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WW2 Articles: Following are three articles on WW2 history and reenacting. |
Soviet Reenacting
Once a year the NWHA sponsors a "Russian Front" event, usually focusing on a late-war scenario in Germany. Rather than having a full-time unit the membership of the NWHA started a provisional Russian unit. This provides an opportunity for members to try something different from their normal impressions. Started three years ago, the provisional Russian unit has become a popular option, fielding fourteen members and a jeep at its largest turnout.
The unit represents a mixed group of both Russian Infantry and Guards (and one political officer). The lead contact and unit NCO is Dan Limb (who also reenacts with the 1st American ID), who can be contacted during events. Dan is currently preparing a drill manual and phrase list of basic Russian commands.
If you are interested in participating with this unit call your unit commander and find out when the next Russian Front battle will take place. To help you get your gear together see the equipment list and vendor information below. Let your unit commander know ahead of time that you'll be attending the event with the Russian unit and then contact Dan so he knows how many people to expect for billeting..
Basic Equipment List
- M35 or M43 tunic and trousers (gymnastiorka)
- Sidecap with red enamel star (pilotka)
- Jackboots or low boots with puttees
- M40 helmet
- Leather equipment belt and ammo pouches
- canteen
- M91/30 Mosin Nagant rifle, semi-automatic SVT, or PPsh 41 sub machinegun
Most of the uniform and gear can be purchased from The Russian Grunt. Email for a catalogue at: Welch78628@hotmail.com or call Dan Welch at: (512) 746-2699. The Russian Grunt is located in Texas.
You can purchase blanks for the Mosin Nagant through Motion Picture Blanks. The website is at: www.ctaz.com/~joemar/, or call Joe Swanson at: (520) 757-5851. Motion Picture Blanks is located in California.
Mosin Nagant rifles are readily available, check a copy of Shotgun News for ads. Class III PPsh 41's are rare, but a semi-automatic version is being produced by Inter Ordnance at a price of $550. They have a non-standard, extended barrel to comply with ATF regulations. The Inter Ordnance website is at: www.inter-ordnance.com, or call at: (704) 225-8843. Inter Ordnance is located in North Carolina.
Ayo Gurkhali! *
The Gurkhas in Italy
The Gurkha regiments in service of the British crown can lay claim to being some of the finest infantrymen that the world has seen. Their reputation was not gained from a single action, or even a single conflict. It was earned over nearly two hundred years of constant deployment, in actions large and small across the globe. Raised exclusively among the hillsmen of Nepal, these soldiers are well known for their unflinching bravery, unquenchable morale, and the use in combat of the dreaded kukri, a traditional weapon resembling a curved machete. All told these regiments have won an extraordinary thirteen Victoria Crosses, Britain highest award for valor.
During WW2 the Gurkhas fought in the Middle East, North Africa, Italy, and Southeast Asia. While the majority of Gurkha units fought in Burma as part of Britain's Imperial Indian Army, several battalions were deployed to Italy as part of the 4th Indian Division. The following two incidents illustrate the fierce fighting ability of the individual Gurkha soldier.
Lance-Naik (corporal) Jitbahadur Rai, in his first action, led a section of men in an attack against a German position. In the action that followed Rai killed two large Germans who's bodies fell on him and pinned him to the ground. As a third German moved in Lance-Naik Rai was able to free his arm and draw his kukri. With a sweeping slash he nearly severed his attacker's arm, and took the wounded German prisoner.
In another episode a patrol from the Second Battalion 10th Gurkhas met with a German patrol, and a close action combat began. Ganjabahadur Rai, a small Gurkha rifleman, charged two Germans with his kukri, cutting both down. Soon afterwards Rai himself was killed by a burst of gunfire. The Gurkha patrol prevailed, and the kurkri-scarred rifle of one of Rai's victims, held up in a vain attempt to parry his blows, was recovered and was kept as a trophy in the barracks of the 10th Gurkhas.
The Gurkhas seemed never to contemplate defeat, or consider retreat. Their perseverance under heavy fire and against odds is unrivaled. Their officers had to be careful when giving orders, as the Gurkhas would take every word very literally and carry them out without regard to the consequences.
Gurkhas advance through Italian villiage.
When a Major of the 1st Battalion 5th Gurkhas wished to set up a battalion HQ, he ordered his men to remove and bury nine dead Germans from the cellar of a nearby house. The Gurkha troops carried nine bodies out and were preparing to bury them, when one of the 'dead' Germans stood up in surprise. Only the intervention of British troops saved the German from being cut down by kukris. The Gurkhas' explanation for nearly killing a prisoner of war? They were ordered to bury nine dead Germans, and if they only had eight available, they had the means of making a ninth!
The Gurkha troops fought with great distinction throughout the Italian campaign. Their battalions were present at the terrible fight for Monte Cassino, and they suffered an inordinate number of casualties. It has been said that the American and British commanders were unwilling to use their men in what would amount to suicidal attacks, so they chose to sacrifice 'colonial' troops. Nevertheless, it was the fighting ability of the non-European troops such as the Gurkhas and the French Goumiers who finally forced the Germans to retire. Monte Cassino cost the Gurkhas so dearly that a permanent memorial at the site was built to commemorate those who fell.
Sacrifice was the norm for these brave men. At one time Nepal was contributing 55 battalions of Gurkha troops to the Allied cause. Over 112,000 men fought in these battalions, and by the end of the war nearly 9000 had been killed in action, with another 23,000 wounded.
* Battle cry translated as, "Here come the Gurkhas."
Sources:
Farwell, Byron. The Gurkhas. W.W. Norton & Co., New York, 1984
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Deutsche Dienstgad (German Rank)
The German army was well known for its high level of discipline and formality in regards to rank, not only in WW2 but throughout its development from Prussian origins. The NCO's of the German army during WW2 are considered to be the best of any nation, and are credited with the ability of the German armies to have retained their cohesion during the last years of the war. Yet to most Allied reenactors (and some German reenactors) recognizing and understanding this rank structure creates difficulty. This article will review the names and progression of German Army rank, as well as its distinguishing features on the uniform.
The tables below show the progression of standard German ranks from schutze (private) to feldmarshal (field marshal). The German name on the left is given a rough equivalent in American terms to the right.
* Each arm of service (Pioneer, Grenadier etc) would have slightly altered rank names, although the rank structure shown here would remain the same.
German rank was primarily worn on the shoulder strap (Schulterklappen) and collar. All ranks below Unteroffizier (sergeant) would only have a thin colored border (Waffenfarbe) on their shoulder boards which designated their arm-of-service. For the NWHA the most important to know are: white for infantry, light-green for motorized infantry, and lime-green for panzer grenadier. The Oberschutzen (Pfc) and Gegreiter (corporal) wore their rank on the upper-middle sleeve only.
Senior NCO's had a wide silver or grey lace edge (Tresse) on their shoulder straps and collar. An increasing number of pips on the shoulder boards and a variation in the Tresse distinguished the various grades of senior NCO's as they rose in rank.
Officers rank was worn on the shoulder boards only. The entire shoulder board would be lace, with a varying number of pips depending on the rank. Officers did not wear the Tresse as NCO's did, but rather had larger and more ornate collar patches (Litzen). For the German army the Litzen was a pair of horizontal bars or 'I's.
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