World War II Re-enacting

World War II reenacting is just one of my hobbies that I really enjoy. It is similar to airsoft and other tactical type of games, except that we bascially live under the same conditions as real soldiers. We don't just show up fight and leave, we live like the soldiers of the time period. We dress up with clothes and uniforms only from the time period between 1939-1945. Our weapons and equipment are all from World War II. It is really fun, although when the weather acts up, it reminds you that the men of the time period went through this, and it wasn't fun and games for them. Even when it is in the weather extremes, we still continue the reenactment, unless its a spectator event.

Public events-

Public events are when we truly re-enact a battle. These events are made up of mainly spectators who watch a recreated battle that the reenactors do. Every shot that you take, and everything you do is caught by the eye of the spectators. Basically you are acting for hundreds of people on a large field or sometimes a small confined area which can be dangerous. In public events, most reenactors show up the day of the battle, dress out, participate in the battle, then get out of their equipment and go home.

Tacticals-

Tactical events are the set up battles that we have. This is when there are no specatators, and unless the weather is extremely bad, we still continue the event. Rain, snow, or extreme heat, we dress up, fight, and sleep out just like the soldiers of the time period. We also use the weapons, vehicles, uniforms, and equipment of the time period This is the realism that paintball, nor airsoft can deliever. The only problem is that nothing actually shoots out of the barrel of the guns, except the powder that is inside the blank. Otherwise tacticals require expierence, tactics, and leadership, to win the staged battle.

Weapons-

The weapons that the Germans use

The main weapon of the German army

K98

The sub-machine gun

The Mp-40

In some rare cases the semi-automatic Gewehr 41. Unfortunaly it had to many problems to be mass produced.

The semi-automatic Gewehr 43

The first assault rifle in the world the Mp-44/Stg-44

Here is the Mg 34. It was used for the entire war.

Last is the Mg 42 which is still in service with the bundeswehr but under a different name, and some modifications to the parts. The Mg 3

Uniforms

Uniforms depends on what country you are going to "fight" for. But for Germany, there are many choices of uniforms, and it depends on what theatre of war, branch of service and unit you are in.

Below are a couple of examples of uniforms worn by the regular German army during 1939-1945

The earliest was the m-36. It saw service all the way to the end of the war. By 1941 though most these uniforms were discontinued.

Then the next that saw service to the end of the war was the m-40

Others were made, but they all look very alike except the m-44. The m-43 and m-44

The only camo that the regular German army had was the pattern below

They had three different typed of helmets, but there was very few differences.

Below is most of the equipment that is worn, the guy wearing it though is Waffen SS