WWII New Reenactor FAQS
How do I get to go to a WWII reenactment event?
There are three ways to go to any event. You can come to any public event in your best WWII attire, pay at the door, and have fun. That's definately the easiest way to go, but be aware. Some of the reenactor are leery of "day pass" reenactors, because these type of reenactors sometimes miss minor details, due to not having the feedback and knowledge that comes with working with a larger unit. It also doesn't allow you to set up a cool display or even a few chairs, and usually means that you're not getting your fair share of the free sodas and sandwiches for reenactors. However, if your goal is to attend a few swing dances, meet a few people, and get your picture taken beside an airplane, this is a fine way to go to an event.
The second way is to find a unit that's going and register with them. The person in charge of the unit usually takes care of any lodging and possibly food requirements, as well as unit paperwork. You may need to fill out your own registration though, and mail it back. A few of the events charge you to be a reenactor (read the fine print - it's usually for food or lodging, or because it's a private event), but most events do not. The unit as a whole will set up a large display. You may have a small part of the display that you are responsible for, or you may be responsible for arriving at a certain time to set up tents and buildings. This type of reenacting allows a more complete immersion into the hobby, without the headache of owning ones own small army.
The third and most difficult way is to go with your "own" unit. That is, you can contact the event and ask for space to set up a display. Space is either on a first come, first serve basis, or is sometimes held on a priority based on last years attendance or other factors. Sometimes, reenactors will set up on their own for smaller events and register with their larger unit for larger ones.
How do I choose an impression?
For some reenactors and living historians, one's WWII persona or impression is almost destiny. Many reenactors have been playing GI Joe or building model P-51's since childhood. If you happen to be one of those people who has a firm gut feeling about what you want your impression to be, stick with your instinct and skip to "finding a unit". For everyone else, choosing an impression may seem like throwing darts at a list, as there are so many facets of WWII that touched thousands of lives. However, here are some suggestions to help you narrow down your choices.
First, if you are simply fascinated about WWII, and do not care about a specific impression, it makes sense to look for your unit first. Your impression is largely tied to your unit, and you'll find that as you make unit decisions, you'll also learn more about finding the right impression for you. However, if you do have some opinions about your impression, or would like a choice in the matter, you should choose your impression before you look for a unit.
When shopping around for an impression, here are some things to consider. Do I want a civilian or military impression? Some people feel very strongly about putting on a uniform, others do not. What events am I going to attend? If you are primarily interested in attending dances and living history events, civilian may be appropriate, while tacticals almost always require a military impression, such as a field nurse or russian sniper. You also may find that events are theater specific, ie require that you only represent Europe or Asia. What job or role would you like to have or in which branch of service would you like to serve? Some people make this choice based on their own preference, or wish to serve the legacy of a family member. Each military and non-military organization has its own story that appeals to different people.
Once you've narrowed your choice of impression down to some broad brush strokes, you can start to research your WWII impression and search for a unit. You may wish to attend some events in your area as a spectator, if you haven't already done so. Once you've got your basic clothing, you can start to shape your impression into a more specific character as you choose as you read and do more research.
Note: Many reenactors / living historians feel that women should not dress up and portray male military impressions due to the huge number of women's roles during WWII, and the disrespect it shows to both the male vets who fought in the war, and women who struggled to be recognized as veterans. Since during WWII, there are no recorded cases of women pretending to be men (as in the case of the Civil War or American Revolution), it is also historically inaccurate. However, for a tactical not open to the public, some feel that it's ok for women to join the battle either as German, American or US combat soldiers.
How do I find a WWII living history or reenacting unit?
Choosing a WWII unit can depend on several factors, including your impression, the type of units in your area, and how far you wish to travel to reenact. The best place to start is by talking to reenactors either at events or via email, chat rooms and internet forums. If you go to an event, take some business cards and a pen and paper, so that you can contact the unit when they're not so busy at an event. As you are observing the unit, you can ask yourself, or members of the unit several questions, and see how it stacks up against what you want out of a unit. Note that every unit is independently run, so you'll find a wide range in some of these answers between units. Don't worry too much about choosing the wrong unit, though, many people shift units in the hobby several times before they several into a unit.
Where is the unit located? Even though the event may be just a few miles from your back door, the reenacting unit set up there may have traveled several hundred miles to get there. Sometimes, it's ok to be a member of a unit that's a state away, due to the proximity of actual events to your home. This is especially true if you know what impression you want to do. Just make sure you talk to the unit about your situation and be prepared to travel to meetings and their local events.
What impression does the unit do? You'll find that almost all reenacting "units" are called units because they are based on a real military unit or organization. This means that most of them have a fixed impression for the whole unit, such as 101st Airborne, or 1st Infantry. Some units have very narrow focus, while others are quite broad, such as "homefront". If you already have an impression in mind, make sure that your impression will fit into the unit's group focus. Otherwise, do you like the impression they do? Do you like their display?
What kind of kit / gear requirements does the unit have? This also is under the general category of "can I afford to reenact with this unit?". Some WWII living history units may require that you meet a certain level of uniform or kit to participate, or have levels of gear that you need to achieve over time. The general cost of any basic uniform for reenacting is $300-$500, but this can quickly inflate to $1,000 or more to get started if it's an elite unit (airborne, ranger, USAAF, RAF, other British and German units, etc.). If you feel comfortable with the budget, and still have a little bit left over for traveling to and from events and extra flea market spending money for little upgrades, then you should be ok. However, if you can barely swing the cost of the uniform and can't buy the rifle until sometime next year, you should either find another unit, or speak to someone in the unit. Sometimes reenactors are quick to help out new members of a unit and get them kitted out with ok, borrowed gear, or have a "short cut" that will work until you can swing the cost of the uniform and the rifle. However, if money really is an issue, you may want to find a unit with less requirements, or save up a bit before you plunge into the hobby.
Are there dues or other membership requirements? Do you need to maintain a military haircut or meet minimum physical requirements for the modern army? Are you required to complete a course in parachuting or have a legal pilot license, or meet other pre-requisites for a unit? Some reenactors really enjoy the heightened level of authenticity created by setting the bar of participation and real experience. Are you required to help restore the unit's tank every friday night or attend regular meetings? You may wish to consider how much you wish to interact with your unit outside of the event schedule. On the plus side, some people find that the "between event" interaction is more fun than actual events, however you may not have the time to commit to an intensive meeting or work schedule. Are there any dues for membership? Where do the dues go? Some units collect dues to cover the costs of food, tents, and travel, however occasionally, dues go astray, or are spent on things like beer runs. A few larger units are actual nonprofit organizations.
Does this unit to tactical or living history events or both? Some units attend more tactical events, where battles are actually reenacted, while others tend to recreate other parts of a soldiers life, such as drill, barracks life, or show briefings, training, and do more interaction with the public. Which do you prefer? For a woman, tacticals can be fun for some, but annoying for others, without luxuries such as restroom facilities and running water for hours or even days at a time.
Does the unit handle sleeping / food arrangements at events? Does the unit have a big tent that everyone sleeps in? Is it ok if you join them? Or, does everyone sleep on the ground in shelter halves? Are you going to sleep with the unit on the ground or in a hotel? Or, are you going to invest in your own officer's type tent where you can sleep in a cot? Also, is there some sense of group mess, or is food a fend for yourself type atmosphere? Some units carry a full mess with them that serves pseudo period food, such as baked beans, hot dogs, instant mashed potatoes, mystery meat and gravy, eggs and bacon, burnt toast, etc. Other units expect you to come up with your own food. You may also want to pay attention to what they're eating. If they're chowing down on something that looks remarkably like spam in an OD tin can and having C and K rations, that's a different atmosphere than a unit that's snacking on potato chips and mountain dew when no one is looking.
What's the unit's main goal and does it fit with yours? Is the group too uptight and historically accurate for your tastes, or are they too laid back and more interested in alcohol than interacting with the public. Is the unit mainly interested in honoring veterans, or are they more interested in teaching the younger generations about history? This is a bit of a trick question in that, it's not necessarily the stated goal, but attitude of the unit, and you may not be able to answer this question until you are active in the unit for an event or two. The units goals, as well as your goals may also change over time.
Prior to signing on the dotted line with any unit, make sure you meet a few of the people from the unit face to face at an event. They should treat you with respect, and show interest in having you join their unit. Also, watch how they interact with the public. This will give you a good idea of what you can expect from your new group of friends and mentors.
Where do I find authentic and / or reproduction stuff?
The honest answer is: ALL OVER THE PLACE. Start in your own home, your grandmothers attic, the churches yard sale, flea markets, antique shops, the salvation army, military surplus stores, and most of all, talk to other reenactors. Almost everyone has at least one good piece of advice on where to find something or how to make something. The big key is patience. It takes time to track down a large collection, even using modern auction tools like ebay.
However, to make life much easier, this site is full of links to find things. Visit the resources page for a list of suggested places to find surplus, vintage and reproduction clothing, gear and accessories.
How can I tell if this is period?
If it has a label or brand marking, start there. Quickly googling a brand or makers mark for "brand X history" sometimes can at least tell you if the object could have been made in the 1930's or 40's. Military labels have a dates and ways to decipher them - you'll find that information in the reenactors clothing guide. Non-military items often contain valuable clues, such as makers, addresses, or zip codes. For example, zip codes started in 1963. If something is still in an original envelope prior to 1958, you'd see 3 cent stamps. Other clues to date it may involve the use of the word Air Force verses Air Forces, makers marks of West Germany (definitely POST war), and Japan are usually questionable. Certain makers marks, too, evolved over time, and many collectors of popular brands (many of the popular clothing designers, silver smiths, dinnerware, barware, etc.) have guides online that can help you date them.
Other clues on clothing labels are the materials and instructions for laundering. Preshrunk? definitely post-war. Sanfordized was the WWII term. If you can afford it, pick up either some collectors guides, old copies of catalogs, or reprints to help you get a feel for what is and isn't period.