Originally, I wrote this for my old unit, Großdeutschland, and so occasionally you will see a couple of "GD-isms" in this page. However, all of these books will help the German reenactor's impression.
Yes, this page is hideously long, but it has a lot of good info I just do not have time to put on separate pages...
So, read, enjoy, study. Bis unsere der Sieg ist... Weiß
 Individual training and research is very important in reenacting and how good the unit looks and performs depends on each and every member of Großdeutschland. The basic format to start with would be to obtain as many books and videos on the subject as you can find. To add to the written material study the many excellent period photographs of the German Army, as well as the Waffen-SS, and use them to improve your overall impression. Watching original film footage from WWII can also give you a good feel for the war time German Army.
Another good way to improve your impression is to study individuals from other German reenacting units who have refined their impressions (ask your sponsor or NCOs who we mean here). Above all, study this unit manual carefully. A lot of time and effort was spent to produce this guide, all in order to enhance the field impression of the whole unit, and each individual impression is a key factor towards our success.
Reenactor’s Reading List
The following is a recommended book list for photographic and historical accounts of the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS which will give you a good working knowledge of the uniforms and equipment for our impression:
On Germans
The following books will give the member a good idea of how Germans think and act (pretty important when one is trying to do a first-person impression).
- Culture Shock—A guide to Customs and Etiquette—Germany
by Richard Lord; Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company, 1996. Written by an American living in Germany, this book details the way Germans are, and, has many of their customs, some history and German etiquettes.
- Of German Ways
by LaVern Ripley; Barnes & Noble Books, 1970. Although an older book, Of German Ways is a good basic primer on German history, customs and culture. Well worth reading to give one a solid grounding in "German-ness!"
- Scheiße!
by Gertrude Besserwisser; Plume Books, 1994. Scheiße is a useful book for the German reenactor. With this book one can learn how to actually speak those phrases that real people use. Soon, you too will be swearing away—„Es ist mir Scheißegal!"
On the "Real" Großdeutschland Units
- Panzer Grenadier Division Großdeutschland
by Horst Sheibert; squadron/signal publications inc., 1987. In both German and English, this book is one of the "classics" and also a good reference work on the unit. It has a timeline and many photos and maps.
- The History of the Panzerkorps Großdeutschland, Vol. 1 & 2
by Helmuth Spaeter; J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing Inc, Winnipeg, 1992. The absolute "last-word" on GD. Translated from the German, this book has every thing there is about GD and its offspring units.
- Panzerkorps Großdeutschland; Bilddokumentation
by Helmuth Spaeter; Podzun-Pallas-Verlag, 1984. German language edition. A companion to the above book, this volume is chock full ‘o GD photos. It is also available in English, but I know not where.
- God, Honor, Fatherland,
by Thomas McGuirl & Remy Spezzano;RZM Imports, Inc., Southbury, 1997. The cover description says it all: "A photo History of Panzergrenadier Division "Grossdeutschland" on the Eastern Front 1942-1944." Buy this book, it is invaluable!
- Panzer Grenadier Division ‘Großdeutschland’
by Bruce Quarrie; squadron/signal publications, 1978. A "quickie" book that will give the reader a overview of Großdeutschland. Probably out of print.
Other books on the Wehrmacht
- German Army Uniforms and Insignia 1933-45
by Brian L. Davis. The "Bible" of German uniforms and insignia, this is "the" book to buy, especially if you can only afford one book on German uniforms and insignia.
- TM-E 30-451: Handbook on German Military Forces
by the US War Department; US Government Printing Office, 1945. Reprints available—One of the old stand-bys on details of the German Armed Forces. Contains information not only on the various types of equipment in use, but also information on training, supply, organization, etc.
- Soldat- The World War II German Army Combat Uniform Collector’s Handbook
vols. #1,2,3,(and especially) 5. by Cyrus A. Lee; Pictorial Histories Publishing Co.—A fairly good source of information on items carried or worn by the Landser. Vol. 1 is about early-war (1939-42), Vol. 2 is about 1943 and Vol. 3 (probably the most useful) as it details the late war common Landser. These first three books are a valuable tool in discovery just what things should look like! Vol. 5 is completely about Großdeutschland.
- Uniforms and Equipment of the German Army, 1939-1945 vols. #1,2 & especially Vol. #3.
by John Angolia and Adolf Schlicht; R. James Bender Publishing.
A very comprehensive work on the uniforms and equipment of the German Army. Vol. 1 deals with uniforms and insignia. Vol. 2 contains more insignia and headgear. Vol. 3 details weapons and equipment and hence, is probably the most useful.
- Operation Barbarossa in Photographs
by Paul Carell, 1991; Schiffer Military History Publishing Co., West Chester, PA. Originally published in Germany as Unternehmen Barbarossa im Bild, this book is an outstanding collection of photos of the Eastern Front and goes along with Mr. Carell’s works: Operation Barbarossa—Hitler Moves East and Scorched Earth. This book can only be read in multiple sittings as there is just so much to absorb.
- German Combat Equipments 1939-45
(Osprey Men-At Arms series #234)
by Gordon Rottman and art by Ron Volstad. A good basic primer on German equipment. It has good photos and drawings of the equipment along with their German names and terms.
- German Soldiers of World War II
by Militaria Magazine. All color with models wearing the uniforms and some equipment in semi-realistic poses. This will give you a good feel for what the "real" stuff looked like. The only downside is that the English translations are (typically French) piß-poor.
- German Army Uniforms of World War II in Colour Photographs
by Wade Krawczyk. Much like the above book—All color with models wearing the uniforms and some equipment. The difference is that the piare better and it has much better text.
- Der Dienst-Unterricht im Heere
by W. Reibert; E.S.Mittler & Sohn, Berlin. Various editions, 1937 to 1943—This was one of the most popular German training manuals and contains a wealth of material on equipment, military customs, tactics, fieldcraft, etc. The later editions contain the most useful information pertaining to the 1944/45 Soldat. German text, of course. These books have been reprinted in Germany, but are again out of print.
- German Army Handbook
by A. Buchner; Schiffer Military History Publishing Co., West Chester, PA—A very good book (despite some really bad translations) which concentrates on the makeup of the German Infantry Division. Interesting information on how the various ranks functioned, and how the smaller units were organized and equipped.
Written Accounts
by Michel Götz
For the individual who collects militaria or studies military history, the human element behind the artifacts and tactics very rarely comes to light. Histories abound about the leading personalities and grand operations, usually from the victors perspective, but there is no corresponding amount of information available from the perspective of the individual participants on either side. How often have you held a piece of equipment, such as a helmet or weapon, and wondered who used it, or where it has been? What was the person who had this piece of equipment like? How similar, or different, was he from yourself? What influences shaped that person to become who he was? The obvious answer is to meet and speak with these people, but with the passage of time many have passed on, or their memories are not as sharp as they once were. Many accounts have been published in Germany about the German experience in the first half of this century, but they are difficult to obtain on this side of the Atlantic. Also, if you cannot read German, you are at a severe disadvantage. Fortunately, there are some good accounts that have been translated into English. Listed below are works of non-fiction and fiction that can give one a glimpse into this period of time. Many of the items are out of print, but many of the better second-hand bookstores can usually obtain a copy for you. So, pick one of these up, take yourself back fifty years, and begin to get the feel of the what it meant to be a „Frontsoldat!"
Non-Fictional Accounts
- Voices from the Third Reich; An Oral History
by Regnery Gateway, 1989; As the title states, this is an oral history from the German perspective of the years 1932 to 1945. The authors have interviewed people from many backgrounds; workers, children, politicians, soldiers, prisoners. A very interesting perspective of the people of "the other side."
- In Hitler’s Germany; Everyday life in the Third Reich
by Bernt Engelmann; Schocken Books, 1986; This is a translation of the German original, Im Gleichschritt marsch and Bis alles in Scherben fällt. Unlike Voices, which was written for an English audience, this book provides very frank and vivid accounts of what it was like to be in Germany from 1932 to 1945.
- The Nazi Years; A Documentary History
Simon & Schuster, 1986; Using primary sources, this book describes through original records a survey of what "made" National Socialism. It presents the documents that shaped the Nazi movement, as well as the efforts to thwart and destroy the movement.
- A Lamb to Slaughter
by Jan Montyn; Viking Penguin, 1985; A Dutch citizen, Montyn joined the German Navy in 1943. In this autobiography, he describes his experiences as a sailor in the Baltic, as a soldier on the Eastern Front, the digging out the city of Dresden, and his postwar experiences in the French Foreign Legion and Dutch Army.
- War on the Eastern Front, 1941-1945; The German Soldier in Russia
by James Lucas; Bonanaza Books, 1979; This book is a very good collection of small unit actions in Russia.
- World War Two through German Eyes
by James Lucas; Arms and Armour Press, 1987; The title says it all! This book can help you to understand the German Soldat and his motives—just remember though, it’s a typical Limey book in that it has a lot of strange English biases in it.
- The Survivor
by John Ehle; Pyramid Books, 1962; This is the story of Eddy Hukov, a member of the Waffen-SS, and his experiences fighting on the Eastern Front.
- Last letters from Stalingrad
Signet, 1965; An excerpt from the back cover of this book describes it best: "You’re a Nazi [Waugh!] combat soldier—the victim of a master military plan that failed. You’ve been cut off from all help and left to perish in the city of Stalingrad in the early months of 1943. Freezing, starving, facing certain death, you’re given the chance to write a last letter home. To whom do you write? What will you say? What thoughts go through your mind when you know you are going to die?" Needless to say, a very moving book!
- Moscow Tramstop
by Dr. Heinrich Haape; Panther Book, 1959; As a doctor with a front-line German unit, Happe participated in the invasion of Russia in June, 1941. This book describes his experiences in the East.
- The Invisible Flag
by Peter Bamm; Signet, 1958; Originally published in German as Die unsichtbare Flagge, this is another account of a doctor while serving in Russia.
- The Forgotten Soldier
by Guy Sajer; Harper & Row, 1971; This book has, over the years, emerged as a "classic" account of what it was like to be a German infantryman during World War Two. With a German mother and French father, Sajer found himself torn between two alliances when the war broke out. He "volunteered" to join the Wehrmacht, and participated in many of the major operations in the East.
A Review of Frontsoldaten
by Fritz Schmidt, 7./1./Großdeutschland
Frontsoldaten
by Stephen G. Fritz, University Press of Kentucky, 1996. [This review edited by RW]
As a German who moved to the US as a young child, I am constantly striving to learn more about the events of this time. I also try and understand some of the feelings that Germans, particularly German soldiers, felt during the period leading up to 1945.
This book, Frontsoldaten by Stephen G. Fritz, does not dwell on the details of events, equipment or even on the particular places where the German soldiers fought. Instead, The author settles for exploring their thoughts—their fears, hopes, dreams and also the Kameradschaft (comradeship) that made the Landser the best soldier of WWII. About 90% of this book discusses the life of the German soldier on the Ostfront.
The entire focus of Frontsoldaten is on the German Landser himself. Fritz’s basis for this focus is on the written word of actual soldiers during the war (many of whom did not survive). The author "capsulizes" his chapters by using passages from war-time letters written to loved ones and also from soldier’s diaries.
Frontsoldaten is a valuable tool in under-standing the men we portray. In reconstructing my impression of the Frontsoldat, it is important to me to not only look the part, but to also "feel the feelings." What makes this book so truly valuable is that it reaches deeper into the mind and psychological make-up of the Landser.
In discussing the German soldier’s political feelings, Fritz takes care not to label all German soldiers as "Nazis," but… he does state that for the most part, they overwhelmingly agreed with the economic and foreign policy objectives [this means Germany’s (and Hitler’s) reasons for the war—RW] of the Nazi regime. Fritz tries to put the reader "into" the mind of the "twenty-something" year old German, who (without the benefit of the independent reasoning which only comes later in life) was like most "twenty-somethings" in that he was a product of his environment. During the 1930’s and 40’s, the political environment of Germany had been almost exclusively dominated by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party and this had heavily influenced these young men. The author also points out that the average German soldier embraced not only National Socialism, but also the military because they both broke down the walls of class distinction and gave everyone the same chance for success. My own family has described National Socialism as a concept that was first met with general cynicism—then passive acceptance—before finally gaining general support.
Fritz calls the German soldier of WWII a kind of "soldiers soldier." In comparison to the American GI (whom he described as never really being a soldier, but more of a civilian in uncomfortable clothing), he says that the German soldier had a much clearer understanding of mission, purpose, honor and Kameradschaft. In fact he goes to some length in arguing that the overall success of the German Army in opposing its enemies was largely because of the training, discipline and Kameradschaft that was constantly instilled throughout the rank and file. He also makes an interesting point (one which created a memory bubble of my own) when he states that in comparison with the average Tommy or GI, the Landser was much more aware of the atrocities that had already occurred under Stalin’s rule in the Soviet Union. He states (for the first time I have ever seen in print) that the German press, before WWII, openly discussed Stalin’s purges to a far greater degree than the British or American press and that the average German citizen was very clear to the danger that dwelled to their East.
I heartily recommend Frontsoldaten, because it helps give one a glimpse of the psychological profile of the average German soldier of WWII and I consider this kind of understanding to be as important to my impression as my Stahlhelm.—FS
A review of two good non-fictional books
by Herrn Obergefreiter August Fensch, 1./St.Pi.Btl.GD
- Panzer Commander
by Col. Hans von Luck, Dell Publishing, 1989
- Soldat
by Siegfried Knappe, Orion Books, 1992
These two books are being reviewed together because, while the people and details are different, the basic subject matter is the same: the war experiences of a field-grade officer in the mobile branches of the Wehrmacht. Both men began in the Reichswehr, von Luck as a cavalry officer while Knappe was a cadet in the RAD (Reicharbeitsdienst). From there von Luck was transferred to the Panzers while Knappe moved to the cavalry and finally ended up in the artillery. Between the two of them, they participated in every major campaign area of the German Army, with the possible exception of the occupation of the Channel Islands. Knappe saw action in France, Russia, Italy and Germany, while von Luck served in Poland, France, Russia, North Africa and also Germany at the end.
Each book begins during the Reichswehr period and ends with the repatriation of the men into the Fatherland after being prisoners in the Soviet Union. Knappe goes into much more detail about his prewar cadet training (including his thoughts on Arbeitsdienst shovel drill) while von Luck just mentions it to let you know it happened.
At the beginning of the war, von Luck was in the Polish campaign while Knappe sat that one out, drilling his horse artillery. Both men then served in the Blitzkrieg through France and the balmy days of the invasion of Russia although, perhaps with 20-20 hindsight, both admit to misgivings about throwing the Wehrmacht into the infinity of the Russian steppes. At this point, both fortuitously got removed from the Russian "disaster-in-the-making," Knappe due to schrapnel wounds (of which he seemed to get at least one in each theater of the war he was stationed in) and von Luck, because his Kamerad, Rommel, needed him in North Africa.
Von Luck was in North Africa until just before the final withdrawal; during the same period Knappe went back and forth from Germany to Russia because of wounds and training, just managing to miss being sent to Stalingrad due to bad flying weather. At this point, both men were saved from capture (von Luck was running an errand in Berlin) as OKW finally accepted the old maxim of not reinforcing defeat and wouldn’t allow any more troops in either theater.
Having lost the opportunity to surrender for the Fatherland, von Luck was sent to France while Knappe went to Italy. Being officers, both got to take a few trips home in the interim while fighting the allies in France and Italy before finally ending up captured as their units were transferred in a vain attempt to halt the Russian juggernaut in the east.
Both these books are fine reading, being a cut above the not uncommon English-as-a-second-language translation that many German memoirs seem to be plagued with. The styles are easy to read, with a conversational tone to both. The Knappe book, to me, seemed to express more of his feelings; von Luck struck me as more matter-of-fact, here’s-what-happened, except when he dealt with his prisoner of war period.
Although both men were officers throughout the war, these books give a good description of what it was like to be in the front lines and on the home front. Von Luck gives some very vivid and interesting descriptions of the campaigns in North Africa and the fighting in the Bocages of France. Knappe for most of the war was fighting in horse-drawn artillery units, of which you don’t often get to read.
Occasionally both books sound a little like those cheesy pseudo-historical novels that get turned into mini-series: Von Luck cracking jokes with Rommel! Knappe in the Führerbunker! Von Luck delivering messages to Jodl! But I suppose someone had to be around those guys, and that’s what helped sell their books to the publishers rather than Joachim Schmoe who never hung around with anyone important.
These books are excellent "reads," easy to get into, with the action flowing quickly from one event to the next. They are examples of the type of historical reading I prefer, that is, the personal account of what the average soldier went through during the war, or, in this case, the average field officer (which sometimes isn’t a whole lot different.)
As you can see from the publishing dates, neither book is hot off the presses, but shouldn’t be too hard to find if you tend to frequent pre-owned merchandise establishments and library sales like I do. If you find a copy, you’ll find it worth your time to read it, or, if it doesn’t interest you personally, buy it anyway to pass along to a Kamerad in the unit. Books of this quality on the experiences of German soldiers during the war are rare indeed, and always worth obtaining.—AF
Fictional Accounts
- The Revolt of Gunner Asch
- Forward, Gunner Asch!
- The Return of Gunner Asch
by Hans Hellmut Kirst; Pyramid books; Kirst is probably best known for his books Hero in the Tower and Night of the Generals, but the Gunner Asch series of books tells the story of a regular guy trying to do his best to take advantage and survive the system. This series shows that no matter what the uniform may be, a soldier is a soldier! All he wants is a good drink, a good woman, and to get home all in one piece! These books were later made into a couple of movies (both in German, but understandable—they are available), one of these movies is called 08/15 [pronounced „Null Acht Fünfzehn" (nool ahkt fewnfsain)—it is the German version of the term "Catch-22" or in otherwords, institutional stupidity] Translated from German.
- The Cross of Iron
by Willi Heinrich; Bantam, 1956; You saw the movie about Sergeant Steiner, and thought it was good, read the book! A classic!
- Crack of Doom
by Willi Heinrich; Bantam, 1974; The story of a German unit in Russia, caught behind enemy lines, and their attempt to break out.
- Mark of Shame
by Willi Heinrich; Bantam, 1960; The story of a veteran who returns to Germany after seven years in a Russian POW camp. It gives a very good description of life in Germany after the war. A note about Willi Heinrich. He served as an infantry officer in Russia, and became quite acquainted with the look, smell, and sound of military defeat.
- A Soldier’s Legacy
by Heinrich Böll; Originally published in Germany, now published in the US by Knopf Publishing. Heinrich Böll was a German soldier during the war and began writing novels about his experiences after the war. This book is more literary than scholastic in its makeup, but it will give the reader a "feel" for the day-to-day existence of the Landser waiting on the channel coast before the invasion. There are also collections of Böll’s short stories, many of which are equally as good, including one story called "The Breadbag."
Hopefully these titles will help to provide needed insight into the life of the German Soldat!
Movies and Videos
There really aren’t too many good movies portraying the German soldier. Most movies rely on really stupid stereotypes of the German military, like The Big Red One (not even worth watching for the German scenes) or Battle of the Bulge (even worse).
- The Cross of Iron— This is definitely not the most authentic movie ever made, but we are including it here because it seems to be the standard "gotta watch" for German reenactors. The best use for this film would be to watch it and see how many inaccuracies you could find. On the other hand, it does capture the brutality of the Eastern Front and the overblown aspirations of some members of the German officer corps. The commanding officer in this film suffers from Hals Schmerzen (a sore throat)—he wants the Knight’s Cross—his "Cross of Iron." The hero is a combat-hardened NCO named Steiner. Color. [members are not allowed to watch this movie more than 4 times a year, nor are they allowed to watch it anytime within two months before an event. Members choosing persona names from this movie will be shot!]
- Stalingrad— A recent (1994) German movie. Probably one of the most depressing war movies I’ve ever seen. On the other hand, it’s a gold mine for German soldier-talk and the kits aren’t too bad, either. It also has one of the best anti-tank scenes of any movie.
- Die Brücke— Available from International Historic Films (IHF). This movie was made in Germany in the 1950s and is based on the novel of the same title. Probably the best movie about the German soldier, it chronicles the experiences of seven German youths as they are drafted out of school, are trained, and given a mission to hold a bridge which happens to be in their home town. All original German gear, including MP44s, MG42s, etc. The GI stuff is sort of hoaky, but who cares? Black and white, and German dialog.
- Strafbataillon 999 (Punishment Bataillon 999) West Germany, 1959— Quote from IHF promo for this: "on the Eastern Front in WWII, a German battalion fights Russian soldiers and partisans. This is no ordinary battalion. These soldiers are being punished by the high command for "crimes" like ordering retreats to save men’s lives or working too hard to discover an anti-gangrene serum. These men are abused by their commanders, made to dig useless trenches under fire, and sent into a final suicidal mission. Their enemies are everywhere." This film is based on a novel by Heinz G. Konsalik and the script was co-written by him. It’s Eastern Front setting is highly unusual for war films distributed in the US, as is its nightmarish, authentically-detailed view of war. B/W, comes in two versions: #1 is dubbed in English and is shorter (92 minutes) and #2 in German with subtitles and it’s longer!! (103 minutes)—Guess which one we want you to buy?!
- Männer gegen Panzer! / Pionier Voran!—Another nifty IHF offering, this tape has not one, but two neat training movies. The first, Männer gegen Panzer! is a German training film that shows how to use all the Wehrmacht’s anti-tank weapons. And… they don’t use models, all of these weapons are used for real, on real Soviet tanks! Pionier Voran! is a Pionier training film that shows among other things how a bridge is set-up in combat. This tape is a great 2-for-1 deal, especially for us! B/W.
- The German Sniper. Also from IHF, this is actually a German training movie put on video tape. There is a wealth of field-craft tips in this movie, many of which are applicable to the common infantryman. Black and White, a combination of English dubbing or subtitles, depending on whether the translator thought the German dialog sounded interesting. B/W.
- Invasion of Poland newsreel / movie From IHF—News-movie on the invasion of Poland, showing victorious sweep through this "non-Country." Neat early-war footage.
- Sieg im Westen—From IHF. Sieg im Westen (Victory in the West) was a German propaganda film, made to show the "glorious" conquest of France. Great footage, but this movie drags on (and on). It’s best to watch Sieg im Westen with a few Kameraden and Bier or in a couple of sittings. B/W.
- Die Wochenschau newsreels—From (of course) IHF. Weekly German newsreels on tape, usually three or so to a tape. Very intersting footage, for the most part not usually seen here in America.
- A Bridge Too Far. The biggest and most expensive war movie ever made. There are several good German scenes, including the one showing a German strongpoint in the woods as it attempts to stop a British armored column. Color.
- The Longest Day. The invasion of Normandy as told by Hollywood! A huge amount of famous actors (many in bit parts). For example, John Wayne is, of course, an American Airborne Colonel. This movie is neat because the Germans are actually speaking German and… the uniforms are good. Unfortunately, (and as usual) Hollywood has taken license with many of the details. But what the heck, it’s a good flick. Black and white.
- Decision Before Dawn. Not a commonly shown movie, and we have no idea whether it is even out on video tape. An excellent film, absolutely packed with original kit.
- Europa, Europa. An interesting but quirky [very quirky!] movie which revolves around a Jewish boy who ends up in the Wehrmacht. The actual military scenes are limited but the movie is worth watching. German dialog, English subtitles. Color.
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