Musketier Hoffmann
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| Schwarzes Brett | Before you arrive|When you arrive|Safety Regs |
1. The foundation rule is: If you're not sure it's right, then don't do it. Questionable items should be cleared prior to use with an NCO or your sponsor. It's a shame to bring something and to be told it's not right. Sorry if this sounds "crappy" but we are trying to maintain a level of authenticity in the trenches.
2. No modern clothes or equipment. This includes obvious modern socks (like polyester white athletic socks or orange topped hunting socks), thermal underwear, t-shirts and anything Gore-Tex.
No sleeping bags however comma you may bring as many blankets (of correct materials to the period) as you deem necessary to keep you warm. Do not bring blankets that are marked with US ARMY, NVA, USMC, etc.
3. No modern flashlights or any other lighting utensils. Additionally, no lights without a safety protection for open flames are to be used. For example, candles are not to be used unless they're in a holder.
4. No modern gun cleaning equipment, such as (but not limited to) WD-40, K-Mart cleaning kits, WWII cleaning kits, etc. If you want to clean your weapon, cloth squares, gun oil in a period container and a pull-through made out of string & a weight are OK if you can't find a correct WWI "style" cleaning kit.
5. All drinks are to be in period-style bottles. No hiding cans and pouring the contents into a cup "a la Civil War or WWII." If you want to do it that way, go do Civil War (Ft. Branch is the same weekend.) The most common method is to get some correct bottles and decant (pour) your favorite drinks into them.
Additionally, several beers and imported sodas already come in period lever-top bottles, for the exertion-impaired among us. All you need to do is soak the labels off. Try a store that sells a lot of imported items.
If your one who needs a drink after hours. Try remembering that we are a German unit - please try to refrain yourself to buying MGD or Budweiser. It's simply bad form! Good German and Belgium beer can be bought in a variety of Grocery Chains and import stores.
6. No coolers - They are not to be hidden under blankets or in boxes or elsewhere, either inside or outside our "bombproof." Placing bottles outside should be sufficient to chill them. Also, to improve your impression of a German Soldat, you shouldn't drink your beverages ice cold anyways, just pleasantly cool.
7. No modern food items. If you want to eat MREs, join the Reserves. No Pop- Tarts, no Slim Jims, no Moon Pies, no Nabs, no Gatorade and this list goes on and on. The unit, as always, will provide the meal on Friday and Saturday evening at GWA "National Events."
You should bring your own food for the other mealtimes. Correct German food is relative easy to come by, and consists of items such as cold sausage, cheese, dark bread, jam, canned fish (try to find the cans without pull tabs) pickles, chocolate and so on. Period labels may be used on canned food, or the cans can simply be stripped of their labels.
Several members of the unit can provide repro labels; contact Max Stiebritz -- ir63geftr@aol.com for these items. Do not paint cans Feldgrau. Just because the American Army does it, that doesn't mean every other army in the world does it too.
8. NO BICS!! Not only are the bright fluorescent cases obvious, they aren't much good in the winds of Neuville. Since there is no wick to hold the flame, it simply blows out. Check the vendor's list, your sponsor, the GWA Flea Market or even Ebay.com for proper period trench lighters or match safes. Also check with Albrecht Schuster of IR459. He sells repro trench lighters to unit members.
9. No tape recorders or CD players, even if hidden or disguised, to play your cool German music. Instead, learn to sing the songs as you listen, then leave the players behind. Sometimes a member may bring a correct record player so, if you can find old 78s, they are perfectly acceptable.
10. NO filter cigarettes!!
WWI soldiers used pipe tobacco, cigars, cigarettes and even chew, but not filter cigarettes. If you can't go 48 hours without a filter cigarette, even by switching to another form of tobacco, you need to listen to your significant other and cut down.
11. No non-period wooden storage boxes. All items you bring should be in either cloth ditty bags or in your Tornister. Additionally, we are limited on how much stuff we can keep in the "bombproof."
This is not Revy or Civil War where people try to bring everything possible for every occasion; a good rule is to only bring what you can walk in from the parking lot with. (08 Maxims don't count.)
12. No modern eyeglasses. Enuff said on this - right?
13.
No long hair. If it can be seen with your helmet on, it's too long!
Remember, if you don't cut it, we will. And that will not be a pretty
sight! Better still, shock and amaze your friends, relatives and co-workers
by getting a correct German Army haircut!
14. No items from other reenacting periods because they're "close
enough." Close enough - isn't! Examples: US marked or obvious non-period
blankets, CW cups and brogans, WW2 shirts and gun cleaning kits, etc.
15. No modern personal jewelry, including, but not limited to neck chains, non-period watches and rings, earrings, nose rings, tongue posts, etc.
16. Our unit portrays a combat infantry company of the 459th Regiment of the Imperial German Army of WWI. The unit assigns rank. The Kompanieführer must approve any other portrayal or impression prior to the event.
To repeat, this list is not all-inclusive. It's just to remind each of us what's expected. In other words, if it isn't listed here, that doesn't mean it's OK. If it's not period, it doesn't belong in our area. When in doubt, check with your NCO or sponsor.
If you accidentally or on purpose bring a farb item into our area, don't complain if you are asked to return it to your vehicle for the duration!
After finish reading the Schwarzes Brett you will hopefully have an understanding of what we are looking for from you and your impression. This should stir you in the right direction.
1. Uniform and equipment of all unit members should be clean and mended. Your boots should be cleaned and polished. Your rifle should be clean, inside and out. Be sure to get a "Military Style" haircut!
2. Food brought to the event (represents iron rations or edibles that were sent from home, brought back on leave, purchased in a Soldatenheim, or liberated from some fat Belgium's cellar) for use in the bombproof, trenches or in the field should be in period wrapper or container.
Food - Sausage, cheese, and uncut loaves of bread are not be in plastic wrappers. They should be wrapped in brown freezer paper or muslin tied with cotton string. If you can find Landjäger or Toristenwürst are great to stick in your breadbag.
Beverages - All liquids should be in a glass bottle that are sealed with either corks or wire and porcelain stoppers. Non-period jugs and cans should be kept in your vehicle, where you can go to re-fill your period bottles or canteen.
Chocolate - A great German chocolate to find is "Lindt", it comes in a black and white, old fashioned style wrapper, much like as they were during the war. Big hint here -- I like Lindt "white" chocolate!
German Deli's and Markets - You can find all sorts of nifty Germanic foodstuffs to fill your breadbag with. All sort of good things like canned Herring, Sardines, Lindt, Landjäger, assorted cheeses and even bread.
3. As always theres will be a "Mail call." Make up period letters or packages for yourself or your friends.
The letters can be serious or fun, as long as they are in period context.
The packages can represent a small gift from home: dry socks, food parcels, smokes, or other appropriate items that might come in handy.
Any letters, postcards or packages to be distributed at "Mail Call" should be turned into the Kompagnieführer at the beginning of the event.
All letters and parcels should be addressed to the person you are writing to and the Kompagnie and Regiment they belong to. Below is an example of how a letter or postcard should be marked.
Max Stiebritz
8K/J.R.459
1. As soon as you arrive, register and unload your gear at the bombproof. You should then find an IR459 NCO and report in, so you can find out what the schedule is and what needs to be done. If nothing is to be done then go enjoy the flea market!
2. If you arrive before any IR459 NCOs are present, take the initiative to start things going - look around and see what needs to be done right away: police the general area, cut down brush in the trenches and in the wire, clean out the dugouts, gather some firewood, fill some sandbags and check our wire.
3. While your in the trenches or in the bombproof, try to maintain "first person." Talk about period topics and concerns, carry out period activities and try to act like it's "1918." We know it can be tough but the rewards are worth it.
4. Always think about "Safety!" Watch your muzzle blast, keeping your rifle pointed upwards when firing; if your weapon is loaded, keep it on safety; never take a bayonet or trench knife out of its scabbard in a combat situation; hand to hand fighting is okay but if your unsure take a hit. If you see a friend in the Allied ranks who won't mind getting tackled, then have at it and jump into the fray.
5. Don't get into shouting matches - if the outcome of an encounter is in doubt, take the hit. Have fun dying like a pig in the wire, then you can get up a few minutes later and re-new the attack.
6. In WW1 reenacting - "Everyone dies!"There are no real hero's!
1) GWA Safety Regulations must be followed at all times.
2) All J.R.459 members must attend the GWA safety meetings before participating in every event.
3) Everyone who is planning to use simulators in the field must test a sample with the Kompagnieführer present.
4) Do not bring live ammo on the field.
5) Keep the muzzle of your weapon away from others when firing. In the heat of action one tends to forget who is on the right or left.
6) Do not fire directly at someone, try to elevate your weapon.
7) Do not pick up lit simulators and try to throw them back.
8) If a person is injured during a scenario then yell out "Corpsman." Then stop all action until the individual has recieved treatment or removed from the area.
9) If a grass or brush fire breaks out, stop the scenario immediately and put out the fire before resuming. Fires spread very quickly, so be on your toes!
10) Persons with a medical condition should notify their Kompagnieführer so they can watch out for you!
11) Of course good common sense prevails and should always be used!