8.Kompagnie,
Infanterie - Regiment Nr. 459
Das Schwarze Brett--8. /JR459
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: This includes the obvious modern socks (like polyester white athletic socks or the ever-so nasty orange topped hunting socks), thermal underwear, t-shirts and yes anything Gore-Tex.
3. No sleeping bags: However 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. All drinks are to be in period-style type bottles. There is no hiding cans or bottles and pouring the contents into a cup "a la Civil War or WWII reenacting." If you want to do it that way, go do Civil War. The most common method in WW1 is for you to get some correct bottles and pour your favorite drink(s) 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.
7. 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.
8. 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 for some labels. Do not paint your cans Feldgrau. Just because the American Army does this, that doesn't mean every other army in the world does it too.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.)
13. No modern eyeglasses. Enuff said on this - right?
14. 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!
15. 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.
16. No modern personal jewelry, including, but not limited to neck chains, non-period watches and rings, earrings, nose rings, tongue posts, etc.
17. 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!
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