272nd Required Equipment

	Uniform Requirements in Detail
	1. Feldbluse (Tunic): Heer model M-42 or M-43 This must be the Heer/Army type. Your Feldbluse may be required to be altered by a tailor so that a perfect fit is accomplished. Alterations must be done by machine in such a manner as to replicate the original practice as done by the Kompanieschneider (company tailor). The early war M-40 tunic may be admissible with permission. The M-42 tunic has the larger pockets than the M-43. There are five pieces of required insignia on your Feldbluse. Two Wehrmacht Enlisted Collar Tabs (Litzen), either White for Infantry or Generic Late War. Two Wehrmacht Enlisted Shoulder Boards with white borders on Field-Grey wool. And One Wehrmacht M43 EM Breast Eagle (BeVo) on the right breast of the Tunic. No other insignia will be worn without permission by the unit. The picture here shows the Wehrmacht Enlisted Infantry white piped shoulder boards, the M43 breast eagle, and the Generic Late War Enlisted Collar Tabs.
	2. Tunic Suspenders and Belt Hook Hangers These go into your Tunic and are used for load bearing and ensure your equipment belt does not slide down to your hips.
	3. Keilhosen (Pants): M-43 It is recommended that the M-43 hosen be purchased. The early model M-37 Langehosen may be admissible with permission.
	4. Trouser Suspenders Period suspenders or a belt for your Keilhosen, suspenders are much preferred.
	5. Feldmutze (Field Cap): M-43 The most common hat was the M-43 although the Schiffchen M-38 (Overseas Cap) may be admissible with permission. The M-43 is warmer on cold mornings. Insignia consists of a Wehrmacht embroidered cap trapezoid with eagle and roundel on the M-43 cap
	6. Schuhwerk (footwear): Schnureschuhe It is highly recommended that you obtain the German low boot (Schnureschuhe) and not the tall marching boots (Marschstiefel). All mid to late war Grenadiers were given low boots. Bergschue (mountain boots) are not authorized. Shoes must have heel irons and hobnails, toe irons are optional but recommended to increase the longevity of your boots.
	7. Gemaschen (Gaiters) The canvas gaiters are used with your low boots. Although this was an issued item, many Landsers were seen without them and simply rolled his wool socks over the top of his boots.
	8. Socken (Socks) The size ringed type are preferred, however mouse gray wool socks are also acceptable. It is recommended that you purchase three pairs. Fußlappen (foot wraps) may also be used.
	9. Arbeitshemd (Work or Service Shirt) Must be the gray cotton pullover type, later on you will want to get a second shirt. Two shirts are recommended.
	10. Koppel und Koppelschloss (Belt and Belt Buckle) Only the black leather belt and Heer „Gott Mit Uns“ buckle are allowed. The belt is worn tight above the hips suspended by your tunic belt hooks. A tight Koppel ensures a sharp appearance! The web Koppel may be admissible with permission. The enlisted mans belt was a simple black smooth leather belt to support equipment in the field.. The web belt was introduced in Afrika and later on the Continent starting in 1943. Material shortages later in the war introduced a Press-Stoff artificial leather version. The standard buckle was adopted in 1936 to replace the Reichswehr version. It was made of stamped aluminum ore steel and painted colors ranged from field gray to olive green and dark gray. There were a large number of variations with smooth or a pebbled surface.
	11. Mantel (Overcoat) Only the M-40 or M-42 type overcoat. Every soldier was provided one and it comes in very handy when standing on Posten and when sleeping in the field.

	Required Field Equipment in Detail
	1. Stahlhelm (Steel Helmet) M-35, M-40, or M-42 are allowed but the M-42 is preferred. It must be painted in Heer Feldgrau. By late war very few helmet decals were in use. If authorized only the Heer Wehrmacht Eagle on the left side of the helmet will be permitted. Even this marking was ordered to be removed on 28^th August 1943.
	2. Tragneriemen (Y-straps or Belt Supports) Either the leather or webbed type are authorized and only an approved reproduction. The Y-straps are composed of three leather straps, two in the front that attach to your ammunition pouch D-rings and a single strap that attaches to your belt in the back. The three straps are attached between the shoulder blades with an O-ring. Two additional straps attached in the front extend beneath the arms and are fixed to hooks on some packs, a pack frame, and some rucksacks. The standard issues straps are black leather but during '43 webbed tropical straps were issued on the continent. If the standard ammunition pouches are not worn additional supplementary loops will be required (Aufschiebeschlaufen) in order to attach your Y-straps to your belt.
	3. Patronentaschen (Ammo Pouches) Mauser 98k M1911 original black pebble grained pig skin leather cartridge pouches only. The M1911 ammo pouch was retained after the adoption of the 98k in 1934. Each pouch has three pockets holding two 5-round clips of 7.92mm ammunition, 30 rounds per pouch. The pouch lid is fastened by a leather strap and a metal stud at the bottom of the pouch. The back of each pouch holds a D-ring in order to fasten your &-straps and help support their weight. Brown pouches were issued to rear area units, the Luftwaffe and Police units. Combat soldiers were issued two pouches and rear area and replacement units were issued with a single pouch.
	4. Brotebeutel (Bread bag) Original or approved reproduction only. The bread bag was a traditional piece of field equipment since the early 1800's and was used to carry the soldiers ration in bread. Two straps and a belt hook are used to attach it to your belt. The front flap extends all the way down the bag to help protect the contents from the elements. The outer surface contains loops to attach your canteen. The bags started out in field gray early in the war but began to be produced in olive green and various shades of gray, brown, or tan.
	4. Feldflasche (Field Canteen) Original or approved reproduction only. The M1931 field canteen is an unpainted aluminum .8 liter (28 ounce) bottle. The cup (Trinkbecker) is either a black or field green painted aluminum cup (as pictured here) or a smaller Bakelite cup. The insulating felt can range from brown to green and is attached with three small buttons in order to remove it for cleaning or replacement. The cover also helps prevent the water from freezing in cold weather and when wet it will keep the water in the bottle cool. The field flask is worn on the right side attached through the loop on the bread bag cover.

	6. Seitengewehr und Tasche (Bayonet and Carrier) Must be original or approved replica. Pictured here is the Bayonet and carrier properly attached to the Spaten. The leather bayonet frog attaches to the steel bayonet scabbard, by the lug visible in the picture, to allow the user to slide it onto his belt. When worn with the Spaten is attached as pictured, or is otherwise worn on the left side of the belt. 7. Spaten und Tasche (Spade and Carrier) Must be the straight handled square spade (kleines Schanzzeug). The folding shovel type is not as common and is not recommended. The small spade has a square steel blade and a short wooden handle and is mostly unchanged since its adoption in the 1880's. Painted black with a natural finish left on the handle in order to prevent blisters. The shovel carrier is black leather until late in the war it was partially built of Press-Stoff artificial leather and is attached to the equipment belt. The handle should point outwards away from the body to avoid tripping.
	8. Gasmasken und Tragbüschse für Gasmaske (Gas Mask and Gas Mask Can) The M1930 and M1938 gas mask and can are approved. Original can and mask is preferred. The gas mask can is a robust fluted steel canister attached to the belt and over the shoulder with green webbing. The can was painted field grey but was often repainted brown or green in the field. The can is worn over the right shoulder and above the bread bag with the lid facing to the right for easy access. Machine gunners may wear it with the lid facing left to avoid blocking special equipment. While in a vehicle it is unfastened from the belt and move to the front of the body to allow you to sit comfortably. This image shows the gas mask can with the Gas Cape Pouch (Gasplane) tightly attached at the top with the rubber from an inner tube. This was an unofficial and often prohibited method of attaching, as it was thought the tight band would damage the cape during cold winter weather, though often ignored. The gas sheet was made of protective fabric or paper sheet against sprayed blister agents such as mustard gas.
	9. Kochgeschir (Mess Kit) Only an original is approved and is either secured to the Brotebeutel or to the Sturmgepack (assault frame) when commanded. The picture here shows an original war time issued M1931 mess kit. When carried (and not on the wagon train) it is worn attached to the back of the Y-Straps above your bread bag. The German cook pot was copied by many of the European countries and is composed of the bottom pot and a lid that also served as a pan with a folding handle that holds the two halves together. It is 1.7 liter (57 ounces). It was made of aluminum until '43 when most began to be made of steel. The unit is painted dark gray and later in '41 production started producing olive green. It can also be secured to the bread bag and you can use it to store food and other items.
	10. Zeltbahn (Shelter Quarter) Only the Heer Splinter Pattern type should be used. Its importance is often overlooked until it is needed. Only the original should be used, however in some cases a reproduction may be approved. The M1931 triangular tent quarter replaced the square model used during WWI, and was made of water repellent cotton fabric. One side was printed a darker brown and green splinter camouflage pattern and the other a lighter shade. It can be fasted to one or more other shelter quarters to produce a tent, used as a ground, turned into an expedient flotation device, used as limber for wounded soldier, or worn as a protective rain cape. It is either carried with supporting straps, attached to the combat pack, on the bed roll, or rolled in with the greatcoat.
	11. Wolldecke oder Mannschaftsdecke (Wool Blanket or Enlisted Man's Blanket) Reproduction German or the gray Italian wool blankets are acceptable. The standard blanket was dark gray with several strips on the ends in order to ensure even folding, made of second rate wool and rayon. After the first harsh winter on the in Russia the soldiers in that theater were issued two blankets. Except in the far north sleeping bags were issued, as the combination of blanket and great coat were considered to be sufficient.
	12. Gewehr (K-98 Rifle) Only original German K-98 is accepted.
	13. Rucksac or Tornister (Backpack) The Rucksac or Tornister must be Heer original. The Tornister can either be the pony-fur or canvas type, although the canvas model requires some maintenance to ensure it is water resistant. The M1939 Tornister is attached to your Y-straps and carried on the back. It can be found with unshaven calfskin or with a canvas back flap. The M34 pack is an earlier model that had its own shoulder straps. The Tornister is constructed of sturdy canvas fabric in shades of green or brown. The pack is used to carry a numberof items including spare shoes, cook pot, cleaning kit, extra socks, and more. The standard model rucksack was the M1931 and was originally issued only to mountain troops (Rucksack 31 für Hochgebirgstruppen). By '41 a very similar version with many minor variations, the battle rucksack (Kampf Rucksacken), was issued to infantry units that needed additional equipment for the East Front and Afrika. The rucksack is made of olive green or brown canvas is much larger and simpler to use than the Tornister. It may or may not have shoulder.
	14. Assault Pack (Optional) Original or approved reproduction only. Combat pack for infantry rifle companies (Gefeschisgepäck für Infanterie Schütyenkompanien) was adopted in 1939 including straps and the M1939 pack (the battle or assault pack). It was initially only provided to infantrymen in rifle companies. The first piece is a triangular olive green trapezoid web pack frame (Gurtbandtragegerüst), called the A-frame. The top rings of the pack affix to your Y-Straps at the shoulder blades in back and the bottom of the A-frame attaches to the supporting straps on your Y-Straps under your arms. The next piece is the A-frame bag (Beutel yum Gefechtsgepäck). This small green bag was used to carry additional items or move items from your bread bag such as an undershirt, cleaning kit, utensils, etc. The bag is attached at the bottom of the A-frame. Above the bag a rolled up Zehtbahn was stowed. And above that the mess kit was then attached.

Additional Optional Gear

There are literally thousands of items you could obtain. These are only recommendations based upon our experience. Be sure to purchase all of the required gear first.

1. Handschuhe (Gloves)

Must be the thick wool gray colored gloves or mittens. If size rings are available, the white bands must be worn on the inside.

2. Fernglass (Binoculars)

Only an original Fernglasser are approved and is only carried by assigned Landsers.

3. Kartentasche (Map Case)

Only an original map case is approved and only authorized personnel are allowed to carry it such as the Unteroffizier or Melder.

4. Patronentaschen MP40

Only the canvas type is approved.

5. Tarnhelmuberzeug (Helmet Cover)

Only the Heer Splinter pattern helmet cover is approved.

6. Winter Tarnbekleidung

Only the Heer Splinter or Water-Tan pattern are approved. The Parka can be worn alone or with the pants. These are only approved at specified events.

7. Mouse Gray Parka

This parka was quite a common site in the winter months and is authorized for use. It is however preferred that you first purchase a Mantel as it will a lot further to keep you warm at night.

8. Esbit Stove and Fuel

11. Flashlight/lantern

12. Personal Hygiene Items

Sewing kit, razor, hand towel, soap, tooth brush, comb, hair goop, etc

13. Wound Bandages

14. Wool Scarf or Head Toque

Toque is preferred

15. Wool Sweater

16. Knife, Spoon, Fork, and Can Opener

17. Maskenbrille (glasses)

This is a required item if you wear glasses.

18. Zelt tent set (Zeltausrüstung)

Poles, pegs, and rope
19. And tons more...

Uniform Requirements in Detail

The following items will be provided upon full enrollment

Required Field Equipment in Detail

Additional Optional Gear