gun Card (FOID) to buy a rifle
and blanks - see your local Currency Exchange for
details and cost; the process will take at least
a few weeks
You'll need a reenacting membership card:
Tactical Simulations Group (TSG)
See their website on how to get a membership card:
http://www.20thctsg.org/
Personal gear:
Period-looking eyeglass (if you wear glasses)
You can find them at antique dealers or
E-BAY http://www.ebay.com
search for 'eyeglasses' or 'glasses'
Prices range from to ?
Don't buy a real expensive pair since you will be running around
the woods in them
Cost to put in your prescription about
To see what is authentic style see:
http://www.soldat.com/soldat_dienst_brille.htm
Make sure you contact the e-bay seller; have him measure across
the front of the glasses from earpiece to earpiece in inches.
For example: my modern glasses are 5 inches across, but my WW2
glasses are 4 and 3/4 inches. 4 and 1/2 inches would be too
narrow for me. Don't tell the seller what size you need, let
him get back to you. If you tell him what size you need, he may
lie to you just to sell them.
Grooming:
Hair off the ears and collar, tapered in the back,
no moustaches, no goatees, no facial hair in
general except a little stubble for the field look
at tactical events only
Basic uniform, equipment and weapons:
Jackboots (black leather)
East German
Mexican boots NOT acceptable!
Shoe size - U.S., they'll know which EG size to
sell you
At The Front
http://www.atthefront.com
under "German", "Foot Wear"
Phone: 866 213-3946 (toll free)
Or
Lace boots (plain brown short lace boots)
Swedish (brown leather) #023708
Swedish #053806A (with rubber sole and rubberized foot area)
NOT acceptable!
Shoe size - U.S.
Western European Products
http://www.wephaus.com
under "Reenactor Specialties"
MAKE SURE YOU GET THE CORRECT ONE: #023708 with leather sole!
Phone: 601 795 8094
Gaiters (Gemaschen) go with the lace boots
German Post-war
Western European Products
http://www.wephaus.com
under "Field Equipment"
Phone: 601 795 8094
Socks
Wool (never use cotton!)
Campmor
http://www.campmor.com
search 'socks'
under 'Hiking socks'
item: # 1086, "Wigwam Expedition Ragg Socks'
Phone: 888 226 7667
Pants
Swedish green wool (Swiss NOT acceptable!)
Waist size in inches
Western European Products
http://www.wephaus.com
Phone: 601 795 8094
call and ask; not listed on website
Convert: 1 remove thigh pockets and pocket
flaps
2 remove belt loops
3 remove Swedish gaiters at the bottom
of the pants legs (if they are
there)
Pants suspenders
German post-war
Edelweiss Militaria
http://www.stby.com/EdelweissMilitaria/index.htm
under "Field Gear"
email: motorrad@oh.verio.com
Convert: dye the outside of the leather tabs
brown with liquid shoe polish
Tunic
Swedish green wool (Swiss NOT acceptable!)
Chest size in inches
Western European Products
http://www.wephaus.com
under "Reenactor Specialties"
Phone: 601 795 8094
Convert: 1 remove rear pockets (if there)
2 remove inside bottom pockets (leave outside bottom
pocket flap on)
3 Take thigh pocket from pants and sew
on the outside under the bottom pocket flap
to make bottom pockets
4 Shorten bottom of tunic up to just
under the bottom pocket
5 Put 1 belt loop from pants near the
end of each shoulder to hold the
shoulder board insignia
6 Put on correct buttons
7 Put on insignia:
sleeve eagle on left arm; at same
height as top pocket button
cuff title on left arm; 15
centimeters from bottom of cuff
collar tabs; line up with side of
collar but 1/8 inch from it
shoulder boards; put loop close
enough to the edge of the
shoulder so the end of the board
lines up with the sleeve seam
Buttons for tunic
Get 2 Bundeswehr Luftwaffe blue tunics and take
the buttons from them
Western European Products
http://www.wephaus.com
under "New Arrivals"
Phone: 601 795 8094
Convert: Paint dark gray or dark green (NOT
gloss)
Insignia for tunic
Reproduction
Enlisted Collar tabs (2; one with SS runes and 1
blank)
Castle Keep
http://www.reenact.com/index.html
under "20th Century", "German"
Phone: 630 801 1696
for both
Enlisted Shoulder boards (2) White piping
At The Front
http://www.atthefront.com
under "German", "Insignia", "Waffen SS"
Phone: 866 213-3946 (toll free)
for both
Enlisted Sleeve Eagle
Castle Keep
http://www.reenact.com/index.html
under "20th Century", "German"
Phone: 630 801 1696
Enlisted Cuff title (Das Reich or Der Fuhrer)
At The Front
http://www.atthefront.com
under "German", "Insignia", "Waffen SS"
Phone: 866 213-3946 (toll free)
Helmet
Spanish WW 2 German style
Mike Kowalski of 9 SS
Waffenampt@hotmail.com (email via Tony Kelly of 9
SS)
Or
derschar@aol.com (email via Erik Smith of 9 SS)
Most are sizes 56 to 58 centimeters
Convert: 1 cut out old canvas chin straps
2 put on new chin strap (see below where to buy)
here's how:
take out the 6 snap-in webbings assembly
take out the 1 inch headband
cut or drill a slit in the big leather band that
goes around the inside - make a slit on each
side in this position:
horiontally where the old chin strap was
vertically 1/4 inch from the bottom of the
big leather band (bottom meaning the down
side when the helmet is on your head)
make the slits wide enough for the new leather
chin straps (about 3/8 inch) and tall enough
for the thickness of the chin strap (about
1/8 inch)
unbutton the 2 pieces of the new leather chin
strap
put the new chin strap in these 2 slits and
re-button them:
the black side goes on the outside
(outside meaning when you put the helmet
on and fasten the chin strap, the black
side is the side that is visible)
the strap with the buckle goes on the left
put the 1 inch headband back on
put the 6 snap-in webbings assembly back on
3 put on a camouflage helmet cover
(see below)
Note that these Spanish helmets are not
acceptable as is; they must have the
camouflage helmet cover and a new chin strap!
Or
Post-war German or original helmet
Hard to find helmets for a reasonable price
but keep checking:
At The Front
http://www.atthefront.com
under "German", "Headgear"
Phone: 866 213-3946 (toll free)
1944 Militaria
http://www.1944militaria.com
under "Headgear"
Phone: 856 358 4032
Note: as of July 2001 Edelweiss is selling reproduction
M 35 helmets - but they are shell size 68 with liner sizes for
57 through 60. This is NOT correct! This size 68 shell (the
metal helmet itself) would be WAY too large for liner of 57 thru
59. The German Army sized the metal shell to fit the liner
proportionally - for balance and protection. See the chart
below for correct matchups:
Liner Size (US) Liner Size (European) Helmet Shell Size
6-3/4" 55cm 62cm
6-7/8" - 7" 56-57cm 64cm
7-1/8" - 7-1/4" 58-59cm 66cm
7-1/2" - 7-5/8" 60-61cm 68cm
Chin strap for Spanish helmet (black leather)
Reproduction
Kelley's Militaria
http://www.kelsmilitary.com
Phone: 1 800 879 7273
call and ask; not listed on website
Camouflage helmet cover for Spanish helmet or any
other German helmet
Reproduction
Any SS pattern except DOT
Must have the 3 hooks (NO drawstring!)
(Heer, Austrian, BGS, Flecktarn or any other
camouflage NOT acceptable!)
1944 Militaria
http://www.1944militaria.com
under "Camouflage"
Phone: 856 358 4032
Belt (black leather)
EARLY East German
Size of waist in inches, get it a few inches
bigger to fit over tunic
At The Front
http://www.atthefront.com
under "German", "Fieldgear", "Early East German"
Phone: 866 213-3946 (toll free)
Buckle
Reproduction
Enlisted
Castle Keep
http://www.reenact.com/index.html
under "20th Century", "German"
Phone: 630 801 1696
Bread bag
German post-war (gray-green, not blue!)
Bayonet Inc
http://www.bayonetinc.com
under "German", "Field Gear"
Phone: 770 505 2052
Canteen (brown cover not blue! black cup,not blue!)
Reproduction
Western European Products
http://www.wephaus.com
under "Reenactor Specialties"
Phone: 601 795 8094
Bayonet
Original
1944 Militaria
http://www.1944militaria.com
under "Originals", "Grade 3"
Phone: 856 358 4032
Bayonet holder (frog) (black leather)
Reproduction
At The Front
http://www.atthefront.com
under "German", "Fieldgear", "Economy"
Phone: 866 213-3946 (toll free)
Y-straps (black leather)
Reproduction
At The Front
http://www.atthefront.com
under "German", "Fieldgear", "Economy"
Phone: 866 213-3946 (toll free)
K 98 Ammunition pouches (2) (black not brown!)
Original
1944 Militaria
http://www.1944militaria.com
under "Field Gear"
Phone: 856 358 4032
for 2
Or
Edelweiss Militaria
http://www.stby.com/EdelweissMilitaria/index.htm
under "Weaponry"
email: motorrad@oh.verio.com
for 2
K 98 Rifle (must have curved bolt and metal hole in
stock!)
Can be original, conversion, other (7.92mm/8mm
or 7.62mm/.30 caliber)
Local gun shows, Shotgun News, local gun dealers,
other reenactors
-
K 98 sling (brown leather)
Reproduction
Castle Keep
http://www.reenact.com/index.html
under "20th Century", "German"
Phone: 630 801 1696
Other Weapons:
K43/G43 semi-auto Mauser carbine
P38, P08 (Luger), PPK pistols (blank-only pistols
acceptable)
MP40, MP44, MG34, MG42 automatic weapons (must have
Federal/State/local registration/paperwork)
All pyrotechnics need to be approved by the unit
commander and the event safety folks
- try to avoid home-made devices if you've never
done them before and definitely no large, dangerous
factory-made ones
Blank ammunition
Our unit has a free supply for now, and there
are dealers who sell; see
http://www.atthefront.com under
"Links", "Dealers" or
Phone: 866 213-3946 (toll free)
Optional (items you can get later)
Gas mask canister with straps(with or without gas
mask)
Original
At The Front
http://www.atthefront.com
under "German", "Fieldgear"
Phone: 866 213-3946 (toll free)
Or
Edelweiss Militaria
http://www.stby.com/EdelweissMilitaria/index.htm
under "Field Gear"
email: motorrad@oh.verio.com
Camouflage smock
Reproduction
Any SS pattern except DOT
(Heer, Austrian, BGS, Flecktarn or any other
camouflage NOT acceptable!)
Type 1 (no pockets) or Type 2 (with pockets)
Cotton Twill (Type I)
At The Front
http://www.atthefront.com
under "German", "Uniforms", "Camouflage", "Cotton
Twill"
Phone: 866 213-3946 (toll free)
Camouflage poncho (Zeltbahn)
Reproduction
Any SS pattern except DOT
(Heer, Austrian, BGS, Flecktarn or any other
camouflage NOT acceptable!)
Edelweiss Militaria
http://www.stby.com/EdelweissMilitaria/index.htm
under "Field Gear"
email: motorrad@oh.verio.com
Mess kit
Western European Products
http://www.wephaus.com
under "Reenactor Specialties"
Phone: 601 795 8094
3 Straps for poncho and mess kit (2 for poncho, 1
for mess kit)
Post-war German
At The Front
http://www.atthefront.com
under "German", "Fieldgear", "Unissued Tornister
and Mess Kit Straps"
Phone: 866 213-3946 (toll free)
each
Convert: dye the smooth side (outside) black
with liquid shoe polish
Cap
Camouflage Cap (M42) with brim
Reproduction
Any SS pattern - Dot is OK) with or without
insignia - usually without)
(Heer, Austrian, BGS, Flecktarn or any other
camouflage NOT acceptable!)
Hat size in centimeters
At The Front
http://www.atthefront.com
under "German", "Headgear"
Phone: 866 213-3946 (toll free)
Or
Wool cap (M43) with brim and insignia
Reproduction
Enlisted
Hat size in centimeters
At The Front
http://www.atthefront.com
under "German", "Headgear"
Phone: 866 213-3946 (toll free)
Shirt
West German/German green sleep shirt
Western European Products
http://www.wephaus.com
under "Reenactor Specialties"
Phone: 601 795 8094
Shovel with carrier
Western European Products
http://www.wephaus.com
call - not on website, but in paper catalog
Phone: 601 795 8094
Convert: 1 dye the outside of carrier black
with liquid shoe polish
2 remove belt loops from carrier
3 put belt loops back on the carrier
on the same side you took them off
of, but position them one inch
below the top of the carrier and
each one 1 ½ inches from the side
Cold weather stuff:
Note: you can wear a sweater or long johns under
your tunic and pants - these cold weather items
don't have to be authentic, but wool, not cotton!
Also, get another pair of wool socks!
Gloves
Swiss wool (never use cotton!)
Western European Products
http://www.wephaus.com
under "Misc Wool Field Uniforms"
Phone: 601 795 8094
Overcoat
Swedish green wool (Swiss NOT acceptable!)
Chest size in inches
Western European Products
http://www.wephaus.com
under "Reenactor Specialties"
Phone: 601 795 8094
Convert: 1 remove buttons
2 remove shoulder boards
3 Put 1 belt loop from pants near the
end of each shoulder to hold the
shoulder board insignia
4 Put on correct buttons
5 Put on insignia:
sleeve eagle on left arm; at same
height as 3rd chest button
shoulder boards; put loop close
enough to the edge of the
shoulder so the end of the board
lines up with the sleeve seam
Insignia for overcoat
Reproduction
Enlisted Shoulder boards (2) White piping
At The Front
http://www.atthefront.com
under "German", "Insignia", "Waffen SS"
Phone: 866 213-3946 (toll free)
for both
Enlisted Sleeve Eagle
Castle Keep
http://www.reenact.com/index.html
under "20th Century", "German"
Phone: 630 801 1696
Buttons for overcoat
Get 2 Bundeswehr Luftwaffe blue tunics and take
the buttons from them
Western European Products
http://www.wephaus.com
under "New Arrivals"
Phone: 601 795 8094
Convert: Paint dark gray or dark green (NOT
gloss)
Head protector/tube scarf (Kopfschuetzer)
East German wool (never use cotton!)
Western European Products
http://www.wephaus.com
under "Misc Wool Field Uniforms"
Phone: 601 795 8094
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