Basic Uniform

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The photos are taken from vendor websites in 2021. The fact that the image is from a particular vendor does not indicate any preference for that particular Vendor's items. They are simply clear photos showing the basic form and cut of the items. ​

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Tunic:  Reproduction M40, M42, M43 Feldgrau (Field Gray) wool tunic with correct Heer insignia are acceptable. 

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M36 Tunic on the left with a bottle green collar and pleated pockets.

M40 Tunic in the center with a field grey collar and pleated pockets.

M43 Tunic on the right with a field grey collar and unpleated pockets and a flat pocket flap.

M42 Tunic looks like the M43 but with a pointed pocket flap

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Trousers: M40, M42 & M43 Feldgrau (Field Gray) wool trousers are acceptable. All unit members must obtain proper trousers as described above.

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M37 Trousers on the left are made in Stone grey wool, with straight legs and an adjustable buckle in the rear. The upper edge flares upward in the rear.

M40 Trousers in the center are made in field grey wool, with straight legs and an adjustable buckle in the rear. The upper edge flares upward in the rear. 

M43 Trousers on the right made in field grey wool, with tapered legs, adjustment buckles on the sides, and belt and suspender loops attached to the upper edge. 

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Service Shirt: Reproduction mouse gray or West German olive drab service shirt (cotton) with collar and proper buttons.

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Pre/early war white service shirts were made from white cotton without a falling collar.

M41 Service shirts were made from mouse grey cotton or cotton Polyester blends in either a knit or woven fabric. They had a falling collar and were made with and without pockets.

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Suspenders: Prefered Suspenders are Czech military surplus or appropriate civilian style suspenders.  

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Boots: Reproduction Marschstiefel (jackboots) dyed black or Schnürschuhe (ankle boots) dyed black or very dark brown which must be worn with Gamaschen (Gaiters).  

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M33 Buckled and Laced Boots on the left. These boots are a tall version of the laced boots with a buckled flap

M37 Laced Boots In the center are made with 5 pairs of eyelets and four pairs of speed hooks. 

M39 Marching Boots on the right are the slip-on style that is Iconic for the German army.

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Helmet or Stahlhelm (Steel Helmet): Original, post-war, or reproduction M35, M40 or M42 Stahlhelm with correct liner and suspension pins are required for all members. The preferred paint scheme is Feldgrau with or without a single Heer decal on the left side. Other helmets such as unconverted West German or Spanish helmets are unacceptable. Converted helmets must be submitted to the authenticity committee for approval before use.

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M35 Stahlhelm on the left with a rolled lower edge and a separate vent grommet. Originally issued with a smooth surface. 

M40 Stahlhelm in the center with a rolled lower edge and a pressed vent integral with the shell. Issued with an aluminum oxide roughed surface. 

M42 Stahlhelm on the right with a flared lower edge and a pressed vent integral with the shell. Issued with an aluminum oxide roughed surface. 

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Field Cap: Feldgrau (Field Gray) wool Feldmütze, M34, M38, M40, M42 (side caps) or, M43 (billed caps) are acceptable. Special permission is required to utilize any other style of field cap. Caps should have all correct insignia and buttons where appropriate. (See cap insignia below.)

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M34 Feldmütze on the left. Early examples of this side cap included branch color soutache in an inverted V on the front. This was ordered removed beginning in 1942. 

M42 Feldmütze in the center. This side cap features a pair of buttons in the front allowing the flaps to be pulled down further to provide warmth for the face and ears. 

M43 Feldmütze on the right. This billed cap also features a pair of buttons in the front allowing the flaps to be pulled down further to provide warmth for the face and ears.

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Ammunition Pouches: Original or reproductions Black leather, 3 cell pouches for 98k or appropriate to weapon carried.

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M31 Ammunition Pouches (Sewn) on the left. These were the first pattern with stitched construction on the flaps.

M31 Ammunition Pouches (Riveted) on the right. These were the second pattern with riveted construction on the flaps made from about 1943 onward.

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M31 Ammunition Pouches on the left. The straps on the rear are long and riveted at the top and the bottom using the same stud to secure as the pouch flap making it removable.

M43 Ammunition Pouches on the right. These were made both in the sewn and the riveted patterns. They differ on the rear where the straps are short and riveted at the top and bottom.  ds

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Bayonet and Sheath: Original or reproduction standard German military S. 84/98 bayonet adopted in 1934 for the Karabiner 98k rifle.

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Bayonet Frog: Black Leather. 

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Belt: Adjustable Black leather type with correct WWII style keeper. 

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M31 Belt on the top. These belts were made in the same manner as ww1 belts with an attached billet with size adjustment holes. These belts were made with the rough side of the leather outward and died black and the smooth side facing inward and left natural in color. 

M44 Belt on the bottom. These belts were made without the attached billet and the size adjustment holes are simply pierced through the main belt leather. These belts were made with the rough side of the leather outward and died black and the smooth side facing inward and left natural in color. 

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Belt Buckle: Original or reproduction standard "Heer" style. Steel or aluminum, preferably painted subdued Feldgrau.

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Aluminum Buckle on left. These buckles have a pebbled surface and were used both painted and unpainted. 

Steel Buckle on right. These buckles have a smooth surface were universally painted one of a number of shades of green or feldgrau. 

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Bread Bag: Original, reproduction, or identical post-war type (Properly converted) M31, M44 bread bag with correct three-hole buttons. Feldgrau, green, gray, khaki, olive or natural in color.

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M31 Breadbag on the left. These bags were made with leather reinforced cloth and were universally used throughout the war and pre-war years. Later war examples eliminated some of the leather strap reinforcements.  

M31 Tropical Breadbag in the center. These bags were made without leather elements for prolonged life in tropical areas where leather deteriorates more quickly.

M44 Breadbag on the right. These bags were simplified versions of the earlier model and they eliminated all of the leather reinforcement as well as the loops on the reverse for the shoulder strap. They also eliminated the buttons and hook for the belt and replaced them with fixed loops that could be slid onto a belt. Additionally, they added a small internal pocket for the cleaning kit.

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Canteen: Original, post-war, or reproduction canteen w/wool cover, with or without the correct cup. Aluminum preferred. "No blue covers allowed."

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M31 Canteen on the left. This is the aluminum version of the standard canteen with a brownish wool cover. Often issued with a painted aluminum cup though bakelite cups were also issued late in the war. 

M42 Canteen on the right. This is the enameled or painted steel version of the standard canteen with a brownish wool cover. It was typically issued with an enameled steel cup though bakelite cups were also issued. 

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Entrenching Tool: Straight or folding type. Original, reproduction, or properly converted "foreign" (Swiss) tools.

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Entrenching Tool Holder: Original or reproduction black leather appropriate to style of entrenching tool. 

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Equipment Straps: Original or reproduction black leather. 

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Gas Mask Canister: Original or reproduction war era canister preferred.  (Gas mask optional)

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Gas Sheet Bag: Original or reproduction "Heer" type.

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Identification Disc: Reproduction with identification number and first unit information. (See new member coordinator)

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Soldbuch: Reproduction soldbuch filled out in the appropriate manner. (See new member coordinator for guidance on who can fill this out for you. )

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Mess Tin: Original or reproduction. You may find certain foreign wartime and postwar elements which can be combined to achieve the proper impression. Simply getting a Soviet, Austrian, West German, or East German one will not be acceptable.  One viable option is an East German bottom and a Cold War Soviet top but there may be others as well. Get help with this. You don’t want to get a bad post war one.

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Eating Utensil: Commonly called a "Spork." Original (aluminum), postwar (aluminum), or reproduction (aluminum or atainless).

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Shelter Quarter/Zeltbahn: Reproduction standard "splinter pattern" Zeltbahn. One required, two "strongly" recommended. The recommendation of two zelts per member, allows two unit members to erect one, four man zelt tent for sleeping/camping/public display purposes.)

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Y-Straps: Original, reproduction, or "properly" converted Czech, Austrian, or West German with D-rings and correct WWII hardware.  Converted Y-Straps with "Stitch holes" are not acceptable.