Festung.net Living History Articles
This page is an index to articles and reference material we have been able to make available. Much of this material is posted on our unit blog.
Reference Material
Kompanie Regulations Translated from "Hilfsbuch für den Hauptfeldwebel" by Hans Rödel, 1943, pages 127-146. (PDF)
Regulations for the "Unteroffizier vom Dienst" Translated from "Hilfsbuch für den Hauptfeldwebel" by Hans Rödel, 1943, pages 146-155. (PDF)
"Dienstplan" - Daily Duty Plan for Wehrmacht Training
Truppenkennzeichen des Feldheeres 1944 German document from the US National Archives that indicates the correct Waffenfarbe and shoulder board insignia for every type of unit in the German Feldheer. (PDF)
WWII German Army Regulations on Cleaning and Maintenance of Uniforms and Equipment Translated from "Hilfsbuch für den Hauptfeldwebel" by Hans Rödel, 1943.
WWII German Army Regulations on the Fit of Uniform and Equipment Items Translated from "Hilfsbuch für den Hauptfeldwebel" by Hans Rödel, 1943.
Wehrmacht Guidelines for Inspections Translated from "Hilfsbuch für den Hauptfeldwebel" by Hans Rödel, 1943.
Karten- und Geländekunde Undated WWII-era German manual, "Maps and Topography." This does not appear to be a military issue manual, but there is information here about reporting, so clearly this was geared towards military/paramilitary use. Topics covered: Maps, landforms, orienteering in terrain using a map, the preparation of sketches. This is a scan of the original, German language of course. (PDF)
The Gruppe as Feldwach Translated from the German Army manual H.Dv. 130/2a, "Ausbildungsvorschrift für die Infanterie, Heft 2a: Die Schützenkompanie," from 1942.
Distribution, Equipment and Tasks of the Squad Also from H.Dv. 130/2a.
Material Culture
WWII German Field Blouse Button Sewing and Wool Detail
Wehrmacht Field Blouse Measurements
Internal Suspender Retaining Hooks on the M36 and M40 Field Blouse
Small Buttons on the German Army Field Blouse
WWII German Army M43 Tunic Collar and Sleeve Shapes
1940 pattern generic Heer Litzen (collar tabs)
WWII German Straight Entrenching Tools and Similar Postwar Variants
Zeltstock 01 The Wehrmacht-issue tent pole section.
Razors Used by German Soldiers in WWII, and Current Production Equivalents
Insert Pages for the Soldbuch Includes printable PDF files for manufacturing reproductions.
Blank Stationery for "Feldpost" Military Mail
What Color Were Heer Wool Uniforms?
WWII German Army Enlisted Breast Eagles Timeline
Some Drinking Cups of the Eastern Front
General Historical Information
WWII German Wehrmacht Unit Designations and Abbreviations
Wehrmacht Unit Structure, Assigned Weapons and Vehicles According to K.St.N.
WWII German Wehrmacht Trenches, Shelters, Field Fortifications
MG26(t) and MG30(t) Light Machine Gun
The Winter Clothing of the German Soldier By Oberfeldzahlmeister Wortmann, translated from "Deutsche Uniformen-Zeitschrift," February 1944.
Verpflegung des Soldaten (Rations of Wehrmacht Soldiers)
Contents of Wehrmacht Steel Ration Cans
The Story of the "Westwall Ring" Translated from "Wir von der Westfront," 1940.
German Infantry versus Soviet Partisans in Russia, January 1942 Translated from "3. Infanterie-Division, 3. Infanterie-Division (mot.), 3. Panzergrenadier-Division" by Gerhard Dieckhoff.
Ideological Motivations of German Soldiers A short excerpt from the US Army Report "Trends in Wehrmacht Morale"
Shortages on the "Heimatfront," 1941-45
"Lied der Front" (Song of the Front) song book, 1940
"Condemned to Live" Short excerpts from the memoir by Franz Fritsch, about wartime life in the field.
Photos of 2-pocket HBT uniforms Unpublished private snapshots showing the first and second pattern (white and green) HBT uniforms in wear, in various settings.
How to Choose a Unit Designation for a WWII German ID Disk (Erkennungsmarke)
Translated Wartime Recipes
Simple WWII German Recipes for Schweinebraten, Gulasch and Meatballs Translated from the cookbook "Östliche Speise nach deutscher Art".
More Original WWII Wehrmacht Field Kitchen Recipes
Wehrmacht Recipe for "Borschtsch" (Russian National Dish)
Recipes from the "Kriegskochbuch" (War Cookbook), 1915
Information on Sicherung Units
German Wehrmacht Security Units in WWII
Soldbuch of an Obergefreiter in Sicherungs-Regiment 195
Wehrpass of a Gefreiter in Sicherungs-Regiment 107
Translated archive document - Daily Report for August 5, 1941, Sicherungs-Regiment 3
Translated archive document - Daily Report for October 19, 1941, Sicherungs-Division 285
Translated archive document - Operation to Combat Partisans, October 22, 1942 Includes a list of weapons and clothing found in a partisan camp.
Rear Area Security in Russia 1948 publication by the US Army, prepared by a committee of former Wehrmacht generals and general staff officers with extensive Eastern Front experience. (PDF)
Reenacting Perspectives and Opinions
Beyond the Blank Fire: A Realistic Approach to Recreating Life in WWII
Strategies for Promoting WWII Reenacting Using Social Media
Talking to the Media: Suggestions for WWII German Reenactors
Paperwork for a Living History Impression
Public "Battles" in Living History
Evaluating and Upgrading a Reproduction WWII German Field Blouse (2019)
Evaluation of Reproduction WWII German Wool Uniform Items - Cut and Tailoring (2019)
Perspectives on Reproduction Uniforms (2017)
Reproduction Wool Uniforms and Artificial Aging
"Just Wear It" Versus Reenactment Realities
Field Expedient Stove for Zeltbahn Tent
The Things One May Have Carried
Look It, Live It, Love It Beyond the material.
If It Could Talk... The "Zone."
Public Events: A Response to Questions About Atrocities
"Clothing of the Wounded" The reenactor myth of "extra gear from the battlefield" versus reality.
German Terms for Uniform and Equipment Items, and Language Tips for Reenactors
How to measure a reproduction Wehrmacht field blouse to create correct size stamps
Bread and Spreads An idea about rations.
Pizza in the Field? Pitfalls of basing a historical impression on one photo.
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