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Whilst it would be nice to recreate the Regiment, reality means that we concentrate on one of the Gruppen, the ‘cutting teeth’ element of GD. Well equipped with automatic weapons and borne in an armoured personnel carrier, these close-knit combat teams were the predecessors of today’s armoured infantrymen. |
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A recruit received factory fresh equipment and weapons, which in turn only exhibited wear and tear through ongoing frontline use. Badly damaged or irreparable items were replaced where possible with new stock, so this had to be reflected in our ‘impression’. |
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Whilst there is something to be said for wearing original uniforms and equipment, much of it is fragile and showing its age, and thus is no longer ‘up to the job’. Easily damaged and increasingly difficult to replace, there is also the cost of original kit to be considered. Also, should we, as (happy amateur) historians, not seek to preserve original items especially when there are so many excellent reproduction items available? |
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Ordnance in particular has to look new. Ammunition of all varieties was delivered almost direct from the factories to the front line, and was expended at such a rate that little of it had time to look old and battered before its use. Brass cartridges would have shone, ammunition crates looked in good order, while grenades and Panzerfaust were freshly painted and stencilled with instructions. |
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There are of course many original articles from the period that we regularly use in our displays, but again all are in mint condition and reflect the ‘now-ness’ we strive to achieve. |
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MG-42 Team |
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