quick question regarding belt hooks,
what are they (aside from the obvious) and do I need them for my heer loudout?
cheers
Jonny
The belts on Wehrmacht jackets were designed to sit a few inches higher than the waist. It was an optical illusion to make all German soldiers look like tall, long legged supermen. Trouble is you can't wear a belt so high without it riding down, especially once you start hanging lots of gear off it. Belt hooks simply keep the belt up.
For a combat impression Y-straps are a better bet, especially as repro jackets generally don't have internal reinforcing bits, so overloaded belt hooks will just tear holes in your tunic.
So no, you don't need them, but for a drinking uniform you might want them 
The belt hooks were intended to be worn with the M35 and M36 tunics that, thanks to thier internal suspenders were supposed to do away with the leather Y straps. Later model tunics did away with the internal suspenders and only had sewn in tags for the hooks to be attached to. They do help having them in your tunic, especially if your putiing your kit on yourself, however I do agree with some tunics they do seem to put added starin on the garment itself.