Gear
Gear
This is a list of all basic and advanced field gear, including some personal items. You are expected to have basic field gear within your first year with the unit; advanced gear is required for tactical and in-the-field events. Personal items are recommended for use in field and barracks impressions.
As you begin to collect things for the hobby, you can phase out your modern items, and come to events with only period items down to your toothbrush and razor.
Because prices, vendors, and item stocks change frequently you will need to reference the unit website, ask an NCO, or post on the unit forum for the best venders, and any advice or info on items whos authenticity you may not be sure of. There is a lot of post-war crap out there being sold as authentic, or “WWII style.”
Basic Fieldgear
You must first buy a continental leather set of field gear, after you have all of your leather set you may buy a DAK web set.
Koppel/Belt
This is a basic belt, but not like standard modern belts, it works specifically with the German belt buckles. They are measured in metric, and actually fit in the middle of your trunk rather than on your waist.
All of your first line gear will hang from it. You should have one belt for your gear and later get a second for walking out that you keep highly polished and sharp.
Produced: 1934-1945
Issued: 1934-1945
Standard issue enlisted continental leather belt with army buckle.
Koppelschloss/Belt Buckle
Standard Army belt buckle; SS, Luftwaffe, or great war buckles are not acceptable, must be a good reproduction from original dies. Finish can either be bare metal or green paint.
Produced: 1936-1945
Issued: 1936-1945
Belt buckle with green paint variant. Buckles can be green or bare metal.
Patronentashen/Ammo Pouches
These come in pairs, and hold 30 round each, they are to be worn on either side of the buckle with a 3cm space. They come in two versions: stitched and riveted. It is recommended that you get the stitched version as to be more versatile and useful at early war events. You should get at least twelve 8mm stripper clips to hold rounds. As standard blanks are slightly shorter than full rounds, stuff wads of course paper down in your pouches so the clips don’t slide all the way to the bottom and become hard to remove.
Produced: ~1909-1945
Issued: 1909-1945
Single ammo pouch shown with stripper clips under the closure tabs.
The riveted pattern is a later war model to the sewn version.
Brotbeutel/Breadbag
As the name implies, a bag for bread and rations though originals can be had for under fifty dollars, and post war models can be had for less, there are good reproductions available on the market today.
Produced: 1936-1945
Issued: 1936-1945
There were many styles of the bread bag over WWII. The early continental is the most universal.
Spaten/Entrenching Tool
Flat non-folding models only. War era converted swiss, or finnish models, carrier should be brown or black leather. Solid back preferred.
Produced: 1934-1945
Issued: Summer 1934-1945
The flat spade version is the most common, the folding version is also acceptable.