Heer Impression Guidelines
Teir I
Helmet (Stahlhelm) - M1940, M1942. (Original shells strongly preferred) Single Army decal allowed. The helmet must be painted with the correct feldgrau paint. The paint may be flat factory paint, factory paint with texture, or a field repaint. Daniel Gray is also able to restore and original shell if you find one on ebay in your size. If you have questions on helmet sizing, please see Gottlieb leadership.
Vendors: German Helmets, Inc.
Hessen Antique (They occasionally have restored originals)
Ebay or German Ebay. (Original, unrestored shell.)
Caps (Feldmutze) - M1943 with the proper BeVo trapezoid insignia
Vendors: At The Front: "texled" in feldgrau or Italian wool.
GD 43
Panther Store
Tunic (Feldbluse) M1940, M1942, or M1943 with the correct insignia. (No embroidered breast eagles) mid-war/late insignia and shoulder boards. Please contact members of Gottlieb's leadership before you purchase a feldbluse to make sure it is the right one for you! There are a lot of bad ones out there, and we want to ensure that your first purchase is a correct one!
Vendors: At The Front. ('Texled' pattern tunics)
On the March
Panther Store
Lost Battalions
(It is recommended that the M1943 pattern feldbluse with mid-war/late insignia be the first choice for tunic patterns.)
Trousers (Feldhosen) - Feldgrau straight leg trousers, or (preferably) M43 Kielhosen.
Vendors: At The Front. (Offers 'texled' pattern trousers) *preferred*
Lost Battalions
Suspenders (Hosentrager) - These can be reproductions, originals, civilian types, etc.
Vendors: At The Front (The sell a very nice reproduction set)
Hessen Antique
Service Shirt (Hemd) - collard shirt with or without pockets.
Vendors: At The Front
Panther Store
Richard Underwood
Footwear (Schuhzeug) - M1937 low boots or M1939 Marching Boots. Low boots are the standard footwear for Kampfgruppe Gottlieb, so please purchase low boots before marschstiefel. While you do see the marching boots still being worn in our period of the war, the low boots are by far more commonly seen. It is important that you do not purchase Sturm boots, or boots from any vendor that is not accepted by Kampfgruppe Gottlieb. Other boots will crack and fall apart before one season is completed. I've got a pair to prove it!
Vendors: Leder Arsenal (low boots)
Richard Underwood (low boots)
SM Wholesale (low boots
Voenspec (Russian vendor, low boots.)
Schuster (Russian vendor, low boots.)
Robert Land (Marschstiefel)
Socks/Footwraps (Socken) - Any correct German issued socks or foot wraps. Your preference.
Vendors: At The Front
Hessen Antique (Socks and Footwraps)
Leggings (Gemaschen) - The only gemaschen allowed can be purchased from At The Front. They sell original gemaschen that have had new adjustment straps sewn on.
Field Gear
Equipment Belt (Koppel) - Black, leather belt. Webbing belts also accepted in limited numbers - See Gottlieb leadership before buying. (Note: Please make sure that you measure yourself appropriately before purchasing!)
Vendors: At The Front
SM Wholesale
Belt Buckle (Koppelschlosser) - Pebbled Aluminum or Steel, painted in the correct feldgrau color. Original or Reproduction.
Vendors: At The Front.
Kar98 Ammunition Pouches (Patronentaschen) - Original or Reproductions.
The only reproductions allowed at from At The Front. Please, no Chinese made pouches.
Breadbag (Brotbeutel) - Original or reproduction. Kampfgruppe Gottlieb only allows originals, or correct reproductions from At The Front, Schuster, or SM Wholesale. "Tropical" bread bag reproductions from At The Front are allowed, as well. 'Texled' or Standard.
Canteen (Feldflaschen) - This includes: Strap, Cover, Flask, and Metal or Bakelite Cup.
Original or quality reproductions allowed.
Vendors: At The Front
Mess Kit (Kochgeschirr) - Original (Strongly Preferred) or Post War. I have found that the closest post war mess kits to the original German issue are actually post war Soviet mess kits. These can usually be found on Ebay for $10 to $15. They will need to be stripped and repainted a correct color. See Gottlieb leadership for this item.
Issued Spork - German Army issued folding spoon/fork combination. Reproductions can be found at At The Front or Hessen Antique.
Gas Canister (Tragebusche) - Original or high quality reproduction. Must be painted the correct color.
Vendors: At The Front. (Original Cans)
Bunker Militaria
Ebay
Shovel (Schanzzeug/Klappspaten) - Original or certain post war flat shovels, or folding shovels. Please see Gottlieb leadership on what post war shovels are allowed.
(Check Ebay for this item)
Shovel Cover - Straight or folding shovel carrier - At The Front. (Standard issue black or Prestoff accepted)
Bayonet (Seitengewehr) - Original or reproduction. Originals preferred.
Vendors: At The Front (reproduction) or check on Ebay.
Bayonet Frog (Seitengewehrtasche) - Dismounted or mounted.
Vendors: At The Front
1944 Militaria
Mess Kit Strap - Original, post war, or reproduction. Leather or 'tropical' types allowed.
Vendors: At The Front
1944 Militaria
Greatcoat Straps/Equipment Straps (3) - Original or Reproduction. Leather type.
These are very handy to use on your tornister or for attaching gear to your Y straps.
Vendors: At The Front
Misc. Articles
Soldbuch - Please see Gottlieb leadership
I.D. disk with cord - Please see Gottlieb leadership
Tier II (To be purchased after Tier I items)
Greatcoat (Mantel) - M1940, or M1942.
Vendors: Schuster
Richard Underwood
Hessen Antique
Gavin Militaria
Parka Set (Winteranzug) - Mouse Grey, Splinter, or Sumpftarn patterns accepted. Should have suspenders with the parka trousers. Note: Sturm made parkas will need to be de-fluffed as they are far too puffy.
Vendors: SM Wholesale
Panther Store
Hessen Antique (Gavin Militaria makes Sumpftarn winter trousers upon request)
Sweater (Schlupfjacke) - Should be the eary war v-neck or crew neck type.
Vendors: At The Front
Schuster
Richard Underwood
Gloves (Handschuhe) - German issued or civilian.
Vendors: At The Front.
Field Gear
Y Straps (Tragegestell) - Leather or tropical types. Please consult Gottlieb's leadership before purchasing.
Vendors: At The Front (texled)
SM Wholesale
Zeltbahn - Original or high quality reproduction. SM Wholesale or Panther Store copies are preferred. At The Front's new reproduction is also allowed by the unit. Stay away from Sturm made copies. (Note: Zeltbahn accessories, 3 poles, 1 rope, and 4 pins, can be purchased from Hessen Antique. Post war ones are allowed by the unit as they are identical or originals.)
Gas cape bag - Original or Reproduction.
Blanket (Mannschaftsdecken) - Reproduction or Post War variant.
Vendors: At The Front
Hessen Antique
Information from:
http://kampfgruppe-gottlieb.weebly.com/uniform-guidelines.html
Photos: Matt James
Helmet (Stahlhelm) - M1940, M1942. (Original shells strongly preferred) Single Army decal allowed. The helmet must be painted with the correct feldgrau paint. The paint may be flat factory paint, factory paint with texture, or a field repaint. Daniel Gray is also able to restore and original shell if you find one on ebay in your size. If you have questions on helmet sizing, please see Gottlieb leadership.
Vendors: German Helmets, Inc.
Hessen Antique (They occasionally have restored originals)
Ebay or German Ebay. (Original, unrestored shell.)
Caps (Feldmutze) - M1943 with the proper BeVo trapezoid insignia
Vendors: At The Front: "texled" in feldgrau or Italian wool.
GD 43
Panther Store
Tunic (Feldbluse) M1940, M1942, or M1943 with the correct insignia. (No embroidered breast eagles) mid-war/late insignia and shoulder boards. Please contact members of Gottlieb's leadership before you purchase a feldbluse to make sure it is the right one for you! There are a lot of bad ones out there, and we want to ensure that your first purchase is a correct one!
Vendors: At The Front. ('Texled' pattern tunics)
On the March
Panther Store
Lost Battalions
(It is recommended that the M1943 pattern feldbluse with mid-war/late insignia be the first choice for tunic patterns.)
Trousers (Feldhosen) - Feldgrau straight leg trousers, or (preferably) M43 Kielhosen.
Vendors: At The Front. (Offers 'texled' pattern trousers) *preferred*
Lost Battalions
Suspenders (Hosentrager) - These can be reproductions, originals, civilian types, etc.
Vendors: At The Front (The sell a very nice reproduction set)
Hessen Antique
Service Shirt (Hemd) - collard shirt with or without pockets.
Vendors: At The Front
Panther Store
Richard Underwood
Footwear (Schuhzeug) - M1937 low boots or M1939 Marching Boots. Low boots are the standard footwear for Kampfgruppe Gottlieb, so please purchase low boots before marschstiefel. While you do see the marching boots still being worn in our period of the war, the low boots are by far more commonly seen. It is important that you do not purchase Sturm boots, or boots from any vendor that is not accepted by Kampfgruppe Gottlieb. Other boots will crack and fall apart before one season is completed. I've got a pair to prove it!
Vendors: Leder Arsenal (low boots)
Richard Underwood (low boots)
SM Wholesale (low boots
Voenspec (Russian vendor, low boots.)
Schuster (Russian vendor, low boots.)
Robert Land (Marschstiefel)
Socks/Footwraps (Socken) - Any correct German issued socks or foot wraps. Your preference.
Vendors: At The Front
Hessen Antique (Socks and Footwraps)
Leggings (Gemaschen) - The only gemaschen allowed can be purchased from At The Front. They sell original gemaschen that have had new adjustment straps sewn on.
Field Gear
Equipment Belt (Koppel) - Black, leather belt. Webbing belts also accepted in limited numbers - See Gottlieb leadership before buying. (Note: Please make sure that you measure yourself appropriately before purchasing!)
Vendors: At The Front
SM Wholesale
Belt Buckle (Koppelschlosser) - Pebbled Aluminum or Steel, painted in the correct feldgrau color. Original or Reproduction.
Vendors: At The Front.
Kar98 Ammunition Pouches (Patronentaschen) - Original or Reproductions.
The only reproductions allowed at from At The Front. Please, no Chinese made pouches.
Breadbag (Brotbeutel) - Original or reproduction. Kampfgruppe Gottlieb only allows originals, or correct reproductions from At The Front, Schuster, or SM Wholesale. "Tropical" bread bag reproductions from At The Front are allowed, as well. 'Texled' or Standard.
Canteen (Feldflaschen) - This includes: Strap, Cover, Flask, and Metal or Bakelite Cup.
Original or quality reproductions allowed.
Vendors: At The Front
Mess Kit (Kochgeschirr) - Original (Strongly Preferred) or Post War. I have found that the closest post war mess kits to the original German issue are actually post war Soviet mess kits. These can usually be found on Ebay for $10 to $15. They will need to be stripped and repainted a correct color. See Gottlieb leadership for this item.
Issued Spork - German Army issued folding spoon/fork combination. Reproductions can be found at At The Front or Hessen Antique.
Gas Canister (Tragebusche) - Original or high quality reproduction. Must be painted the correct color.
Vendors: At The Front. (Original Cans)
Bunker Militaria
Ebay
Shovel (Schanzzeug/Klappspaten) - Original or certain post war flat shovels, or folding shovels. Please see Gottlieb leadership on what post war shovels are allowed.
(Check Ebay for this item)
Shovel Cover - Straight or folding shovel carrier - At The Front. (Standard issue black or Prestoff accepted)
Bayonet (Seitengewehr) - Original or reproduction. Originals preferred.
Vendors: At The Front (reproduction) or check on Ebay.
Bayonet Frog (Seitengewehrtasche) - Dismounted or mounted.
Vendors: At The Front
1944 Militaria
Mess Kit Strap - Original, post war, or reproduction. Leather or 'tropical' types allowed.
Vendors: At The Front
1944 Militaria
Greatcoat Straps/Equipment Straps (3) - Original or Reproduction. Leather type.
These are very handy to use on your tornister or for attaching gear to your Y straps.
Vendors: At The Front
Misc. Articles
Soldbuch - Please see Gottlieb leadership
I.D. disk with cord - Please see Gottlieb leadership
Tier II (To be purchased after Tier I items)
Greatcoat (Mantel) - M1940, or M1942.
Vendors: Schuster
Richard Underwood
Hessen Antique
Gavin Militaria
Parka Set (Winteranzug) - Mouse Grey, Splinter, or Sumpftarn patterns accepted. Should have suspenders with the parka trousers. Note: Sturm made parkas will need to be de-fluffed as they are far too puffy.
Vendors: SM Wholesale
Panther Store
Hessen Antique (Gavin Militaria makes Sumpftarn winter trousers upon request)
Sweater (Schlupfjacke) - Should be the eary war v-neck or crew neck type.
Vendors: At The Front
Schuster
Richard Underwood
Gloves (Handschuhe) - German issued or civilian.
Vendors: At The Front.
Field Gear
Y Straps (Tragegestell) - Leather or tropical types. Please consult Gottlieb's leadership before purchasing.
Vendors: At The Front (texled)
SM Wholesale
Zeltbahn - Original or high quality reproduction. SM Wholesale or Panther Store copies are preferred. At The Front's new reproduction is also allowed by the unit. Stay away from Sturm made copies. (Note: Zeltbahn accessories, 3 poles, 1 rope, and 4 pins, can be purchased from Hessen Antique. Post war ones are allowed by the unit as they are identical or originals.)
Gas cape bag - Original or Reproduction.
Blanket (Mannschaftsdecken) - Reproduction or Post War variant.
Vendors: At The Front
Hessen Antique
Information from:
http://kampfgruppe-gottlieb.weebly.com/uniform-guidelines.html
Photos: Matt James