Basic Soldat Equipment
The following information is a basic
summary of our requirements to participate in the unit. Don't worry if you
can't afford everything yet. We can outfit someone with extra gear if you are
thinking of joining. That way, you can find out if you truly would like to
join, without the fear of losing your investment.
A more detailed description is in
our handbook. A great book to buy for equipment identification is John
Angolia's Uniforms, Traditions of the German Army 1933-1945,
Volume 3. It
lists everything about your equipment in unbelievable detail.
Acceptable
camouflage patterns are as follows:
·
Plane Tree (models 1 through 6) - For use on headgear, zeltbahns, and
smocks, etc.
·
Blurred Edge - For use on headgear, zeltbahns, and smocks, etc.
·
Oak Leaf (types A and B) - For use on headgear, zeltbahns, and smocks,
etc.
·
Dot-44 - One of the major advantages for a new recruit is that the 44
dot tunic and pants eliminate the initial expense of both a wool feld grau
uniform and camo smock and still being 100% correct
Minimum Uniform Authenticity
Standards (You will have 1 year from joining to meet this requirement)
·
M40/M43 Wool Tunic or Dot-44
·
M36/40/43 Trousers in feld-grau with slash pockets or Dot-44
·
"Sleep" shirt or a medium grey cotton dress shirt
·
Field caps - Feldmutze in feldgrau wool or camouflage M43
·
Jackboots or ankle type boots with gaiters
·
Type II Camouflage Smock or Dot-44 uniform
Field
Equipment (You
will have 1 year from joining to meet this requirement)
·
Black leather three compartment ammo pouches for 98K with stripper clips
·
K98 bayonet with frog - Original K98K bayonet with scabbard/ wood or
bakelite grips
·
Black leather belt and SS EM buckle
·
Bread bag - Gray/green canvas with leather straps on flap
·
Canteen with cup - Covered with wool/felt and the metal cup in feldgrau
or black bakelite
·
Gas mask with canister - Painted in feldgrau. The use of the mask is
optional in the field
·
E-tool - Original straight or folding types, with correct black leather
carrier
·
Y-straps - Black leather with the 5 leg type preferred ( No DAK webbing)
·
A-frame and bag - To carry personal effects and the emergency EIsernes
Ration (optional)
·
Mess tin - Original or East German in feldgrau or black with correct
leather strap
·
Combination fork-spoon eating utensil (optional)
·
Flashlight - Original or Bundeswehr in feldgrau or black. Please: NO
East German (optional)
·
"D" Rings - Original or replica Black leather belt loop with
square or D shaped ring
·
Zeltbahn (shelter quarter SS pattern)
·
Type I SS camouflage smock and helmet cover
·
M-35, M-40, M-42 pattern Stahlhelm (helmet)
·
Wallet - While not required they are both handy and add authenticity
·
SS Soldbuch (dose not have to be filled out but makes your impression
better when it is)
Weapons
·
Rifle Model K98 carbine - Standard service rifle authorized for all enlisted
personnel
·
8mm Blanks (60 Rounds to fill your ammo pouches)
·
Flare Pistols should generally only be carried by the likes of officers,
NCOs, and vehicle owners
·
Pistols like the P-38 and P-08 should generally only be carried by the
likes of officers, medical personnel, MG crews, all NCOs, vehicle owners,
artillery crews, antitank crews, signals personnel, drivers
Insignia
·
White or grey thread SS rune collar tabs
·
"Bevo" Hohenstaufen cuff title
·
"Bevo" or machine embroidered SS sleeve eagle
·
Black wool shoulder boards with gold yellow (recon/Cavalry) waffenfarbe
Appearance
·
Haircuts must be above the collar of the shirt and cannot touch the ears
·
Hairline must stop at or above the ears
·
No side-burns, mustaches, or beards will be allowed
·
Absolutely NO EARRINGS ALLOWED!
·
Rings (only a wedding band can be worn on the right hand its European
custom)
·
Good Attitude - This is a very important issue within the 9th SS and
within our hobby For the best overall impression it is
best to leave the present day at home. Remember this!
The
above are basic starter items that every reenactor in this unit should have.To
avoid a completely rag-tag look, think of the unit as well as your own
impression. Some uniformity is required. This is the military, so lets be as consistent
as we can.
Sewing Bevo Insignia: Sleeve eagle: 16cm down from the shoulder seam centered on the left arm. Rank chevrons or national shields (when worn in the early,
upper-sleeve position) are to be placed 1.5cm National shields for foreign volunteers were sewn to the lower
arm (just above the cuff title) before 1944; SS Insignia placement was notoriously cavalier: Just to make
things worse, the SS were particularily known for taking Get it right 1.
Tip: Sew on your award cuff title about 15cm (5.9")
from the end of the left cuff on a standard tunic, or almost to the edge
of the turn-back on the cuff of a greatcoat. Get it right! 1.
At the start of
1944, an order was issued for all branches of the service to discard the silver
NCO Tresse (braid)
1. Trim the border material about 1/4-1/2 inch from
the actual insignia.
2. With a warm iron or fabric cement, roll the border back
and crease along the edge of the insignia.
3. Sew patch on. Yes, this is a pain
in the rear.
1. Trimming the border off at the edge of the insignia will
result in fraying or the patch.
2. Using too hot a setting on the iron can melt
the insignia.
Sewing tips:
The following are the wartime
regulations for sewing on SS sleeve insignia:
below the sleeve eagle, centered.
on the upper arm (below the sleeve
eagle) starting in 1944
great personal
liberties with their insignia and its' placement irrespective of regulations.
We strongly recommend you consult the SS insignia books by John Angolia for
more details.
on their collars and shoulder boards and replace it with the
subdued gray type.
As one might imagine, due to supply problems, this was
easier said than done...
you still saw a mix of silver and gray Tresse on
German NCO's.
