German Impression questions

[tommygunner9]

I know nothing about German impressions, but I know a lot about American ones because that is what I portray. That, and the German one was never really my cup of tea.

My dad was talking to me today and he said that he would like to build a German impression, so I would like to know which are the best websites for building one.

Thanks in advance.

[Schmozilla]

At the front, hessen antique, 1944 militaria. maybe IMA and Military tour. ans some ebay shops someone else might post.

[Sgt_Tom]

Here is a breakdown:
At the Front: Everything
1944 Militaria: Field Gear-accessories
IMA: Leather stuff-helmets
Military tour: Some field gear-helmets
Spearhead Militaria: field gear
Gavin Militaria: best prices on uniforms
Bunker Militaria: Accessories

Other then that check out the used stuff that comes up frequently on the WW2 Reenactors Forum and on here.

If your talking about research websites here is a few:
www.mp44.nl/main_index.htm
www.atthefront.com/historicalreference.html
www.germanmilitaria.com/
www.german-helmets.com/
zeltbahn.net/

Hope that helps!

[tommygunner9]

Yes, thank you! Very useful information! I looked at atthefront and they want 500 dollars for an MP40 gunner's load out! Haha, it would be better to go piece by piece than just spending $500! But I would definitely look and do my homework to find the best deals.

[Sgt_Tom]

At the Front charges a lot but keep in mind they sell the best reproductions on the market for the most part. You won't get any closer to original stuff then ATF does. That's why they cost so much though. I can't afford them either so no worries .

[aj czarkowski]

Mar 19, 2012 13:36:02 GMT -5 Sgt_Tom said:

You won't get any closer to original stuff then ATF does. That's why they cost so much though. I can't afford them either so no worries .

Neither can I lol ;D

[Schmozilla]

i can afford their US gear... ;D but do you know which specific unit he wants to portray? there Heer, SS, Fallschirmjager, Gebirgsjager....theres a lot that are more expensive than others as i recall
Heer is the cheapest right? and i know Fallschirmjager is the most expensive. (maybe 1000 total for me)

[gadge]

Can i direct you *here*

www.ww2airsoft.org.uk/so-you-wanna-do-german/

really worth a read before you do *anything* and buy stuff you dont need!

[tommygunner9]

Yes, my dad would like to do an SS impression. He has always liked them. So I definitely want to go along the lines of that.

[gadge]

If you dont get time to read the linked page....

I can only say one thing. AVOID TONS OF CAMO

Fieldgrey was the norm, even in the waffen ss.

[tommygunner9]

Ok, BIG QUESTION!

As for the SS impression, my dad wants to stay away from any camo. We found the M36, M40, M42, and M43 grey tunics at gavin militaria. Which would be more accurate? And which trousers are the best for this impression? I need help on this my fellow Germans! Haha.

Also, these were found on the SS section, so why don't they have the SS logo sewed on to the collar?

[gadge]

A lot of vendors dont put runes on collars in their promotional pics so they can list them on european ebay. SS runes and swastikas are illegal in france and germany (and some other places).

Fieldgrey kielhose and a m40 five button tunic (i think its five buttons for ss and 6 for heer) would be fine. Earlier kit is always better than late kit as early patterns were worn to the end of the war but obviously later patterns look weird in early war games/scenarios.

I'd avoid a green collar m36, these were worn in small numbers by SS unts but are archetypically 'heer' and scream early war army tunic at you.

Again, the link i supplies should probably tell you all you need to know to be honest.

Some SS units btw dont use SS runes, the ss runes are for the germanic divisions. Foreign volunteer divisions usually have a different right gorget patch.

And remember that early war you sometimes see too 'ss' gorget patches but usually the left one is to display your rank, so its its the standard tunic the majority of guns wore (ss manne) then its just a blank black square trapezoid

[tommygunner9]

Hmm, I did not know that. Thanks for the help!

As for the web gear, my dad wants and MP40 gunner's web gear. I am going to try and look on ebay for the various components of it. If there are any other stores besides the ones on the list mentioned above, the links to them would be greatly appreciated!

Also, anyone know where I can get a good helmet? And what was the name of the standard German helm? I know there is a website that is GREAT for helmets and they have super low prices but I can't quite remember the name. While I'm on the topic of head wear, what is the name of the cap that some soldiers wore instead of the helmet and where is a good place I can get one?

Sorry if I'm posting a lot here, but I am researching as well too. It's just that you guys have more experience on this topic than I do, and if I see research and find an item, there is always a chance I could have missed it somewhere else that I wasn't aware of for a much lower price. So I really appreciate your help and inputs on this, thank you!

[aj czarkowski]

At The Front sells MP40 web gear sets but they're really expensive. You should probably get something like an M42 helmet, they were the usual helmet. And the cap is just called a cap

[tommygunner9]

I know, but i don't want to spend $500 on just a web gear. And haha thank you for the head gear clarification

[Sgt_Tom]

International Military Antiques(IMA) has MP40 pouches for the best price I have seen. $24 for the khaki ones and $29 for the green ones. My cousin has a pair and they are pretty nice.
www.ima-usa.com/german-mp-40-magazine-pouch-set-wwii-green.html
www.ima-usa.com/review/product/list/id/1149/

As far as a helmet and M40 or M42 is the best way to go. Hessen is probably your best choice unless you want to spend the cash for an original or post-war one.
www.ima-usa.com/german-wwii-m42-helmet-collector-grade.html

For the tunic I'd get an M42 as all the events I've done have been more late war centered. An M42 is not as late as the M43 and not as early as the M40. Though an M40 will certainly work for almost any period in WW2, can't really go wrong with it for airsofting.

[tommygunner9]

Thank you for your help sgttom! I am on a mission (assigned by my dad) that everything he needs for this impression is to be sent to him (the links for the websites) in an email and he'll order them one after the other. Here is a breakdown so far:

Tunic and Pants: Gavin militaria (either an m40 or 42)

AGM MP40: airsoftmegastore for $124.95 (it's on sale!)

Boots: still pending, any suggestions?

Helmet/cap: most likely IMA, unless I find something cheaper on ebay

Web gear: still pending, most likely ebay for individual components

Luger: evike.com for $99

Holster for Luger: ebay for $30

That should be it, if I missed something, let me know, thanks!!

[Sgt_Tom]

I'd suggest East German jackboots that is unless you can afford a good pair of low boots which will cost you about $300. Check online surplus shops and eBay for the jackboots.

Just a word of warning. Cheap gear is always cheap for a reason. Sometimes that reason is small enough to not be a problem but sometimes I really would suggest bucking up and buying something more expensive. I'd suggest you not skimp on your canteen get one from 1944 Militaria. They cost $80 but they will last and they look exactly like the real deal. The leather on cheaper ones is thin and just junky looking. The covers are also usually really tight, and the canteens themselves are often pieces of junk.

I'd suggest getting the MP40 pouches from IMA they are pretty cheap and work well. The place you get your belt and buckle from shouldn't matter too much. For your breadbag I'd suggest a post-war one if you can find it. As far as the breadbag goes I'd just suggest you stay away from the kind Hessen sells. The materiel is wrong and the whole pattern is incorrect.
Anyways your list sounds good for the most part.

[tommygunner9]

Thank you for that revision sgttom! Very helpful. As for the boots, I want to get the ones that are all black that cover most of the shin (I don't know what they're called). They look like the Soviet ones. I just have to see where I'll get them from.

[Sgt_Tom]

Yes the ones your talking about are called Jack Boots. Hessen and At the Front both have decent ones. They cost like $180 though. If you need something cheap go for East-german ones like I said. They are surplus made in the 50s by east-germany.

[tommygunner9]

Ok will do! Thank you! Were can I find the post war ones?

[Sgt_Tom]

Google it my friend. "East German Jack Boots"

[Schmozilla]

i Will also vouch for IMA i currently have their E-Tool and carrier, and a Mp40 pouches set (green) its a really good quality item, all of them in fact. also, your list looks good. good luck

[tommygunner9]

Haha thanks guys! And thank you for all the help, sorry if I seem needy, but like I said, you guys know more than I do

[gadge]

Right as for boots 'jackboots' or 'marching boot' as they are technically known are really an early war thing. By 44 (when most games are set) the german army had crippling shortages of leather to the degree that non load bearing items like parade belts were sometimes made form a type of cardboard called 'presstoff'. Low boots and anklets are probably the way forwards, only officers, senior ncos and rear area troops who either hadnt worn out their old early war ones or could source them wore them by june 44.

You are really best either picking a specific area and theatre you want to base your impression on or just go generic early war. In the UK generic early war is a good bet as we do a lot of games from 39 to 43 but I get the impression most the US battles are post Overlord?

You dont really need a luger *and* an mp40, save your funds and spend the money you'd waste on a luger and holster on stuff like a good pair of boots or a helmet.

Helmets were called 'stalhelms' btw, quite simply 'steel helmet'

[tommygunner9]

Just an SS soldier from like Belgium or something haha. Like in the middle of the war. And my dad wants a Luger and he makes good money and he LOVES Lugers. So he definitely wants one for his impression.

[gadge]

Just remember its not an impression if you shoe horn things in because you think they are cool but in reality they would be highly unlikely to have had them. If you do that its just wwii fancy dress

Nothing wrong with either but if he wants a cheap impression that revolves around a luger he should perhaps look at doing a role where that was the issued fire arm.

I'm really not sure anyone was issued both an mp40 and a luger, one sort of makes the other redundant.

And an ss soldier in Belgium in the middle of the war wouldnt have much more to do than guard duty or drinking coffee in a cafe... Remember the war in the west pretty much was all bombing raids and the odd commando mission from 1940 to june 1944. If you do mid war its really got to be Eastern Front or Western Desert (no SS in the desert btw). Very few SS units saw any combat in the west in the battle for france too so most SS impressions tend to be late war unless all your locals games are 'ostfront'.

Like i say its all just playing army and not that important unless you're doing living history when these things *should* be correct.

But if you're buying it all from scractch you may as well do it properly than do it Flaggrantly Wrong?

A few dollars spent on good books will save you a few hundred on buying crap stuff.

This book is about the Heer mainly but i consider it essential when purchasing axis kit.

www.goodreads.com/book/show/1508835.German_Army_Uniforms_and_Insignia_1933_1945


Its very easy to end up looking like an extra from a 70s war film if you go with the archetypes and hit them all... you now luger, mp40 stalhelm, jackboots, grenade in the boot.... whereas usually looking at 100 pics from the period and choosing one guy who looks the most typical is often a much better way at going at it.

[Sgt_Tom]

gadge, I am all for what your saying. The thing is I doubt his dad wants to spend $300 on boots. I suggested the East German ones as they are cheap, look OK, and will last a long time unlike a lot of cheap repros. I'd agree with the luger.

tommygunner9, You should have your dad read this whole thread.

[labrador]

an ss soldier in belgium would be late war (1944), not mid. if he was in belgium mid war he'd probably be on vacation, training or just joining up.

[aj czarkowski]

Remember Lugers weren't commonly issued, and it was extremely rare to actually be given one at all. Some normal soldiers had them, but mostly very early war and later in the war it was usually P38s. Mp40s also weren't too common either, movies and games way exagerate the actual amount used in WWII. Most squad leaders were still issued Kar98's, and the only time MP40s were used in large numbers were for assualt teams (And even then they had more Kar98k's).

There wasn't really a ton of action in the western front after the Battle of Britian escpecially for SS troops untill 1944. I think they were usually in the eastern front untill late war when there was more fighting in the west.

A late war impression should be fine, where I live I actually don't remember a battle that we did that took place before June 1944. And like Gadge said most reenactments in the US are during or after June 1944.

I would get the surplus east german jack boots from Hessen, they are only around $35 I think and I got a pair and they're really good. Look like crap but work fine.

But hey, nearly every german reenactor now either uses and MP40 or STG44 and most of them do have a sidearm usually a Luger or P38. Just like nearly every american reenactor uses a M1A1 Thompson and M1911. So it's probably more important to have an accurate uniform, but it doesn't need to be 100% because that'd be way too expensive and most of us don't anyway.

I'd suggest an M42 or M43 Tunic and Pants(Hessen or At the Front), East German boots because they look nearly the same and are cheaper(Hessen), an M42 Helmet (IMA, Hessen, or At the Front), and the webgear probably best to buy the most important first like belt, canteen, ammo pouches (IMA or Hessen, At the Front is way too expensive)

I can't afford At the Front, most of my stuff is from really crappy vendors on Ebay. I've ordered from Hessen and they're stuff is pretty good, but I don't know about IMA their store is like a flee market