My Collection- Wehrmacht Heer

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An original M40 helmet shell with a new liner and hardware. One of the German re-enactors in the 21st Panzer buys original helmets and refurbishes and paints them. It was either this or a M36 in apple green. I decided that I liked the Tan camo on the field grey and if I don't, for Ostfront mid-war I will slap a splinter cover on it. By the way it says "345 Hahn Mueller" Which would be my soldier number (as I learned the soldbuch # and "serial" # are not the same) and name in Sutterlin handwriting so its pretty much illegible :P

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Allready seen but this is before I picked up most of my gear other than my helmet, boots, gemaschen, and rifle.

All the field gear and pouches are borrowed as are the overwhites. Except the helmet one which I created from 3 dusting rags I had in a drawer and the band that was sent with my helmet.

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My reproduction (don't know which company for either) belt and Breadbag. Breadbags come in assortments of colors from this, to brown, to grey and green (more common) and even a tan for DAK. I finally have a belt and will be eventually hanging all my equipment off of it... as soon as I get pouches so I connect the Y-straps fully...

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Okay this will be multiple post. This puppy has a lot of details. Overall this is a "M40" field blouse i picked up from another re-eanctor. I am most certain its a repro but by who I don't know. There is an interesting piece on this coat though.

Overall here is the field blouse:



I think it looks better when you add the belt, and even more so with the Y suspenders:

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Now an interesting thing to note is that the German army issued the coats as Feldbluse no matter what. Even though the design changed the nomenclature didn't the whole M36 (coat with bottle green trim, as the early insignia as well), M40 (same design minus the bottle green), and M43 (removal of the scalloped pockets, some design features, as well as the quality of wool was falling) are all collector's terminology. If you joined and got an M40 that was your feldbluse until you tore it up and needed a new one, maybe it would be replaced with another M40 or a M43.

Gefreiter's Chevron, this is an "M40" pattern. The tresse is the later subdued gray vice the silver, and the background is field gray instead of the black on earlier ones:


Collar Litzen, these are also the "M40" pattern. These can be mounted on a bottle green piece of felt if desired. This is a general Heer litzen, the waffenfarbe would sometimes replace the inner dark green parts:


One can only imagine the irritation forced upon your skin by these wool coats, especially when you hook the top hooks. Many coats had a collar stock added made of cotton to keep the coat from chaffing your neck:


Shoulder boards are also of the "M40" pattern. Field gray with white (infantry) waffenfarbe. I will eventually get some GD embroidered boards.

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Now to the "bits 'o tin" as Wolgang "Tiny" Creutzfeldt would say. BTW these do have swastikas so as before, no political messages intended. In fact they are bad luck if anything being they are the reversed version of the Buddhist and Hindu symbol for good luck...

Close Combat Clasp in Bronze, I'm going to assume repro, awarded for 15 days in close combat (see link to go to wehrmacht awards.com):


General Assault Badge (first class, which means its not the 25, 50, etc versions), this came on the uniform which was originally setup for an Unteroffizier of the Artillery arm (IIRC). Therefore he had a General Assault Badge. I need to get a Infantry Assault Badge in Silver now.


The buttonhole ribbons are a War Merit Cross 2nd Class and the Eastern Front Medal



This is how they are sewn on the back:


Not an award but here is the special part of this uniform. This breasteagle is an original (so I'm told) guys with the knowledge agree it is most certainly BeVo (german standard for embroidery and uniform type items) and its in wonderful shape. This one can be considered early because of its bottle green back and the detail of the embroidery compared with later versions:

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These are the final little details of the Feldbluse.

The interior view of the belthooks. There are four of these, two in front, two in back (I still need two more hooks) they are made for your belt to settle onto and are slightly adjustable given the three holes.



The inside lining is comfy but sadly does not extend down the inside of the arms. Therefore a long sleeve service shirt (one of those things i need to get) is most certainly in order.


A button pocket for your field dressing on the inside of the feldbluse:

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A better view of the equipment as worn. Sadly this is a dark photo. My friend on the left is my GI unit's assistant leader (and our Tech Sergeant) who goes out GD for OstFront events.

He is wearing the German Herringbone Twill cotton uniform. Much like the American one but the evolution of these is the exact same as the feldbluse, in fact they look so much like a feldbluse you can't tell them apart easily in photos. I'd like to say anyone with rolled sleeves is probably wearing HBTs. I've found between three wool ones you can't roll your sleeves like Heer soldiers did. It was a hot event and everyone thought I was nuts for wearing wool. I'll eventually get a HBT uniform and post it up as well.



A GREAT article on how the German Tunic should fit!