Reenact-SA

Hello All


Keen as I am about getting setup I’d like to be sure of getting the correct gear for my kit. I’ve read much about this via the RSA forums and it has been helpful. However, it's a huge undertaking & there are some outstanding questions in my mind and I’d like to put those forward in a series of questions/links here to hopefully get whatever further guidance/approval I can.

The links are to sites that have what appears (to my uninitiated eyes at least) to be appropriate/authentic looking uniforms/equip/field gear etc.
Would you mind taking a look at the referred items listed below & on the links and give me either the thumbs up/down* thanks.

*If it’s a big thumb’s down, then where should I go instead for those items?

BTW … I’m happy to pay that bit extra to get the better options with all of my impression purchases … just don’t let on to Mrs Jung


So … in keeping with Andy's opening post here, I ask the RSA authenticity people (and any/all others who wish to input) for any assistance on this … & there’s a lot to look at here ... & there'll be more yet too !!

Danke
Keith/Sik



DAK M1940 FELDBLUSE & TROUSERS:

1st choices of the authentic look … am I anywhere near the mark?
HERE

While not the cheapest, Epic seem to have some very nice stuff all round!
HERE


2nd choice
HERE

Hessen appear to be on a par with ANT-Z/

AMMO POUCHES - K98 TRIPLE AMMO POUCHES (BRUN)
HERE


Note: MP40 Pouches look good too!

BREADBAGS
HERE


GAS MASK CANISTER
HERE


GAS MASK & ACCESSORIES
HERE


ET COVERS (which one is best?)
HERE



WEB ‘Y’ STRAPS
HERE


WEB ‘A’ FRAMES
1st choice = HERE

2nd choices =
HERE

HERE
how about the TROP ASSAULT BAG?

AFRIKA CUFF TITLE
HERE


AFRIKA KORPS EAGLE
1st choice = HERE

(pages 1 & 2 … two looks best to me.)
2nd choice = HERE


MESS TIN (Bread Bag looks good too … OK for DAK?)
HERE


MESS ACCESSORIES
HERE

Which utensil set is best?
Are Esbit Burners reqd/good?
Mess Kit Strap ok for DAK?

WEB BELT
HERE
(Expensive … but look good!)

BELT BUCKLE
1st choice = HERE

2nd choice = HERE


GAMASHEN
HERE

(Nicest canvas looking DAK set just above the stick nades)
HERE
(the second model looks kinda DAKish)
HERE


SHOULDERBOARDS (piping colour, can/should it be changed?)
HERE


CAPS
HERE
No insignia! … where from?
HERE
with insignia ... is it a better choice/quality?
HERE
second to bottom

FIELD BANDAGE
HERE


SOLDBUCH
HERE


ID TAGS
HERE




GRENATEN
HERE




Questions:

Is it appropriate/better to have not only a set of shoulder boards for the Feldbluse but also for the shirt?

Because I’m on the short side at 5’8ish, is a folding ET acceptable … it’ll be shorter (I imagine) & that’d suit me best?

Which ET cover is most appropriate?



AusReenact Site … stacks of useful/informative links!


Thanks again

Keith,

Unfortunatly your links don't work. You have to use the "URL" function on the post. I started trying to fix the links but after doing the first one, realised it would take me forever to find all the correct pages. It would be best if you have all this info with the links written down, to send it to me and I can fix all the links from that.

In short, most of the sellers you list are generally ok but will have to check the items out. There is some cheaper and just as good items out there.

If you want, you can come around to my place one day and we can go through all the items together picking the best/cheapest options.

You don't need extra shoulder boards for your shirt, they would just use the tunic ones. However, it doesn't matter if you get two sets of shoulder boards (green waffenfarbe).

Unfortunately, the folding shovel is a late war thing and not really appropriate for Africa. From memory, the handle is longer on the folding shovel so there isn't much (if any) difference in length while you are wearing it.

Andy

Heya Andy

Thx a lot for that.

I've re submitted the links as 'HERE' in khaki.
Not sure what happened before? I found when editing in the edit page whenever I tried to copy anything the page wanted to scroll up ... just me or has anyone else noticed this strange action?
I edited my original copy then deleted the old section with links & re-submitted, seems to be ok ... for now at least.
Thanks also for the offer to your place, or I could offer a time at my place and any interested people could come along & check out guns n gear while we check out links for equipment.
Happy either way.
Rgr re the shovel in which case it won't be a problem.

Cheers

Keith

I will tell you this Keith: get your uniform from Ant-Z (www.reenactment-box.com) Pirschen is a damn good uniform maker and the prices listed on his site include the postage. If he doesnt have the DAK 1940 uniform listed, send him an email, he'll get back to you. Dont go anywhere else..... Epic do excellent insignia, as do Landser. I personally dont buy from sellers who dont do paypal. So Hessen will never make a cent out of me.

www.reenactment-box.com

www.landser.com

www.epicmilitaria.com

www.philsmilitaria.com

www.worldwar2-militaria.com

These are my main suppliers. Of course scouring eBay constantly helps too.....

Craig.

Keith, if you want to look authentic, especially as part of a group (and i'm going to cop it from Craig), but loose the AK cuff title. Very rare on the common landser, especially if you want the impression to work from the early afrika campaigns right through to the end.
Brendon

Brendon...you hate cuff titles in general. The DAK cuff title was issued to ALL serving Afrikakorps personel, whether they wore it or not is pretty much irellavent. Most shots you see of the common landser they are in shirts only...who's to say they dont have it on their jackets back in the zelt? Cides, we've gone through all of this....that would be like me saying you cant wear an Ost front ribbon on your tunic as its too early war. (even though I already know your argument on that one...) I like the cuff titles, they make the uniforms look damn snappy. If I wanted my uniform to just be another uniform, Id be an Ally! ha-ha!!

As much as I hate to agree with Brendon, sans-title will cover you for all of the Afrika campaign. But at the end of the day, its Andy's and the committee's decision.

Claus Manschette-Titel Verfechter

Fact is, DAK cuff titles were as rare as rocking horse poo in Africa. The most authentic impression would be to leave it off. Also, Gamashen didn't exist in africa.

There are a few more points about the impression I can post, but gotta get to bed. Will post again later

Andy

I didnt know there were rocking horses in Afrika Andy....

von Stauffenberg: "Ach!!! was ist Das?"
Rommel: "das ist ein wackelndes Pferd! diese Dinge sind überall hier in Afrika!"
von Stauffenberg: "keine Scheiße!"

heh-heh!! Im funny!

They were issued after serving (I think...dont quote me on this) 3 - 6 months in Africa. This went to all serving personel, however, as Andy has put it, they are rare. (photographically speaking) but, as I put it, most photos of soldiers in Africa are in shirts and not tunics (photographically speaking) so its a damned if you do, damned if you dont... I basically got mine through doing a "battle scenario" at glanville and whinging constantly...

Aye. I HAVE photographic evidence of the common soldier right through to Rommel himself wearing them, however, predominantly all photos of Deutsches Afrika Korps are in shirts only, no tunics. So that means we're doing our "battle scenarios" wrong.....

We have been through all this before, but I will summarise.

Craig is correct, people were awarded (not necassarily issued) with cuff titles after a certain amount of service. There was a lot of issues with supply, so thats one reason why you don't see them on tunics very often. The people who you do see them on, are usually staff personal in the rear lines.

I am yet to see a convincing picture of a cuff title on a front line soldier. Many pictures cannot even be confirmed as Africa and could have been taken in Italy where they would have been more common.

Most german infantry soldiers in Africa wore their tunics in battle, but not many photos are actually taken of the soldier in battle thats why you won't see many pictures of DAK wearing tunics (other than staff personal/officers). The ones that you do see, rarely (if ever) have cuff titles.

Craig once showed me a great picture of a huge number of DAK being inspected (or otherwise in formation for some reason). I think there were only one or two soldiers out of a great number of soldiers who had cuff titles.

Seeing as we have no more than 10 DAK in the group, it is more accurate to "not" wear the cuff title. This view is supported by all serious reenacting groups worldwide.

If you insist on wearing the title, it is only allowed in RSA once the authenticity officer has checked and signed off on your gear and have completed the basic impression requirements. Once this is done, it is allowed, but not encouraged.

Also, only the green and tan band is allowed, not the tan only one with "Afrika" bookended by palm trees.

Andy.

Photo's are taken when there is time for a photo, when people are lounging around having fun and not very often during battle. Documented reports indicate the tunics were worn during battle.

Andy.

True, but I have seen pics of them in the middle of fighting with just shirts on....(which could mean they were surprised by the enemy perhaps?)...just a thought...but yes Andy, they were all supposed to wear their tunics in battle, it was doctrine.

A lot of the "battle pics" were stagged for obvious reasons by the brilliant propaganda machine. Sometimes it's really hard to tell though

Yes...we gotted side tracked (and that never happens on here!! ) We just have to make sure that if you do get a DAK cuff title Keith, its not one of those crappy tinsel ones Ive seen....*shudders* and accidentally bought and thankfully sold....*phews*

dont worry Keith, we'll get you looking all DAKilicious!

Deutschland OoRAH!!