Wed, 28 Dec 2022 16:01:18 -0600WeeblyWed, 18 Apr 2018 18:06:52 GMThttps://29thpgregiment.weebly.com/blog/getting-started-with-uniforms-and-gearNew reenactors have a lot to deal with when getting started.
What kind of impression to do you want to do?
What unit do you  want to join?
Where do you start?
More importantly though, Where do you want to be in a year?
The answers to the first two questions is easy: Don't worry about that right now!  Focus on the basics.  For German impressions you actually have a great advantage over the GI impressions because a basic infantryman doesn't have to worry about unit patches or special insignia.
For uniforms and gear, just set a schedule for yourself and buy one piece of gear per month.  By doing it this way, you can afford to build a great impression on a budget and not worry about breaking the bank.  
If you cannot afford to buy one piece per month, chances are this hobby is not for you.
So, where do you want to be in a year?  Full uniform?  Field gear?  It's up to you!
Good Luck

​-29th PGR]]>Tue, 05 Sep 2017 19:54:01 GMThttps://29thpgregiment.weebly.com/blog/why-germanLately, there has been a tremendous amount of harsh actions and words from certain groups and individuals regarding the history of the United States.  I thought it would be appropriate to address this in our blog.
History is not always pleasant.  History is not what you want it to be, it simply is what it is.  You can either accept it and try to learn from it or ignore it and therefore be doomed to repeat it sometime in the near future.
As a re-enactor, I get asked a lot: "Why German?"  Well, the answer is simple, we research and present the German military history of World War II, not the political dogma. 
The German military existed before the outbreak of WWII and it exists still today.  Armor and infantry tactics, machine guns. jet fighters, and camouflage are all considered important aspects of the modern military but the Germans pioneered much of that over 70 years ago. 
How do we know that?  Because we researched it.  How did you know it?  Because you read it on this website or saw it at one of our displays.  :)

Regards,
​-The 29th PGR
]]>Tue, 14 Mar 2017 15:58:21 GMThttps://29thpgregiment.weebly.com/blog/i-want-to-build-a-tankWhere to Begin?
"I want to build a tank!"
I think every WWII reenactor has either said this statement out loud at least once.
To begin, you need to be honest with yourself and ask these questions.
• Do I have the skills to do this?
• Do I have the tools to do this?
• Do I have the resources?
• Can I afford this?
Skills
Building a vehicle or any large prop from scratch is difficult.  Since the majority of vehicles are made of steel you will have to have some skill in metalwork.  Cutting, welding, shaping, and body work are all abilities you will need at some point or another.  Either you or someone on your team will need experience in these areas.
Tools
Construction will involve tools and equipment far beyond what you would normally find in your everyday garage.  Mig welders, plasma cutters, and bench shears just to name a few.  Planning tools are also important, such as something that allows you to determine angles.  For example, if you are building a PAK 36 you will need to look at a drawing or blueprint and determine the slope for a piece of armor.  A tape measure in metric would also be critical.
Resources
Blueprints and plans are vital before you begin any major project like this.  Useful resources include source manuals, scale drawings, and even accurate/scale toy models.  Relying on only one of these sources is a mistake, you should have at least two to three vetted sources for planning out your project.  If you can find copies of original blueprints, so much the better.
Money
Whatever you think this project will cost, double or triple your budget.  If you think it will cost $1K, plan on spending $2K to $3K.  If you run out of money half way through your project, you may never get back to it again and you will be stuck with something you cant even sell.  For a small anti-tank gun, expect to invest $1K or more.  For a Sdkfz. 222, you can expect to spend $5K - $10K just for materials.

]]>Tue, 13 Dec 2016 17:18:34 GMThttps://29thpgregiment.weebly.com/blog/creativityCreativity is an important aspect of reenacting. Im not referring to being "creative" with historical references or authenticity, but I am referring to using creative ideas for public display events.

Public events are important because its our chance to educate the public on the military history of World War II. Rather than put a blanket on the ground in front of a Zeltbahn, wouldn't it be better to have a display that catches the spectators eye and draws them in? How about a hands-on experience? After all, isn't that why most of us started in reenacting for the hands-on experience?

We set-up a field headquarters display at many events. We use an MP3 player looping German military radio traffic to enhance the atmosphere and it pulls spectators into our camp. We also have a reproduction Enigma machine. With this spectators can code and decode messages for a truly unique experience.

Encourage your troops to be creative and present ideas on how to change and improve your public displays.

​-The 29th Panzergrenadier Regiment
]]>Tue, 08 Nov 2016 19:15:40 GMThttps://29thpgregiment.weebly.com/blog/more-about-usWe get approached at every event by potential new members. Some are new to the hobby and are looking for guidance on how to get started. Others have done reenacting in other genres and want to try WWII out and see if they like it. A few are in WWII reenacting already and are just looking for a change.

To all of them I usually tell them the following: We are entering our fourth year as a unit. We are not the oldest unit around. We are not the largest unit around. I do not try and take away those accolades from other groups or minimize those achievements, but I can say these things about our group:

We have some of the most creative reenactors you will ever meet. They are industrious. They are always working towards making things better. They refuse to rest on their past laurels. Someone is always working on something.

We don't just talk the talk, we walk the walk. If we offer to help out with an event, we are there and we deliver. We give 100% and are thankful for those opportunities to help out. If we say we are going to do something, we do it. No fakes here.

So if you are interested in joining a WWII group with these types of ideals that match your own, please contact us. If its not your cup of tea, thats fine. We hope you find a group somewhere you will feel comfortable.

-The 29th Panzergrenadier Regiment]]>Sun, 29 Nov 2015 00:54:24 GMThttps://29thpgregiment.weebly.com/blog/one-shot-one-kill#1 - One Shot, One Kill?

During tacticals, many reenactors will often shoot once and assume they hit their target. Your average soldier is not a sniper. Call of Duty is not a valid reference point.

In reality, one shot is not sufficient to hit someone much less be fatal. Some estimates from WWII show over 25,000 rounds needed to get a single enemy fatality. Negative effects such as adrenaline, distractions, weather, movement, and erratic breathing will all affect your ability to shoot straight.

Even under the best of circumstances, such as shooting on a target range you may not even be able to hit center of mass 100% of the time. So why would you think you could do it at a tactical?

For blank fire tacticals to ensure a realistic result you should fire at least 2-3 times to ensure a hit. If the target is moving, it would require 3-4 shots at least and that is being optimistic.

Try going to the gun range and practice shooting from different positions using your rifle and see the results. Standing, kneeling, and prone. Then start moving around shooting at the same target and you will notice your shot pattern get even worse.

If more units trained their members to use more realistic shooting habits, I think it would improve the tactical experience.
]]>Sat, 28 Nov 2015 21:56:14 GMThttps://29thpgregiment.weebly.com/blog/blank-fire-accordThis will be the beginning of a series of posts to create guidelines for behavior at blank fire events. The different historical groups have rules for safety and authenticity, but few bother to create a set of guidelines for members in the field. For a truly immersive experience, its important for troops act correctly. This Blank Fire Accord would be a list of guidelines that units would agree to follow when in the field with the ultimate goal of improving the experience for everyone!

For new members, this Accord will help teach them from day one how to perform in the field. For experienced reeanctors, it will create a consistency of what to expect in the field.]]>Fri, 09 May 2014 13:57:09 GMThttps://29thpgregiment.weebly.com/blog/why-dont-you-knock-it-off-with-those-negative-wavesThe above quote was from the character Oddball in the 1970 movie "Kelly's Heroes" as portrayed by Donald Sutherland.  I thought it appropriate quote for the topic today regarding recruiting new re-enactors.

Often I see potential new re-enactors post on various discussion forums or Facebook about getting involved in the hobby.  They are wide eyed and full of enthusiasm.  They want to get involved and they want to do it now!

Then some re-enactor "veteran" steps in and tries to beat them into submission with their knowledge of everything about WWII.  They astound them with opinions, talk about how hard it was when they started 20 years ago (by walking to the military surplus store, uphill, in the snow, both ways) or they marvel in their own glory as they tell the new kid everything wrong with their approach to the hobby.  The end result being another lost potential member as the new guy slowly walks away.

Why would anyone want to join a hobby where their first step in the door is to be clubbed into submission by guys with ego's so big they would dwarf a King Tiger?!?!

This pattern has to change if our hobby is going to grow.  We have to have new members, fresh ideas, and young blood.  Perhaps a better approach to the new guy is to provide some positive feedback first and then have a frank discussion about how to approach  acquiring the best in uniforms and equipment. 

Lets begin by being just as excited as they are that they found one of the best hobbies for history enthusiasts.  Then lets offer support in their endeavor.  Provide guidance.  Answer questions (without being condescending).  Give them tips on where to find gear at a reasonable price.

Its a privilege to have them join us, not a privilege for us to allow them in.

]]>Mon, 28 Apr 2014 16:22:13 GMThttps://29thpgregiment.weebly.com/blog/what-makes-you-think-youll-be-any-differentThe above quote was from the character Erich Fellgiebel, as portrayed by Eddie Izzard from the WWII movie Valkyrie (2008).  I thought it was an appropriate title to use for the first post on our unit blog.

As a new unit within the WWIIHRS, we get asked the question a lot "What makes us different?" Especially from potential new members.  It is a very valid question and one that is often overlooked by other re-enactment units.  For the new member, its THE most important question that needs answered.

First, we do not deliberately try to be different.  We are not competing with other units.  For us its not who wins or loses, but rather how we play the game.  Because of this philosophy we do end up being different even though that's not our driving force.  We just try to run things the best way we can. 

Second, we try to create an environment that members really want to be involved in.  We want members to look forward to upcoming events with anxious anticipation.  We encourage new ideas and discussions.  Since this is a hobby that you could potentially spend thousands of dollars on to participate, why shouldn't you have buy-in and ownership of the unit you belong to?

Third, we volunteer to help out the event coordinators whenever they say they are short handed.  We like to lend a helping hand.  At a Battle of the Bulge event, we used our vehicle to transport other units to and from the battles and assisted with running their canteen (snack bar).  At WWII Weekend this year, we again used our truck to transport units to the battlefield.  This was especially important on the second day of the event, because all the other troop transports left early and we were the only large troop truck left to help out.  Our unit members also volunteered to help out with traffic control.

Lastly, we try to build positive relationships with other units, both axis and allied.  We try to introduce ourselves to units we have never met before whenever we can.  We invite others over to share our unit meals.  We welcome both axis and allied re-enactors to visit our camp.  At WWII Weekend in St. Louis, one small German unit did not have enough food for all of their troops, so we invited them over to share our meal during the lunch break between battles.

So if you ever do wonder "What makes us so different?" I would say, we try harder.

Regards,

- 29th Panzergrenadier Regiment

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