1940 German Heer Uniform & Equipment Regs
Early War is not just an impression, its an attitude! - Hauptman v. Königreich
Uniform
1 - M34 Field (side) Cap
1 - M36 Tunic w/dark green collar (a 1940 variation of the M36 with feldgrau collar
and shoulder boards is acceptable)
1 - M36 (Steingrau)/M40 (Feldgrau) Service Trousers
(M36/M40 Mountain Trousers acceptable)
1 - Pair (Black) 39 Regulation Marching Boots
1 - Early Issue Duty Shirt (white, collarless) Issued until 1941. Other collarless private purchase variations are acceptable. (The
gray duty shirt was not introduced until 1941!)
1 Issue Suspenders/Belt (Private purchase variations are acceptable.)
Equipment (Required)
1 - M35 or M40 Steel Helmet w/ chinstrap no cammo cover (Chicken wire, rubber bands, and straps are authorized for wear
on the helmet.)
1 - Set of Load Bearing Equipment Which Includes:
1 (Black) Cartridge Belt w/36 Pattern Buckle
1 Pair (Black) Kar. 98K Cartridge Pouches
1 M31 Water Bottle w/Cup
1 M31 Mess Kit (w/Eating Utensils)
1 M31 Bread Bag (Straps optional)
1 Kar.98K Bayonet (wood or bakelite handle) w/Frog (with/wo strap)
1 - Entrenching Tool (Rigid or Folding) w/(Black) Carrier
1 - M30/38 Gas Mask Canister w/Straps
1 - M30/38 Gas Mask w/Filter
1 Gas Cape Bag (Cape Optional)
Equipment (Optional, but Handy!)
1 - Cartridge Belt Suspenders (Y-Straps) (Initially issued in April 1939
for testing) Troop Issue began in 1940, so some units had them.)
1 - M34/M40 Great Coat (M34 w/dark green collar. M40 variation w/feldgrau
collar)
1 Shelter Quarter (Zeltbahn) (Splinter Pattern)
1 Pole Bag w/Poles, Rope, and Pins
1 M34 Back Pack with or w/o Fur
1 - M31 Mountain Ruck
1 Combat Assault Pack w/bag
1/2 Toque(s)
1 - Pair Issue Gloves
1 Hand Lamp/wBatteries
1 Dispatch Case (Officers, NCOs, and Couriers)
1 - Binoculars (Officers,
NCOs, and MG Team)
1 - Signal/Battle (Flare) Pistol (Models Varied)
* Other Period Items: Spectacles/Dienst-Brille;
I.D. Disk; Soldbuch; Esbit Stove, Geld, Song Book, Watch; etc.
Weapons
- Kar.98K Rifle
- G33/40 Rifle
- MP38
- MP40 (MP40s were adopted for service April 1940)
- P08 Pistol
- P38 Pistol
- MG34 Machine Gun
* There were other Assorted Pre-40/40 pistols (such as the FB
Radom VIS 35 Pistol
FN Browning GP/35/Model 640(b) Pistol, etc., in use. Check w/your unit Commander before carrying!)
Awards/Decorations
Remember that while correct early war impressions depend heavily
on the proper wear of uniforms and equipment, the correct wearing of awards/decorations can be just as important! A simple rule of thumb for this event is that there should be no wearing of awards manufactured/awarded
after May 1940! Do your research! Examples
of what German awards should and should not be worn include:
Correct Awards:
- WWI Awards/Ribbons
- Legion Condor Related Awards
- FreiKorps Related Awards
- Sports and Equestrian Qualification Badges
- Long Service Ribbon(s)
- Austrian Anschluß Ribbon
- Entry in to the Sudetenland Ribbon
- Wound Badge
- Early and Later Version Schützen Lanyard Shield (Pre- and Post 1938)
- Infantry Assault Badge (Silver) (Version for Infantry and Mountain
Infantry) (First awarded in 1 April 1940)
- WWII EKII, EK I
- War Merit Cross I & II
- Tank Battle Badge
- Army Parachutists Badge
Incorrect Awards
- Close Combat Badge
- Eastern Front Ribbon
- Drivers Badge
- Campaign Shields
- Tank Destruction Badge
- Anti-Partisan War Badge
- Army Flak Badge
- General Assault Badge
- Infantry Assault Badge (Bronze) (For Motorized Infantry) (Awarded
from 1 June 1940)
- Tank Battle Badge in Bronze (Panzer Grenadiers) (Introduced
1 June 1940)
äöüß!
