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[Sticky] Kit Guide: The Heer Infantry

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(@wladek)
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Whilst we are waiting on the weather for a picture, here is some handy text talking about a German Early War impression, from renowned German stuff expert Steiner, for you to peruse.

The German Heer uniform and kit did not change an awful lot throughout the war, but here are some pointers to getting a good early war look.
Jackboots instead of low boots.
Steingrau (stone grey) M34/36 trousers, instead of Feldgrau.
M35 helmet. The shield decal was usually scratched off after Poland, so just leaving the eagle one. Helmet could be adorned with a breadbag strap or inner tube, or just plain.
Gasplane pouch: rubbersised version and worn across the chest. If you've got a Feldspaten (spade) then the straight handled, as opposed to the folding one. Y-straps were not common until '41 or '42, so belt hooks and internal suspenders are essential to carry the weight.
And defintely no camo!

For those who have just read this and gone 'Oh No! I only have field grey trousers.' then do not be overly concerned. We are not going to require stone grey trousers, although I think they look particularly wonderful, and field grey trousers can be used. Likewise although we prefer the M36 Tunic we will allow the later patterns of fieldgrey tunics if it is all you have.
We will be asking that Y straps are not worn - as it is a subtraction that really adds to the early war look, and that Heer soldiers wear jackboots instead of low boots. (for those who only have/will only wear low boots then out final German guide 'Gebirgsjager' will be the option for you)

So, what do we require of the Heer Infantry at Copenhagen?
Firstly, and you will here this a lot, no camo. It is a Wool era, Field grey and khaki in colour.
No peaked caps, the M43 screams late war. The soft hat worn should be the side hat.
You Uniform should be German Field Grey. Stone Grey trousers are prefered, but Field Grey trousers are allowed. Likewise the M36 tunic is preferred, but we will allow later model tunics.
No Y-straps on your webbing, just the belt.
M35 Helmet. We do not mind if other pattern German helmets are used but no camo cover to be be used with them. The addition of decals is entirely up to you.
Jackboots, not low boots.

So that's it for the basics. Field Grey tunic and trousers, Helmet, Belt and Jackboots. However much further you would like to go to look the part you are actively encouraged to go, but it is up to yourself.

 
Posted : 04/03/2014 12:01 pm
MartinR
(@martinr)
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Gasplane pouch: rubbersised version

Oh no! I've only got the cloth version :)

Just to add to Steiners comments, ideally you want bottle green shoulder boards.

The main thing is jackboots and belt order.

Cheers
Martin

"Mistakes in the initial deployment cannot be rectified" Helmuth von Moltke
Toys: AGM MP40, Cyma M1A1, TM M14/G43/SVT40, TM VSR/K98, SnS No. 4, ASG Sten, Ppsh.
Arnhem3,Gumrak,Campoleone

 
Posted : 04/03/2014 1:08 pm
(@lardassmonkey)
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If you are allowing later tunics you should be aware people may need to wear Y-straps if they want to carry anything more than minimal equipment. M43s cannot use belt hooks and those on M42s are basically just for dress/to suppliment the Y-staps ;I wouldn't want to put much weight on them anyway.

Twin decal M35s are still fairly common France as the order to remove the national shield was often ignored.

 
Posted : 04/03/2014 1:34 pm
(@wladek)
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If you are allowing later tunics you should be aware people may need to wear Y-straps if they want to carry anything more than minimal equipment. M43s cannot use belt hooks and those on M42s are basically just for dress/to suppliment the Y-staps ;I wouldn't want to put much weight on them anyway.

I would say that people will have to weigh up the benefits and make a choice then. If they are using a later pattern tunic they will have to suffice with minimal equipment. effectively the later pattern tunics are allowed as a 'counts as' (I am slightly amused that pukka ww2 kit is a 'counts as') so it would be unfair to those who have made the effort to allow further divergence because a piece of counts as equipment it used.

all this is entirely supplemental to the known fact that the M36 is the sexiest of the German tunics. :whistle:

edit: M36, not M37 - M37 is Italian... Always confusing my fascists. :giggle:

 
Posted : 04/03/2014 1:50 pm
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