GD Schütze (Private) Eastern Front
Typical of what was worn in the early stage of the war on the Ost front - this veteren Schütze and number 2 man in an MG crew wears the following kit:

Uniform:
M40 helmet with rubber foliage loop
M36 'Feldbluse' (tunic) - note the infantry assult badge
Early war stone grey trousers
Marching (jack) boots

Equipment: (Front)
50 round belt of ammunition for the MG
Leather Y-Strap support braces, webbing belt and Gott Mit Uns belt buckle
K98 ammo pouches
K98 bayonet
Straight handle entrenching tool
The standard issue K98 Mauser bolt action rifle

(Back)
Spare barrel case for the MG
Gasmask tin and gas cape pouch (attached)
Rolled up Zeltbahn shelter quarter
Mess tin
Breadbag
Water canteen
Stick grenade (tucked in boot)

MG 34 Gunner Eastern Front
Our gunner wears kit typical of the first winter spent by GD in Russia. Not counting on a Winter war the Wehrmacht was initially ill prepared for fighting. Soldiers had to improvise with camouflage schemes and winter clothing, he wears:

Uniform:
White washed M42 helmet
Toque (tube scarf)
M40 Greatcoat with a torn bedsheet over the top used as make shift camouflage
Marching (jack) boots

Equipment: (Front)
100 round belt of ammunition for the MG
Leather Y-Strap support braces, webbing belt and Gott Mit Uns belt buckle
Hardshell P38 holster & P38, secondary weapon
MG34 gunners tool pouch
Stick grenade
Spare ammo carry tin

(Back)
MG34 Light Machine Gun
K98 bayonet
Straight handle entrenching tool
Gasmask tin and gas cape pouch (attached)
Mess tin
Breadbag
Water canteen

GD Gefreiter & Schütze on Leave
These lucky fellows are off on leave. They wear the parade dress uniform or 'Waffenrock'. Although these tunics were never generally issued, stocks were built up and stored ready to be dispersed following a succesful end to the war.

Summer Uniform
Based on the work uniforms made from unbleached herrigbone weave cloth - these uniforms were issued as an alternative to the wool uniforms which got very hot and itchy during the Summer months.

Known as 'denims' or 'HBT's' , they were alot lighter, cooler and more comfortable to wear.

Our 3 Shutzen carry a variety of equipment, weapons and headgear as they march off to battle, also notice the neckerchiefs that were also worn to mop up sweat and stop the tunics rubbing their necks.

Feldgendarme Gefreiter & Unterofficer
Pictured are two members of the Army Field Police, who recieved full infantry training, but were also tasked keeping law and order amongst the troops. In addition they were also charged with gathering prisoners and refugees, protecting captured enemy equipment, controlling the population in occupied territories and directing traffic.

One of the iconic bits of the uniform is the Gorget worn around the neck, showing that a man was on duty, earning Feldgendarmerie troops the nickname "Kettenhunde" or "Chain Dogs".

Working alongside his trusty Alsatian, the Gefreiter carries and MP34 sub machine gun, P38 pistol and a set of 'come alongs'. The decorated Unterofficer wears a P38 pistol, Ost front ribbon and infantry assault badge. Both also wear the Feldgendarme cuff title on the left arm and the Grossdeutschland one on the right, in keeping with the rest of the Division.

GD Grenadier Eastern Front: Winter 1944-45
Typically by this late stage of the war on the Ostfront- this veteran GD Panzer Grenadier is armed with the Sturmgewehr 44 (assault rifle) firing a shorter 'Kurz' 7.92 x 33 cartridge and a Panzerfaust 60 disposable anti tank weapon, issued as part of the Wehrmacht's latest weapon developments program in an attempt to boost the firepower of the individual Soldat. He also wears improved winter garments 'Wintertarnanzug' designed to protect him from the harsh winter conditions common to the eastern front, which feature by this late stage in the war the Wehrmacht latest camouflage pattern 'Sumpfmuster-44' (marsh-pattern) on a non-reversible grey rayon lined padded parka and trousers.

Uniform:
M42 'Stahlhelm' (Helmet) with raw edge
M43 'Feldbluse' (tunic)
M43 Keilhose (trousers)
Low ankle boots with canvas gaiters
'Wintertarnanzug' in Sumpfmuster-44 (Padded Parka)
'Wintertarnanzug' in Sumpfmuster-44 (Padded Trousers)

Equipment: (Front)
100 round steel cased ammunition belt for the MG42
Leather Y-Strap support braces,
Leather Equipment belt and 'Gott Mit Uns' belt buckle
StG 44 Canvas ammunition pouches
K98 bayonet on leather frog
M1928 Stick grenade

Equipment: (Back)
Canvas combat Rucksack to carry personal belongings with correctly placed Gasmask tin and gas cape pouch (attached)
Rolled up Zeltbahn shelter quarter
Mess tin
Breadbag
Water canteen

Wehrmacht Chaplin

Early War Panzer Crew
This Obergefreiter wears the distinctive black uniform of Panzer crew during the campaigns in Checkoslovakia, Poland and France.

Black was used so that oil and other stains associated with working with armoured vehicles would not show up. Black was also the traditional colour of Frederic the Great's Prussian Hussar's, meaning this uniform was following a Cavalry tradition dating back to the mid 18th Century.

On his head he wears the Panzer beret or 'Schutzmütze'. Introduced in 1934 and phased out in 1941, the beret's interior was made from hard rubber, to protect crew members heads whilst moving about in the cramped environment of an armoured vehicle. It was covered on the outside by black wool.

The double breasted, high waisted tunic is piped with pink Waffenfarbe to show his branch of service, and the collar patches bear the familair death's head or 'Totenkopf' which was another throwback to the cavalry units of the Prussian Army. He also wears his Panzer battle badge in Silver, national insignia and a belt with the army buckle.

The loose fitting trousers featured an internal belt to eradicate the need for braces and were bloused over the top of his marching boots.

Copyright© of Grossdeutschland 2008.