Requirements & Supplies
"The hobby of reenacting is a commitment. One must study and research into the subject. Then be prepared to financially pay for the proper gear for it is not issued freely. Then you must make your plans to travel and partake in the hobby."
- Andrew M. Strom (Hans Kaufmann)
As with any activity group, you are expected to fulfill certain requirements that is meant to ensure the standards is met as well as the safety of everyone.
Basic Requirements:
Do the following basic requirements apply to you?
Basics
- To participate actively as 5th Foot Guard Infantry, you must be at least the minimum age of 18. You must also have a sense of pride in your impression and kit.
Must have a keen interest in:
- History
- German Culture and Military Culture
- German Language (Note required to be fluent)
- Attention to detail of Uniform(s) and Equipment.
- Eagerness to do research.
- Willingness to abide by rules, authenticity, and unit morals.
- Able to pay membership dues ($35 annually)
- Able to afford your kit ($1,500 - $3,000, depending) - we have some loaner gear up to 3 events.
​Basic Fitness
​
Before listing off what we are looking for in fitness, we are NOT trying to come off as discriminating to hefty or elderly individuals. We want to make sure that whoever participates, realize that we are an active group. Not just by means of attending events, but but movement in no man's land.
​There will be times where we will march, run, and go over the top. It is in everyone's best interest that you are aware of the rigorous movements we will some times experience. In short, we want you to be sure you will be both safe and able.
​Just note though, if you still want to join up, regardless of fitness, we will gladly welcome you with open arms.
Physical:
- You must be physically able to climb out of a 3 foot (1 meter) deep trench and run minimum 250 feet.
- You must be able to march with a full Tornister (back pack) weighing 30Ib.
The following is the basics for the impression before adding the extra accoutrements for the different branches available.
Basic Gear:
-
M1915 BLUSE (Tunic) - 7cm long Litzen on collar, horn 23mm buttons, & sewn white piping shoulder boards. Silver buttons & hooks.
-
M15 Grey Litzen - Contact me.
-
​TROUSERS (Hosen) – Feldgrau with Red Piping.*
-
SUSPENDERS (Hosenträger) - Leather Tabs for buttons.
-
SHIRT (Hemd)* - 2x Military Issue
-
NECK STOCK (Halsbinde) - Neck Stock for your neck, like a bib.
-
ANKLE BOOTS (Schnurschuhe) - bust be treated and darkened.
-
LEG WRAPS (Gamaschen) - Wool Leg Wraps.
-
UNIVERSAL SOFT CAP M1917 (M17 Einheitsfeldmütze) - Grey Wool with Rosetta Green band and piping.
-
KOKARDEN (cockades)- Cockades needing to be Prussian and German Empire, felt backed when sewn.
-
M1916 or M1918 HELMET (Stahlhelm) - original Helmet shell, repro liner, none-camo.
-
M1915 GREAT COAT (Einheitsmantel) - Feldgrau, the large fall collar faced with Rosetta Green. Sewn on shoulder boards. Sewn white piping shoulder boards.
-
BELT (Koppel) - MUST BE BLACKEND!
-
M1915 BUCKLE (Koppelschloss) - Must be an original M1915 steel painted feldgrau.
-
M1914 BREAD BAG (Brotbeutel) - Must be Grey, Green, or a 'Depo Rebuild'.
-
BREAD BAG STRAP (Brotbeutelträger) - Must be Grey or Green.
-
CANTEEN (Feldflasche) - 2x Canteens Required, 1907,1915, or 1915/17 variants. - CONTACT ME DIRECTLY
-
GASMASK (Gasmaske) - M1917 Leather mask is desired, but M1915 Gummi mask works too.
-
M17 GASMASK CAN (Bereitschaftsbüchsen) - Needs to be the metal can with correct straps - CONTACT ME DIRECTLY
-
BAYONET (Seitengewehr) - Bayonet must be a M98/05 (Butcher) or Ersatz.
-
BAYONET FROG (Seitengewehrtasche) - Blackened Leather for your bayonet.
-
BAYONET KNOT (Troddel) - 8 Kompagnie (Blue - Red - Blue)
-
SHOVEL (Schanzzeug) - Must be the German M1874 or M1898 - CONTACT ME DIRECTLY
-
SHOVEL CARRIER (Spatentasche) – Blackened leather carrier for the shovel. NO. WW2 carrier is not allowed.
-
MESS TIN (Kochgeschirr) - M1893, M1910, M1915, M1916, or post war 'Political'/Weimar Messkits are usable. - CONTACT ME DIRECTLY
-
FORK/SPOON COMBO (Essbestck) - Steel Spork combo (not WW2 aluminum) - CONTACT ME DIRECTLY
-
DRINKING CUP - Aluminum, Steel, or Enamel -CONTACT ME DIRECTLY
-
Tent Half (Zeltbahn) - You are required to have at LEAST one, recommended to have 2.
-
DOG TAG (Erkennungsmarken) - You need the model 15 or Model 16 variants. You need to get approval from myself before turning in your tag info.
When you join, you will be assigned by the following criteria:
​
A. Do you have a Gewehr 98? - If yes, you are assigned to 8. Kompagnie
NOTE: WE ONLY ALLOW GEW98 & CEZCH 98/22 (modified) in Gew98 configuration. NO COMMISSION RIFLES, K98s, TURK MAUSERS.
B. Are you a trained medical professional? - If yes, you will most likely be assigned to the Sanitätspersonal
NOTE: I WILL NOT ASSIGN YOU TO THIS IF YOU HAVE NO DESIRE OR INTEREST TO DO MEDICAL.
C. Do you like the smell of gunpowder in the morning, but no Gewehr 98? - If yes, I hope you like Minenwerfer or Machine Guns.
​
Those are the current primary branches that 5GR has currently in WW1 Reenacting at Newville. Note, if you are assigned a branch, you must actively be in that branch for at least 2 event.
​​
Assigned to 8. Kompagnie? Congratulations! You are now a Grenadier! The following is what you will need as a fighting man! I am going to assume you have a Gewehr-98 and the basic gear stuff.
​
Grenadier Requirements:
1. M1909 Ammunition Pouches (M09 Patronentaschen) - One pair, blackened. NO WW2 POUCHES!
2. GEWEHR-98 SLING - Brown leather is fine, just well oiled.
3. GEWEHR-ROD - the rod you use to clean your rifle and to do the tripod with.
4. 8. Kompagnie Troddel - Bayonet Knot
​
​
So you have medical experiance and have been assigned to 397. Feldlazarette & Rotes Kruez. I will assume you have your basic gear.
​
Sanitätspersonal Requirements:
1. P08 LUGER - It may be a dummy Luger.
2. P08 HOLSTER (Pistolentaschen P08) - Black Leather Holster for Luger.
3. MEDICAL POUCHES (Ärztlichtaschen) - 1 Pair dyed black.
4. 1 LITER CANTEEN (Labeflasche) - 1 Liter German Medical canteen with shoulder strap. No WW2. - Contact me.
5. RED CROSS ARMBAND (Armelbinde) - White armband with Red Cross sewn on. No WW2.​ - Contact me.
6. Kompagnie Troddel - Depends on assignment.
​
Well, this will be perhaps the most simple set up. I will assume you have your basic gear.
Crewed Weapon Requirements:
1. P08 LUGER - It may be a dummy Luger.
2. P08 HOLSTER (Pistolentaschen P08) - Black Leather Holster for Luger.
3. MG08 Carry Strap - Machine Gun Crews ONLY. Ersatz material ideal, leather is acceptable. We want a 'mix'.
​4. MG 13. Kompagnie Troddel - For MG crews only.
​
​NOTE: The Mortars and Machineguns are heavy. So be prepared to pick them up and carry them.
Personal Items:
These are merely suggestions. Nothing more.
​
1. German Wallet - Leather example, wool ones can be 'custom made' by sutlers. Cheaper Wallet: Here
2. Comb
3. Louse Comb
6. Cigar Tin
7. Pocket Knife #1​ - Generic and cheap pocket knife.
8. Pocket Knife #2 - Nice Civilian pocket knife.
9.Pocket Knife #3 - Another civilian style pocket knife
10. Pocket Knife #4 - German Army Pocket Knife
11. Pocket Knife #5 - a very German pocket knife for both world wars.
12. Base Shaving Kit
13. Bone Tooth Brush - correct for Victorian and Edwardian era.
14. Pocket Notebook - Good for notes for NCOs or Diary Entries.
15. Gum Blanket - A ground cloth to sleep on to protect yourself from being wet. Cheaper version: HERE
16. Boot Laces - replace the cheap laces of your ankle boots.
17. Candle Light - Great for in the tunnels of the Trenches. No open flames in the Zelts.
18. Match Box - Protect your matches.
​19. Kerosene Lantern - Civilian Model.
20. Foot Locker - This crate would be ideal for you to store your belongings at camp. Just stencil/stamp your German name on it.
21. Wool Socks - These are identical to an original German pair I owned.
22. Civilian Vest - Grey, Brown, or Black
​
​
23. Underwear Shorts - Warm Weather, Edwardian era.
24. Long Underwear - Cooler weather.
25. Underwear Shirt Short - worn under your issue shirt.
26. Underwear Shirt Long - worn under your issue shirt, cold.
27. Night Cap - Keep your noggin warm.
28. Civilian Collarless Shirt #1 - You need only need 1, plus 2 issue shirts from Schusters.
29. Civilian Undershirt #2 - Very Prussian looking.
30. Civilian Undershirt #3 -
31. Civilian Undershirt #4 -
32. Night Gown -
33. Handkerchief -
34. Foot Wraps - Alternative to wool socks.
35. 'Kidney warmer' - These were issued.
37. Clothes and Equipment Name Tag - talk to me.




