Reenacting@10,000 Feet!

[Bergführer]

Grüß Gott Bergkameraden,

Last July, I had the unique experience to participate in Project Edelweiss 2010...a mountain troop training climb in the French Alps. I met up with an international group of WWII Gebirgsjäger reenactors from France, Spain, England and Poland.

During the first day, we hiked up to 1800 m/altitude (5,900 ft) to a high pasture. We trained on rope procedures, checked our equipment, and learned a rescue technique for retrieving someone from a crevasse. After our training time, we hiked down to an alpine stream and waterfall for few beers, some food, and Kameradschaft...an opportunity to get to know everyone.

The next day, we started our climb from 1600 m/alt (5,250 ft)...our mission...Le Meije.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meije

The first several hours were quite difficult because the trail was very steep with lots of talus. We climbed up until 3000 m/alt (9,842 ft) were we decided to settle and build our night camp. After a short dinner, the night came quickly and we slept with only some Zeltbahn (shelter quarters) and our Windjacke (double breasted canvas wind jackets).

After a long and cold night, we awoke to the sunrise which gave away to a beautiful landscape...and some warmth! We left our sleeping place in rope teams and climbed up to the snow fields. Rope, crampon, and glissade techniques were tested. After a full morning on the snow, we descended to our starting off point.

Project Edelweiss 2010 was a truly unique reenacting experience. It gave us an rare opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of period techniques, equipment, and clothing in conditions that they were designed for.

Now, I have the pleasure to present you some photos from these three exceptional days.

Berg Heil und Horrido !

Patrick

[wwiichap]

fantastic!



DL

[Gesetz]

Now THAT'S taking re-enacting to new heights! Well done!

[Marcus Wendel]

Impressive! Thanks for sharing those great photos.

/Marcus

[tc]

Excellent - amazing stuff and great photos

Tell me Papa, what is the badge (gold with red shield) that is next to the edelweiss on the Bergmutze in some photos ?

Hurra die Gams !

tc

[B Hellqvist]

Some beautiful shots! Looks like it was great fun. It took me a while, but then I realized what was missing: the weapons.

[HaEn]

Nice photos !!
TWO thoughts. Gebirgsjäger were not that chubby And . . . they carried their weaponry with them (extra weight)
Otherwise, good looking uniforms, exept for the civilian shirts underneath.
But kudos for the nice shots !!!!
HN

[landser32]

Very cool!

[dagda]

Nice photos !!
TWO thoughts. Gebirgsjäger were not that chubby And . . . they carried their weaponry with them (extra weight)
Otherwise, good looking uniforms, exept for the civilian shirts underneath.
But kudos for the nice shots !!!!
HN

Lovely words of encouragment! Think about what you wrote eh? This is what pisses me off about reenactment, someone goes to a lot expense and time to sort a realistic event out, and then there is posts of throw away comments. Perhaps you could organise an event and sort out the logistics. I wasnt there but I know some of the people involved and they are well into thier impression. mmmmmmmmmmmm

[Drew Maynard]

@Dagda- I understand your concern, but HaEn was there, he is a Second World War, German veteran.

[Fern]

I also know some people involved. AFAIK they come from several European countries including Spain. It means that it is a problem to carry weapons across several international borders. Carrying them in non authorized areas is a problem too. Please, remember this is Europe, so any weapon-related activity is much more difficult here. That is the reason most of those mountain events are done without weapons. I am sure they would be the first ones to carry them if they could safely do it.

Regarding the civilian shirts, AFAIK they were far from rare among the Gebirsjäger. I would prefer it to a collarless army one myself.

[Christoph Awender]

Nice photos !!
TWO thoughts. Gebirgsjäger were not that chubby And . . . they carried their weaponry with them (extra weight)
Otherwise, good looking uniforms, exept for the civilian shirts underneath.
But kudos for the nice shots !!!!
HN

Lovely words of encouragment! Think about what you wrote eh? This is what pisses me off about reenactment, someone goes to a lot expense and time to sort a realistic event out, and then there is posts of throw away comments. Perhaps you could organise an event and sort out the logistics. I wasnt there but I know some of the people involved and they are well into thier impression. mmmmmmmmmmmm

Dagda,

As said above Haen is a WWII veteran and gave his oppionion and does by far not deserve that kind of reaction and words. Please keep two things in mind on our forum... watch your langauge and think about your words twice before insulting someone.

/Christoph

[dagda]

That made be so,and I do apologise. But constructive criticism is a good thing, however calling people chubby isnt exactly helpful.

[Grabenkater]

however calling people chubby isnt exactly helpful.

We Yanks are used to it

[Spike 7.62]

Beautiful pictures! I've been to the alps myself and it is a sight to behold. Big kudos to going out and getting your uniforms broken in and dirty. The reenacting community needs more people who go out and do good training with their group.

As for the constructive criticism, if I may add... don't get gruffed if someone calls out a reenactors extra baggage. It is true that no German mountain soldier, or any serious soldier, would be over weight at all. I'm in the comparatively softer US army and even we keep body fat to a minimum. Excess body fat is akin to farby gear in my opinion, and if you're working on adjusting the issue, then I say bravo and keep fighting the good fight. Our equipment, uniforms, knowledge and bodies should be a constant work in progress.

- spike