Help me out here....
-
|Handschar|
- Member
- Posts: 108
- Joined: 13 Jan 2004 22:28
- Location: Chicago, US
Help me out here....
I'm interested in reenacting a German SS soldat, and I'm based in Chicago, but I haven't got any word back from some of the groups I have e-mailed. I have always been interested in history, but the real fun in it seemed out of reach to me, since I didn't know of any immersive experiences like reenacting existed, and I probably was too young for them anyway. I recently discovered reenacting on the internet, and I have read everything I can on the mechanics of it and how the environment is set up to put the participant inside that specific moment in time. There are a few obstacles for me though. I am 16, and most units that I have looked at are all older men who seem to be reluctant to let in anyone who is totally new and as young as I am. I really have nowhere to go with this since I haven't got any response from the mail I sent, and I have nobody that I know that is into it. At this point, I would love to even be rejected by a unit, or even to know that they are in contact with me so that I can have somewhere to start from. I'm not a skinhead or any of that, I'm just interested in the history. As a matter of fact, if you know of any group that will take me, whether axis or allies, please refer me to them or at least give me somewhere to begin. Thanks alot for your help.
-
Eden Zhang
- Member
- Posts: 1196
- Joined: 28 Dec 2003 09:54
- Location: XXX
I'm not a reenactor just yet, but I do know a few things learnt from hanging around these boards.
Firstly, get a good quality uniform. Ask around, the people here will be happy to give you sites where you can get some very high quality gear, don't expect it to be cheap though.
I don't think any serious reenacting group will let you in these days unless you've got a good uniform and a rifle or weapon of some sort. I even heard on these forums about reenacting groups which now won't allow Sweedish tunic conversions.
I hope this little bit of advice has helped you, welcome to the Axis History Forums.
Firstly, get a good quality uniform. Ask around, the people here will be happy to give you sites where you can get some very high quality gear, don't expect it to be cheap though.
I don't think any serious reenacting group will let you in these days unless you've got a good uniform and a rifle or weapon of some sort. I even heard on these forums about reenacting groups which now won't allow Sweedish tunic conversions.
I hope this little bit of advice has helped you, welcome to the Axis History Forums.
-
Langemann
- Member
- Posts: 345
- Joined: 01 May 2002 03:58
- Location: Chicago, IL
Hello there. I am a Chicagoland reenactor from the 25th Panzergrenadier Division. Hopefully I'll have some answers for you and raise some questions.
1. Why do you want to reenact SS? Why not Heer or Luftwaffe?
2. Most reenacting socities will only accept 18 year olds as members, this could be part of why no one has gotten back to you. In my unit, we accept 16 year olds and allow them in to the field. However, you are, by law in Illinois, not allowed to carry an actual firearm. We have many roles in our unit that can be filled though. We have gas operated machine guns, two 81mm mortars, and a panzershreck that can be used.
3. Reenacting German is an expensive hobby. You can expect to drop $1,500 MINIMUM to get into the hobby. In our unit, as in most others, we know that this is a LOT of money to drop on something that you haven't done before. We have loaner kits that we let new members use for the first year.
Drop me a line sometime, I'd love to get you into this hobby, weather it be in my unit or another unit. In the mean time, check out our reenacting page: http://www.25panzergrendiv.com
Langemann
1. Why do you want to reenact SS? Why not Heer or Luftwaffe?
2. Most reenacting socities will only accept 18 year olds as members, this could be part of why no one has gotten back to you. In my unit, we accept 16 year olds and allow them in to the field. However, you are, by law in Illinois, not allowed to carry an actual firearm. We have many roles in our unit that can be filled though. We have gas operated machine guns, two 81mm mortars, and a panzershreck that can be used.
3. Reenacting German is an expensive hobby. You can expect to drop $1,500 MINIMUM to get into the hobby. In our unit, as in most others, we know that this is a LOT of money to drop on something that you haven't done before. We have loaner kits that we let new members use for the first year.
Drop me a line sometime, I'd love to get you into this hobby, weather it be in my unit or another unit. In the mean time, check out our reenacting page: http://www.25panzergrendiv.com
Langemann
Last edited by Langemann on 30 Jan 2004 00:27, edited 1 time in total.
-
Mak Los Mien Schnitzel
- Member
- Posts: 734
- Joined: 15 Jun 2003 17:57
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Go Langemann! Wehrmacht Heer forever!!Why do you want to reenact SS? Why not Heer or Luftwaffe?
Seriously, Heer outfits are also on the whole, cheaper as the frenzy to become SS is driving up the prices.
There is nothing wrong with Heer as most of all the battles in WW2 were fought by your bog standard soldier. You can choose who/what you want to portray as Heer had exactly the same access to any Gear as the SS. People also forget the Elite Großdeutchland Heer outfit who had use of tigers and all the perceived "exclusive" wares of the SS.
People also forget that the SS when they started out were not very good in battle and were a liability to the Army as well as to themselves. It was only when they got their armour and halftracks that they really distinguished themselves.
Personally, while SS kits are (to quote Apone in Aliens) "absolutely badasses" looking, they can be quite ugly when combined with the pea dot camo and therefore almost modern looking.
Heer outfits by comparison are smarter, (I could never understand why the eagle was moved from above the breast pocket to the ARM?
and more suited (up until the m44 anyhow) to the period they were fighting in.Note from the picture, the classic green collars. Großdeutchland could also wear cuff-titles on their lower sleeves - just like the SS!
Speaking from personal preferences, the whole skull and crossbones look is akin to a bunch of pirates than a fighting unit...but that is strictly my own opinion.
-
|Handschar|
- Member
- Posts: 108
- Joined: 13 Jan 2004 22:28
- Location: Chicago, US
Some basic questions
How do tactics work in all of this? Do the COs set orders for the units based on whether they are Heer, SS, or Luftwaffe, or do they just send everyone in regardless of who they are with?
And one thing I was wondering, how are mortars used, do they actually fire anything, or is all of it just calculated with hits taken accordingly?
Are the rules standard for most of the events, or does it vary? I've read some stuff on the Graef system, but I'm aware that there are other ways.
Does it all usually flow well, or are there times when people wont take hits or where there is confusion on the rules?
How do mines and snipers work? The graef rulebook gave me an idea, but I don't really see how people on the ground would know they were hit if a shot is from so far away. Are mines marked clearly, or are they concealed?
How do people rise up in the command structure to command more than just their unit?
How many people are there total on average at each event from what you've seen?
How do tactics work in all of this? Do the COs set orders for the units based on whether they are Heer, SS, or Luftwaffe, or do they just send everyone in regardless of who they are with?
And one thing I was wondering, how are mortars used, do they actually fire anything, or is all of it just calculated with hits taken accordingly?
Are the rules standard for most of the events, or does it vary? I've read some stuff on the Graef system, but I'm aware that there are other ways.
Does it all usually flow well, or are there times when people wont take hits or where there is confusion on the rules?
How do mines and snipers work? The graef rulebook gave me an idea, but I don't really see how people on the ground would know they were hit if a shot is from so far away. Are mines marked clearly, or are they concealed?
How do people rise up in the command structure to command more than just their unit?
How many people are there total on average at each event from what you've seen?
-
Langemann
- Member
- Posts: 345
- Joined: 01 May 2002 03:58
- Location: Chicago, IL
"How do tactics work in all of this? Do the COs set orders for the units based on whether they are Heer, SS, or Luftwaffe, or do they just send everyone in regardless of who they are with? "
1. At most of the tacticals you get the Heer and the Luftwaffe troops working with one another and the SS are by themselves as they largely were during WWII.
"And one thing I was wondering, how are mortars used, do they actually fire anything, or is all of it just calculated with hits taken accordingly?"
2. The mortars that my unit has (2 of them) both fire a small black powder/corn meal charge that flys close to 300 yards in distance. This charge creates a small POP and smoke. All units that field mortars have a charge similar to this.
"Are the rules standard for most of the events, or does it vary? I've read some stuff on the Graef system, but I'm aware that there are other ways."
3. The rules differ from event to event, depending on who is running the show. Most events are a variation of the graef system.
"Does it all usually flow well, or are there times when people wont take hits or where there is confusion on the rules?"
4. Historically speaking, the GIs are all like John Wayne. Some units are better than others though. Most GI leg units play nicer than Airborne.
"How do mines and snipers work? The graef rulebook gave me an idea, but I don't really see how people on the ground would know they were hit if a shot is from so far away. Are mines marked clearly, or are they concealed?"
5. Snipers are not used very often, unless the site is using the graef system. Mines are usually marked with a minefield sign and partially concealed. You do not see them often other than anti-vehicle.
"How do people rise up in the command structure to command more than just their unit?"
6. Each unit controls itself. That is unless a kampfgruppe has been created of multiple units. Those units would decide who commands them, it is usually just like a presidential race. Lots of politics.
"How many people are there total on average at each event from what you've seen?"
7. The largest tactical battle I have been to had 700 reenactors. The largest public battle I have been to had 600 reenactors and 4,000 spectators.
Langemann
1. At most of the tacticals you get the Heer and the Luftwaffe troops working with one another and the SS are by themselves as they largely were during WWII.
"And one thing I was wondering, how are mortars used, do they actually fire anything, or is all of it just calculated with hits taken accordingly?"
2. The mortars that my unit has (2 of them) both fire a small black powder/corn meal charge that flys close to 300 yards in distance. This charge creates a small POP and smoke. All units that field mortars have a charge similar to this.
"Are the rules standard for most of the events, or does it vary? I've read some stuff on the Graef system, but I'm aware that there are other ways."
3. The rules differ from event to event, depending on who is running the show. Most events are a variation of the graef system.
"Does it all usually flow well, or are there times when people wont take hits or where there is confusion on the rules?"
4. Historically speaking, the GIs are all like John Wayne. Some units are better than others though. Most GI leg units play nicer than Airborne.
"How do mines and snipers work? The graef rulebook gave me an idea, but I don't really see how people on the ground would know they were hit if a shot is from so far away. Are mines marked clearly, or are they concealed?"
5. Snipers are not used very often, unless the site is using the graef system. Mines are usually marked with a minefield sign and partially concealed. You do not see them often other than anti-vehicle.
"How do people rise up in the command structure to command more than just their unit?"
6. Each unit controls itself. That is unless a kampfgruppe has been created of multiple units. Those units would decide who commands them, it is usually just like a presidential race. Lots of politics.
"How many people are there total on average at each event from what you've seen?"
7. The largest tactical battle I have been to had 700 reenactors. The largest public battle I have been to had 600 reenactors and 4,000 spectators.
Langemann
-
Leibstandarte_reenactor
- Member
- Posts: 1560
- Joined: 08 Jun 2003 21:20
- Location: South Carolina
4. Historically speaking, the GIs are all like John Wayne. Some units are better than others though. Most GI leg units play nicer than Airborne.
im my experence Airborne that i have re-enacted with are straight up assholes and in one case real life nazis
, and i really say that lightly GI legs are AWESOME to fight, they play fair and take it like it should be.