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SOME PRACTICAL RE-ENACTING TIPS
(This article by LTC Lou Brown is reprinted from Vol. 4 Issue 4 of "Der Zug", the newsletter of a Grossdeutschland re-enactment unit in the Eastern United States.) Most reenactors are civilians who have never served in the military. For that reason, there are some fundamental things, common to almost all militaries, to which they have never been introduced. Indeed, one of the largest tasks faced in "basic training" is to take civilian habits out of the potential soldier. (As society becomes more "free", this becomes even harder because the norms of the military and what is usual in society tend to become even farther apart.) One of those things constantly reinforced in basic military training is the proper wear of the uniform and personal appearance. Good units care how they look and exercise considerable effort to ensure that their personnel meet established standards. They take especial pride in ensuring the "little things" are also looked after. One of the measures of a good unit is how its soldiers look, especially whey they are not under close supervision. What follows are some practical tips, adopted from my own military experience and combined with (actual WW II) uniform practices, which will help (re-enactors) better project the image of a solid, well-trained, and motivated unit. Headgear is always worn outdoors. One of the hardest things to teach a recruit is remembering to put on his cap when going outdoors. When you leave the billets or your tent at a reenactment, be sure you have the proper headgear, that it is properly worn, and that it is removed indoors (except when "under arms" -- soldiers on official business who are armed do not uncover upon entering a building.) Items are worn, never carried. If worn, they are worn properly. Soldiers don't carry overcoats, raincoats, etc., over their arm -- the item is either worn or left behind (except, of course, as part of the field equipment). All items are worn properly -- all buttons are buttoned, snaps done, etc. Nothing is less military looking than someone walking around with his blouse unbuttoned, or the cuff slits "flapping about" because he failed to ensure they were buttoned. While many might think that such things are macho-looking, good soldiers detest casual sloppiness; buttons are meant to be buttoned, and when they are not, it offends the good soldier's sense of "natural order." Complete uniforms are always worn. This is the corollary to the above, not the same thing. Everything can be worn correctly, and the uniform still not be complete. While most re-enactors get the field uniform correct, few get the German soldiers' other forms of dress right. Off duty, low shoes and the Schirmmütze were often worn, but only in relatively secure areas -- otherwise, the duty uniform was worn -- but this would be entirely appropriate for wear in the cantonment area during non-battle times at reenactments. Soldiers generally shave once a day. Good soldiers do not appear unshaven. Units ensure that soldiers maintain cleanliness at all times as a matter of preserving health; part of that routine is a daily shave. While no one would have expected the soldier to shave while bullets were flying, part of the "after operations" cleanup would have been a return to normal standards. Again, while some folks would find the gruff, unshaven look "manly," a good unit would find it unacceptable. There is no excuse for sloppiness. There is a clear difference between shoddy appearance (brought on by aging, repaired uniforms and equipment) and sloppy appearance, which is generally the result of neglect or lack of concern. Boots are at least blackened if polishing is not possible, belts are worn straight (not "John Wayne" style, drooping down over the hip), blankets are not draped around the shoulder as capes, and uniforms and equipment are maintained as best the soldier can with what is available to him -- missing buttons are replaced, tears carefully sewn up, etc. (Note: most repairs....on actual....uniforms are very well done, either by being carefully hand stitched or machine sewn. Supply personnel had sewing machines available to them (and persons with some tailor training were generally available to conduct unit-level repairs). Additionally, severely damaged uniforms, etc, were usually exchanged for serviceable items -- the damaged items were then evacuated to a level where, if repair was feasible, it was done by those who knew how to do it and the item returned to the supply system for reissue. Generally, modern armies frown on the soldier sewing up large tears himself -- it usually looks like hell, and, worse, doesn't hold, resulting in the loss of the item when proper maintenance would have prevented the loss. In conclusion, there is no real soldier in the world who hasn't been dirty, unshaven, and looked like hell at some point -- this is not, however, the natural state. Units who allow their soldiers to go on that way don't exist for long. Good appearance and maintenance of equipment are habits which branch into other things -- generally, they are indicators of discipline. Soldiers who are cavalier about correctly wearing the uniform usually exhibit the same sort of cavalier attitude regarding the really important aspects of soldiering -- weapons maintenance, field skills, etc. Good units are built on the sort of discipline that results when soldiers can be trusted to do what they are supposed to without direct supervision. Real or reenactment, you can tell a lot about a unit when you see one of its soldiers walking down the street alone; does he look as good as when in formation, or is he out of control? While not always true, the old adage "if it looks good, it probably is" is at least a start point for a better-than-average unit. Remember, you are wearing your name on your sleeve.
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