I Need Some Feedback on My M36 Tunic

[CharleyNovember]

The breast eagle missing something? lol. The Poncho you have attached is a postwar pattern. East German boots. Do you have a Heer equipment belt? I can't tell if you have the belt or jsut equipment there? I say from first glance it is about 80% there. I'd perhaps fix the couple small things over time but it will get you started.

[Sgt_Tom]

I think the East German boots are very acceptable. Most Reproduction Jackboots(ATF is one of them) are complete junk. The leather soles fall apart and the hob nails come out. The only decent ones cost a ton of cash which most people can't afford for just a pair of boots. East German jackboots look the part of then the soles which you don't see most of the time.
The uniform looks good. It may fit baggy, but I can't tell since the picture doesn't show you wearing it. If it is baggy it will need to be tailored. Other then the Post-war poncho I'd say everything looks great.

[CharleyNovember]

Most Reproduction Jackboots(ATF is one of them) are complete junk.

How many have you owned?

[Sgt_Tom]

None but people have told me about them. I wouldn't put $200 down on a pair if its just going to fall apart. I'll stand corrected though. I won't say most, change that to Sturm and people who supply it, ATF included.

Here is what someone said about them.

I bought a pair of sturm jacks from ATF about 2 years ago and would not wish them on my worst enemy now.
bought a pair of sturm jacks from atf......the 2nd batttle i went to, snow got underneath the 1/2 sole so i had to replace the sole--$50.00.......maybe 3 events later 1 of the heels fell off......ATF then replaced the boots at an event......in the 1 1/2 years after that, i have lost the majority of hobnails, had to nail down the heels, glue down the half soles, restitch a small section of the back of the boot and 1 of the soles has cracked all the way though.......i admit i do go to alot of events but cmon now

From doing a little reading sounds like Lost Battalions and Grigsby Military make good boots.
Still that's $300-$450 for a pair of boots. I am just going to buy some post-war lowboots, affordable and will last a a long while.

[Fusilier]

Overall,not bad,I like the tunic,where did you get it?

Repop boots can be found at a decent price,but maybe lowboots are an option?
Also,a decent original or repro breadbag will also help.
The mess kit doesn't look German. Swiss? E. German? Post War Bundeswehr ones are perfect if you can't afford an original. Don't use EG ones,totally wrong.

[Sgt_Tom]

Fusilier, Its a tad hard to see here but looking at the pictures he posted in the "I'm workin on it Picture" thread he already has a breadbag.

[ottoss]

tunic looks good but grow a set, and fix that breast eagle.

[CharleyNovember]

Yes, the breast eagle is missing something. I covered it up since my family members were running away from what this symbol represented.

I would say if you and your family have a personal problem with the swastika then perhaps you should look into an Allied impression. Let me add that I'm not saying "yeah Nazi's" I'm saying it was a distinct part of the regular German uniform and should be represented on it to be accurate. If your family lost members to the Nazi's then perhaps it is too sensative of a subject for you to broach. It may cause a lot of problems. As a side where are you located I see palms in the background.

[Adler69]

Apr 5, 2010 17:16:13 GMT -5 P51 said:

I am waiting until I go to the next gun show and I will get a better breast eagle. For now, and always, I will cover up the swastika. It is what the reenactors in Germany do for the same reason I do. you can see it on the man in the far left.



Thanks for the tips!

Those Fallschirmjager are all Americans and they are in France not Germany.

[hairy apple]

Apr 5, 2010 17:28:45 GMT -5 P51 said:

And ottos, by grow a set I am assuming you mean grow into the uniform? Because it does fir me, its just that the belt pulls on the shoulder seams to the side.

I believe he was talking about gonads. ha ha

[Adler69]

Both Germany and France have a law that forbids the display of swastikas of any kind in public .

I really don't mind if people cover it , i don't but that's because honestly i don't even think about it , it was in a soldiers every day life back then , the swastika was on everything that was issued to soldiers .

A funny off topic thing , i have a German flare pistol that has all the marks intact on it , all the Waffenamt stamps on it , swastikas really stand out on it and next to the Waffanamt is a Star of David , my flare pistol was used by the Israeli's during the 1948 War and later on , before it was brought back to the States and i bought it .
Moral of the story here , when you need weapons you don't give a f**k where they come from.

[CharleyNovember]

Ahh to each there own I guess. I think it doesn't make much sense to cover it unless forced by law to do so.

[petermartin14]

and people would not question the uniform? most people in VA have the maturity to realize that it is the uniform that is being represented, not the nazi ideals.

[CharleyNovember]

CA is way way different then VA. Like I said to each their own. I wouldn't harp upon it. The rest is looking good man.

[ottoss]

No the uniform looks like it fix good!

[Lev]

Apr 5, 2010 17:53:32 GMT -5 P51 said:

Yes, back then it was everywhere. Unfortuately, because of what the Nazis did do, people will call me a Nazi if they saw that little swastika on the eagle. This is another reason why I covered it up. Here in Southern California people will seriously question what your deal is if you have a swastika or even if you drew one in a doodle.

Swastikas marked out or not they will still call you a Nazi if they see you dressed like that. Might as well go all out.

[Sgt_Tom]

Some people wouldn't know you were a Nazi even if you were wearing a swastika and some we call you one even if your not. Its unavoidable lol. If its a family problem though, I am sure covering it is a good Idea. But anyways its your choice if you don't think wearing it is a good idea then don't wear it. Your decision man.

[petermartin14]

Apr 5, 2010 19:44:40 GMT -5 P51 said:

Petermartin14, people here in California are very very quick to judge and make rash assumptions. (For a school play, my freind dressed as an U.S. Airforce Officer from WWII. He had to wear it to school and everyone said "What's with the Nazi uniform!?" Ridiculous eh? Especially when there was a giant American star on his sleeve.) I would rather not cover up the swastika as it does take away from accuracy, but for the respect of my family I will leave it covered. Thanks everyone for their comments/compliments/thoughts.

-Rampenfest

wow...i bet they were in their teens too. sad how dumb people are now impression is looking great, but for family purposes you might should try an allied impression my folks were happy with that.

[kilroy9thss]

i got called a nazi for wearing my grandpops marine uniform from 1946 an my vietnam 1st cav. jacket.... an ppl in philly when we do ft.mifflin they think we r in the army and thank us for serving our country.. shows how effective school is lol..

[JazzyJ]

Apr 5, 2010 17:53:32 GMT -5 P51 said:

Here in Southern California people will seriously question what your deal is if you have a swastika or even if you drew one in a doodle.

What?! I think this goes for no matter where you live.

people here in California are very very quick to judge and make rash assumptions

Again....this goes for people everywhere. Especially those whom are ill-informed and/or uneducated and/or young and naive.

Seriously, if the swastika is that much of an issue, why even bother? I don't approve of what the Germans did, however, it happened and is a part of history. It's the very ignorance of the past that causes people to mistake others for "nazi's" when wearing their Grandfather's Air Corps uniform. To pretend that a particular event in the past did not happen is also adding insult to injury. All countries have skeletons in their closets. To ignore them is just silly.

[Uscha Bahr]

Living history has no place for your artful political statements, Grow a pair and do it right or find another hobby. Same goes for Nazi apologists.

[CharleyNovember]

I don't see WW2 Airsoft as Living history it is more like WW2 tacticals which are often not for public display or education but are private affairs. Therefore while I choose not to cover up my swastikas I see no reason to jump down his throat for choosing to do so. I'd also like to remind you Uscha to be respectful of other members and not be so course with your demands for them to "grow a pair or find another hobby".....

[max1337]

I thought the town called Hollywack in Southern Cali is the place that is funding all the WW2 uniforms.
Say oh, I don't know, maybe Saving Private Ryan? Inglorious Bastards? stuffs?

Everyone can do whatever the crap they want these days, but here's a legitimate question for you. If you don't like, or your family members don't like the Hakenkreuz and the Reichsadler why would you do a german impression, out of your respect to your family?

I read that Germany's reenactors can actually wear the swastika, if it is registered for a historical display and educational purpose, but in a private "paid to visit" location, like a museum.

Also why the M36 with the M43 hat? Seems pretty uncommon for a heer EM. That's my observation, not a suggestion or anything.
As for boots, if you really want jackboots, and don't want to get repro, I would take Bundy boots over NVA boots anytime.

And what people are saying about VA is not true. Va is the same as anywhere, they will judge you, they just have the courtesy to not say anything in your face.

[zzs8mm]

If your parents are happy and as long you meet their demands, then it is a win-win situation.

My parents give me crap for buying anything military...

[petermartin14]

Apr 6, 2010 17:41:56 GMT -5 max1337 said:

I thought the town called Hollywack in Southern Cali is the place that is funding all the WW2 uniforms.
Say oh, I don't know, maybe Saving Private Ryan? Inglorious Bastards? stuffs?

Everyone can do whatever the crap they want these days, but here's a legitimate question for you. If you don't like, or your family members don't like the Hakenkreuz and the Reichsadler why would you do a german impression, out of your respect to your family?

I read that Germany's reenactors can actually wear the swastika, if it is registered for a historical display and educational purpose, but in a private "paid to visit" location, like a museum.

Also why the M36 with the M43 hat? Seems pretty uncommon for a heer EM. That's my observation, not a suggestion or anything.
As for boots, if you really want jackboots, and don't want to get repro, I would take Bundy boots over NVA boots anytime.

And what people are saying about VA is not true. Va is the same as anywhere, they will judge you, they just have the courtesy to not say anything in your face.

sure, because they are used to confederate reenactors etc. not to mention, a lot of kids have grown up around here with at least a basic knowledge of what the goal of reenactors are. a step up from most kids and their basic COD knowledge! in the three years i have been doing my german impression, i have not had one kid with the balls to call me a nazi. (to my face)

[zzs8mm]

Rampenfest, I have heard that the M36 tunic was worn, lets say 1944, when a soldier is recruited and he wears a very unique and different size and it happens that they still have available stocks of the M36 in his size. The few that received the M36 at this stage, many others were jealous because he received a nicer tunic than theirs.

So that is just what I read and heard...

[CharleyNovember]

I would not worry too much about the 36 with a 43 hat. You took what you could get in the war and sometimes it included old stock.

[CptJericho]

Remember the swastika is actually an ancient sacred symbol for hindu's and budist's, the swastika means good luck, good fortune, or well being (guess it had an opposite effect on the nazis...) so if you wear it, think of it as it was suppost to be, a symbol of well being or good luck in the hindu or budist religions.


Either greeks made it to india, or the nazis made a time machine.

[hairy apple]

The palace of fine arts in San Fransico CA has a swastika border around it... when I can steal my girlfriend's computer again I'll post a photo, I actually thought it was pretty interesting. All the around the top is conecting swastikas... in 1916 when it was built the swastika didn't have any negitive attachments, it was just a decoration.

EDIT: she emailed it to me...


Not that any of this has anything to do with your uniform... sorry to thread jack, but just thought it was interesting.

[max1337]

Just pointing out that it is unlikely for an EM to have a early tunic. Most reenactment groups reserves the 36s for officers only.
There's the oversea cap for early war impressions, but it is also used through out the war.
Plus the fact that German very rarely enter combat in caps.

But than I guess your impression can qualify as the REMF of the Heer easily.

Side note for giggles.
Ananda Marga:

RSS:

Only crazy westerners, who think they are better than everyone else, make such a stigma out of the symbol. I grew up seeing it on the map, and around my grandmother's house. those moral polizei who goes around pointing fingers when they have no idea what's going on sickens me.