As Evo says, early bookers have pretty much vanished and in the current situation is that it is just possible to scrape 20 players a side by game-day - and that is only because some players are multi-kitted so can move between Russian/Brit/German/Polish/American etc.
And Japanese now 
.
Though I seriously have no answer to this question.
There's also the "shiny thing" affect, where people with a shorter attention span than others will jump from one thing to the next. I suspect that in many cases, once the initial excitement of the new "shiny thing" has worn off, those people will look to jump to something else.
We see it many times, someone will spend months collecting kit will attend an event or two then will decide to go on to the next thing....whatever that may be.
Regular contributors to this forum have done it in a slightly different way, by going from airsoft to reenactment. It's just par for the course. The last reenactment event I attended in kit was in 2005. I prefer the buzz of airsoft. If I were to reenact now, it'd probably be in 40's civvy gear. I'll use the fighting gear for fighting in and the sitting around gear for sitting around in.
I'll use the fighting gear for fighting in and the sitting around gear for sitting around in.
Ironically, the people in the fighting gear probably spent more time sitting around waiting than the people at home working for the war effort and struggling to feed themselves. 
yeah, my VC loadout was dirt cheap as well
As to "lack of Germans" i'd put that down to :
1: Churn (people leaving and joining the hobby)
2: Politics. Sadly there are people that i personally wont play against, due mainly to their attitude to others (same goes for "modern" Airsoft as well)
3: A fairly fixed size player base spread over more events[ Post made via Mobile Device ]
Yes, especially with the churn, as people tend to play in established teams (gangs, tribes, cliques, any such term will do) and when two or three key group members find something new, or are unavailable, the group fragments. This means when 2 or 3 people drop out, they will each take about 2 people with them. (Happens with LRP/LARP a lot).
I'd add cost (at start up)
A basic German heer kit of tunic, trousers, helmet and a basic airsofting webbing set of belt, Y straps, ammo pouches, water bottle and haversack will set you back £250 if you hunt around + (likely £300+) and is only really available from specialist retailers. Pretty much the same for a basic US kit. Those are the cheapest load outs to get. None of which you could wear elsewhere. That is before you have bought the weapon. You could kit yourself head to toe in a good quality 'nam US grunt load out from your local army surplus store and add the weapon in for that same cost! Wearing your M65 jacket down the shops won't cause problems with the locals either!
YES, loaner kit is available, but not everyone is comfortable borrowing kit (I know I'm not) as (for me) there is always that fear that you will bugger it up!
While the Swedish woollen jacket is a cheap alternative to the German tunic from a re-enactors supplier, trousers seem to be lacking. As most people think WW2 German = marching boots, your looking at £50-70 post war German boots on ebay (i've not seen an army surplus store carry them yet).
Also the Airsoft International "Tour of Duty" series has definitely increased interest in 'nam. The small regular WW2 article does paint us as more re-enactors who also do airsoft. Maybe some coverage of some coverage of good "farby" cheapass load-outs could change that impression and drag some new blood in..
To the tune of "Mademoiselle from Armentières"
Napoleons army ran away, As you do
The guard stood firm for Frances Pride, As you do
They said the guard will stand and die
But we heard what their Colonel cried
It wasn't pretty I tell you.
Resistance is fertile
I am always trying to enlarge the numbers of players, I am hoping to sway some local re-enactors who already have the kit.
As previously mentioned on the German side people have chosen a specific look rather than more generic and there lies one of the problems.
EDIT
Just after making this posting a have rang a guy in Southport about him setting up a stall at Burtonwood.
I got chatting and he had no idea WW2 airsoft existed, he said it sounds great and he is going to join the forum and wants to play German. 
Free speech is expensive these days!
I don't know what's going on. There was a time the Germans got their towels layed out at dawn. I still do, apart from when all the sun loungers had gone in the first 2 hours (Die Glocke) and I played Brit. Itchy, ill fitting uniform that did nothing for my figure!
Yeah, Die Glocke was the first and last time I play on the Allied side. I looked like a complete tool wearing US kit...
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........
no typed comment 
I guess Allied kit only suits a certain type?
...waits for incoming.
I guess Allied kit only suits a certain type?
...waits for incoming.
YEH WINNERS 
HERE IT IS
Free speech is expensive these days!
Yeah, Die Glocke was the first and last time I play on the Allied side. I looked like a complete tool wearing US kit...
______________
I don't think there's a problem with the Axis players booking on to games..its more like..they wait to see how the Allies bookings are going 
.
No game has ever been canceled due lack of Axis players..all it seems to be is that players don't book on four months before a game any more.
Take Devils Hill.. when we all book on (after Detling next week) that'll take the axis players up to around 17/18 booked players..to a very poor showing from the Allies yet again
___________________________
__________________________
At The Hill at Dundee we always have trouble getting Krauts on our WW2 themed days, usually a glut of Americans and a fair few Red Devils!
The main problem for players at the Hill is the expense of the German kit. The British Para loadouts are popular because, um, well, we are British (and everyone wants to wear a dashing beret!) and the Yank kit seems a lot cheaper (plus the Thompson is very popular up here).
"There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all hell."
General William Tecumseh Sherman
Im still wanting to use my German kit at a game, but like said before economic climate and all that, and being a student I need money for important uni things.... like beer
All that is stopping me is a plane ticket, a ride to the game, and a place to crash in a tent.....offers?
I'm sure you wouldn't be short of offers for the last two, but the first one's up to you, i'm afraid!
All that is stopping me is a plane ticket, a ride to the game, and a place to crash in a tent.....offers?
I'm sure you wouldn't be short of offers for the last two, but the first one's up to you, i'm afraid!
Hitch a lift with these guys:
