Unit Guidelines
Achtung! All members must be willing to follow the kompanie guidelines, however remember we are here to have fun and enjoy each other's company. This would not be worth doing if it was not fun, therefore don't be scared off by our guidelines as 99 percent of them are common sense!
The first line of authenticity is the individual soldat's kit and 1st person persona; this is the responsibility of each member and the kompanie commander. After the soldaten, the next line of authenticity is our bunker, the Danziger Hof, and our section of trench, the Danziger Strasse. If each of these components is correct, the unit will be correct.
1. The fundamental rule of JR129 is: If you’re not sure it’s right, DON'T DO IT! Questionable items should be cleared prior to use at an event with the kompanie commander and the Authenticity Committee.
2. No modern clothes or equipment. This includes obvious modern socks (like polyester white athletic socks), t-shirts and anything Gore-Tex. No sleeping bags are allowed, however, you may bring as many blankets as you can stack on your bunk to keep you warm as long as they are of a period pattern. Making a period correct bedsack for your bunk is another great way to keep out the cold. Herr Deksheimer has also written an excellent and critically acclaimed (at least in our eyes!) article on how to procure or make proper period underwear!
3. No modern flashlights or other lighting utensils. Candles are not to be used unless they're in a holder. We should have enough lamps in the bunker for adequate illumination. (Also, we appreciate donations to the unit, but please do not bring lamp oil unless it’s 100% paraffin oil (smokeless & odorless). Donations of firewood are also appreciated to heat the cook stove and for heating purposes. The dim lighting inside the bunker adds a great deal to the surreal feeling that transports you back to the Great War.
4. No modern firearm cleaning equipment, such as (but not limited to) WD-40, K-Mart cleaning kits, WWII cleaning kits, etc. If you want to clean your weapon (which a good soldat should since their life depended on it), cloth squares, gun oil in a period container and a pull-through made out of string & a weight are OK if you can’t find a correct WWI cleaning kit.
5. All drinks are to be in period-style bottles. No hiding cans and pouring the contents into a cup as done in other time periods. The most common method is to get some correct bottles and pour your favorite drinks into them. Additionally, several beers and imported sodas already come in period lever-top bottles. All you need to do is soak the modern labels off. You are strongly encouraged to paste on period labels. Small things like proper period labels go a long way in making a persona come to life, not to mention adding a great deal of atmosphere to the bunker and trenches.
6. No coolers hidden under blankets or in boxes or elsewhere, either inside or outside the bunker. Placing bottles outside should be sufficient to chill them in the cold air of Neuville. Also, to improve your impression of a German Soldat, you shouldn't drink your beverages ice-cold anyway, just pleasantly cool. There is no reason for coolers anyway as Herr Deksheimer provides a delicious selection of rations. Correct sausage, cheese, or dark bread will tide you over in the mean time - the German Army was not dining in style by the end of the war anyway!
7. No modern food items. No Pop Tarts, no Beef Jerky, no Ho- Hos, no Gatorade and the list goes on and on. Deks will provide breakfast and the evening meal on Friday and Saturday. You should bring your own food for the other mealtimes. Correct German food is relatively easy to come by, and consists of items such as cold sausage, cheese, dark bread, jam, canned fish (try to find the cans without pull tabs) pickles, chocolate and so on. Either use period labels on canned food, or just leave the cans plain.
(See #'s 5 & 6.)
8. NO BIC Lighters!! Not only are the bright fluorescent cases drastically obvious and out of place, they aren’t much good in the winds of Neuville, as there is no wick to hold the flame. Check EBay, Amazon or the Flea Market at the event for proper period lighters or match safes. Nothing ruins someone else's moment like a modern hot pink lighter. Period lighters are inexpensive, much easier to keep lit, and work well for sims and smokes.
9. No tape recorders or CD players, even if hidden or disguised, to play cool German music. Instead, learn to sing the songs as you listen, leaving the players behind. The German Army, and really society as a whole was very fond of singing. We are fortunate to have a working Victrola as well as a soldat that is a skilled accordion player, this is something we can certainly take advantage of!
10. NO FILTER CIGARETTES!! Pipe tobacco, cigars, cigarettes and even chew were used by WWI soldiers, but not filter cigarettes. This is another example of doing the little things correctly to improve the overall impression.
11. No non-period storage boxes. Items you bring should be in wooden boxes or cloth bags. Floor space is limited, so, if it won’t fit under the bottom tier of bunks or on your own bunk it doesn’t belong. The floors must be clear, bring only what you need!!! Our hobby allows the addition of extra items as soldats were commonly in the same positions for extended periods of time. Extra gear and equipment that adds to the overall atmosphere of our trench and our bunker are heartily encouraged, just remember that space is limited, you don't want to bring somthing irreplaceable that might break, and whatever you bring will have to go home with you at the end of the event.
12. Uniform and Equipment Guidelines. These are listed on our Uniform and Equipment Page – Follow them.
13. Visual and Physical Impression Guidelines. These are also listed on our Uniform and Equipment Page – Follow them.
14. No items from other reenacting periods are allowed because they’re “close enough.” Close enough - isn’t right! Examples: US marked or obvious non-period blankets, CW cups and brogans, WW2 shirts and gun cleaning kits, etc... (Refer to Rule #1) Ask for any needed clarification before the event, not the day of!
15. You choose a German name when you joined the unit. Use it! Find out the names of other members and call them by that name. If someone calls you by your real name, correct them or don’t respond unless they use your period name. See the Members of Elfte Kompanie page to match names with faces. The only time you should use your real name is on your registration and liability waiver forms.
16. Our unit portrays 11th Kompanie of the 129th Regiment of the Imperial German Army, late 1917-18. The appropriate impression is of riflemen and grenadiers. Rank and awards are assigned by the unit. Other combat portrayals are acceptable only during living history events and must be approved by unit vote prior to the event if it passes scrutiny of the Authenticity Committee.
17. When JR129 was established as a reenactment unit, it was chosen because of it historical lineage to a unit member and its outstanding service history. It was a typical German combat infantry unit. Therefore, items for your impression should be what were common, typical and ordinary for a German soldat. Exotic, exceptional or unusual items should be avoided, unless clearly documented. Remember, the more a soldat stood out, the shorter his life expectancy was! Again, if in doubt (Refer to Rule #1). Any major unit decisions will be voted on by the unit and decided by the majority. The founding members are all veterans of multiple reenacting time periods. We are here to enjoy each other’s kameradschaft, not to bicker or squabble as many of us have experienced that before within different reenacting organizations and have no desire for that to continue in JR129.
18. This list is not an all-inclusive list. It’s just to remind us what’s expected. In other words, if it isn’t listed here, that doesn’t mean it’s OK. If it’s not period, it doesn’t belong in our bunker. When in doubt (Refer to Rule #1). If you accidentally or intentionally bring a farb item into the bunker, don’t complain if you are asked to return it to your vehicle for the duration of the event and don’t be an ASS when asking someone to return an item to their vehicle! None of us claim to be perfect; however by always striving to improve together we can have an excellent unit.
Going the Extra Mile:
The goal of each member should be to push one’s impression a little farther at each event. Whether by making something for the unit or yourself, learning a song, more of the German language, adding to your persona, de-farbing an item, adopting another (allowed) impression within the unit such as a Sani, or one of many other actions, members should not, as is often seen in reenacting, reach a stagnation point where nothing ever changes.
Persona - Have you developed your personal history? Do you know when & where you were born, who’s in your family, what your peacetime job was and so on?
First Person - This is a term that describes speaking and acting as if you are really a German soldat and it really is 1914/15/16/17/18. This sounds difficult if you’ve never tried it, but it’s not that hard and gets easier each time. The easiest way to do first person is simply to avoid talking about modern things; forget the big football game, your new truck, computers, etc. Discuss the battle, the Kaiser, the French, Deks' cooking (it sucks), all the things soldiers have talked about since warfare began. Many modern topics, however, can easily be “translated” and discussed in first person. Complain about your wife---back home, the constant shelling, gripe about your work---instead of your computer programming problems, talk about the problems in the telegraphy shop; complain about allied aircraft, tell dirty jokes---about the Russians or French; discuss the latest kinescope (movie) you saw when you were on leave, most importantly complain about Deks' cooking! (Deks cooks fantastic German dishes.)
If you try it, you’ll find some of the most memorable moments from past events will be “first person” moments. The more you learn of the unit’s history, improve your own persona, and study the history of the Great War in general the easier it will be. For some people it takes practice. Not all of us were experts when we started first person either. Also, if you are not in a first person mode, and others around you are, please don’t ruin their moment by discussing something modern. Move away from them to continue your discussion. At each event there will be designated start and end times for first person to begin within the kompanie. Respect your kameraden by following these times. Don't be nervous about this, we are more then willing to help you get started!
The following excerpt is from a class our own Herr Deksheimer presented at the Fall 2011 Training Session:
LESSON: FIRST PERSON, WHAT TO CARRY IN THE FIELD, PRISONERS
First Person
Why is this so important to do. Two reasons:
- It helps put our mind where our gun is. We act better when we talk better.
-It really helps our comrades. It truly is disturbing when we hear someone laughing about “Dancing with the Stars” when we are hunkered down trying to avoid getting wasted by the enemy.
OK, doing First Person. It is not hard to do. We simply make it hard. Some basics:
- Do not talk politics, national history or why we are in the war. Or at least save this discussion for back in the bunker.
- Talk as you normally do. Cut jokes, laugh at Deksheimer as he hurts himself again, make light of the anal retentive Russian bastards, complain about the food, tell Steinbicker that if he picks his nose one more time we’ll have enough ammo for the war.
- The biggest tip in doing first person is not what do I say; it is what do I not say. Aside from the stupid items of why we are in the war, etc... simply avoid topics which occurred after the war – WWII, Hitler, modern tanks, current events, Obama and the election, etc…
- If you can, use a German accent. But if your accent sounds like my attempt – some sort of Southern drawl mixed with a South American pigmy dialect, just be natural and don’t worry about this part. The words we avoid are much more important than the accent.
Having a tiny bit of German will make everything go wonderful. It really ruins my Karma when we go “over the top” to the orders “Let’s get em boys!” Learn five very short phrases and use them. These are also important in order to take orders as Herr Cassel uses them.
- Attack! -- Vörwarts! (For-w-artz)
- Fall Back! -- Zürruck! (Zur-rook)
- Follow Me! -- Mir nach! (Meer knock))
- Hands Up! (French) Haut les Mains (haut-lay-mann) – (Russian) руки вверх (Roo-key Verkh) or капитуляция (Zd-vie-sha) -- (American/English) Hands up (hands up)
- Do you have any food? -- Haben Sie etwas zu essen? (Hab-en zee Et-wass tsu – ess-en) Or beer? -- Oder Bier? (Oh-dir Beer)
How to act in the trenches and on attacks – Remember just a few short things
- Act as if those are real bullets flying. Would you be walking about normally in the trenches? Snipers were really good and many soldiers died before they even went over the top. Keep your head and body below the trench top. Remember, machine gunners were trained to fire along the trench top. If you have to move along a more visible area, duck, run fast, and attempt concealment.
- Stay to your character when in combat. No one hates it more than when you are really into the moment and pass by a dead guy who is talking the coming election with another dead guy. If you’re dead, stay quiet. If wounded, act wounded. If still alive, stay in character. Speak German or at least stay in first person.
- Rules of Engagement.
- Taking a hit. If you take a hit, decide if dead or wounded. Act accordingly. When can you get up? The general rules change, but currently you can get back up after the action passes. You must go back to your trenches and then can return to combat. If you are dead in your own trenches with the enemy present, you must stay dead.
- Grenades. A grenade which hits within a couple feet of you kills you. Go down and act with the same rules as ‘taking a hit’. Stay away from the John Wayne stuff. Don’t try to pick up a grenade and throw it back. Poor safety.
- Mortars. Those units who have mortars really appreciate when they make a good shot. Honor this by taking a hit. The mortar round that hits within ten feet of you with a clean line kills you. Take the hit even when the enemy is not there. Stay down for a couple minutes. Please avoid the laughter and/or high squealing, wailing death.
Prisoner? Here’s how to act.
During World War I, about 8 million men surrendered and were held in POW camps until the war ended. All nations pledged to follow the Hague rules on fair treatment of prisoners of war, and in general the POWs had a much higher survival rate than their peers who were not captured.
The German Empire held 2.5 million prisoners; Russia held 2.9 million, and Britain and France held about 720,000, mostly gained in the period just before the Armistice in 1918. The US held 48,000. The most dangerous moment was the act of surrender, when helpless soldiers were sometimes shot down. Once prisoners reached a POW camp conditions were better (and often much better than in World War II), thanks in part to the efforts of the International Red Cross and inspections by neutral nations.
From 1915, imprisoned officers were held in camps reserved for them, where living conditions were often less difficult than those endured by troops.
According to the Second Hague Convention, “The Government into whose hands prisoners of war have fallen is charged with their maintenance. In the absence of a special agreement between the belligerents, prisoners of war shall be treated as regards board, lodging, and clothing on the same footing as the troops of the Government who captured them”.
Conducting oneself at an interrogation:
- Escape was often on the mind of the soldier, BUT, most soldiers were simply glad not to be in combat anymore and quickly accepted their fate. It was only later as they began enduring the relatively poor conditions of the camps that the thought of escape was more a priority.
- In the same way, acting as a hostile captive is stupid. It would have ended up you being mistreated or even shot. Again, no John Wayne efforts here. When surrendering, raise your hands—do not place them on top of your head. This practice only evolved in WWII.
- Remember your personae. If you lived in England or other English speaking nation before the war, you might speak English. Try to do so with a German accent if possible. If you are an officer, you are more likely to speak English or French, but for the common footslogger, most could only speak German. Speaking multiple languages in Europe is a late 20th and 21st century phenomenon. Bottom line: if your persona does not speak English, speak German or do not speak.
- Most soldiers, while they loved their country were not ready to act resistive to their captors. Especially if they could get something to eat. So, being reserved or sullen is OK, but so is acting with a ‘don’t give a care attitude’. When talking with your captor, giving your name and unit was not usually withheld as well as where you were when or where captured and other minor information.
- When you are interrogated, if you do not speak English, do not respond to questions given in English (even with the German you know). When an interpreter comes, you will need to know a few German phrases. To know how to respond, listen for key words in the German spoken TO YOU)
- What’s your name? (Key Word) name – (Nam-ah)
My response: “Ernst Deksheimer von Danzig”
- What unit are you with? (Key Word) regiment – (Reg-i-meant)
My response: “Infanterie Regiment ein hundert neun u. zwanzig. Elfte Kompanie”
- Where were you captured? (Key Word) gefangen – (Gee-fang-in)
My response: “In den Gräben westlich von Neuville”
- How many men do you have there? (Key Word) soldat – (Sole-dat)
My response: “Vielleicht fünf hundert bis ein tausend”
- What were your orders? (Key Word) Befehle – (Bee-fail-a)
My response: “Ich folge meine Offiziere”
When it gets beyond this, language for us who don’t speak German is going to get tough, so you can simply tell the interrogator that:
- you don’t know “Ich weiß nicht”
- or mutter that you are very tired “Ich bin sehr müde” and that you want to go home. “Ich möchte nach Hause gehen”.
- if you get stuck, shake your head and simply say, “no more” “kein mehr”.
What should you carry on you?
When we go into combat the likelihood of getting taken as prisoner is considerable. Therefore, we should only carry what the soldier had on him during the actual war. Check your pockets. No medicines, plastics, modern money or car keys. No items purchased at the flea market which don’t belong. No extra stuff. Remember that the soldier went into combat as light as he could. Check your bread bag and field pack for the same inappropriate items.
Items which are great to have aside from your weapon and regular accoutrements:
i. Soldbuch – should be in your field pack, or on your body, not in Breadbag
ii. ID disc – occasionally around the neck in a leather bag or in field pack.
iii. Cleaning kit, pictures from home, sewing kit, period wallet, military passes, smoking items
Drill
You simply can’t relive the life of a soldier without doing drill. That’s it. Anyone who dislikes drill and only wants to bang blanks will probably be unhappy in the 129th. It is also imprtant to note that no one is here to play Rambo. We work as a unit, there may be times were a small gruppe is sent on patrol or out to a listening post, however no one is to leave the kompanie position without permission. Absolutely nobody is to leave the kompanie position or to enter no-man's land without orders. This is part of playing the game correctly, as well as for safety purposes.
Fatigue Detail.
All members are expected to do their share of fatigue details during events. This can range from chopping firewood to filling sandbags, stringing barbed wire, improving our section of trench, assisting the kompanie cook, water detail, or serving as a runner for the Sergeant.
1. The fundamental rule of JR129 is: If you’re not sure it’s right, DON'T DO IT! Questionable items should be cleared prior to use at an event with the kompanie commander and the Authenticity Committee.
2. No modern clothes or equipment. This includes obvious modern socks (like polyester white athletic socks), t-shirts and anything Gore-Tex. No sleeping bags are allowed, however, you may bring as many blankets as you can stack on your bunk to keep you warm as long as they are of a period pattern. Making a period correct bedsack for your bunk is another great way to keep out the cold. Herr Deksheimer has also written an excellent and critically acclaimed (at least in our eyes!) article on how to procure or make proper period underwear!
3. No modern flashlights or other lighting utensils. Candles are not to be used unless they're in a holder. We should have enough lamps in the bunker for adequate illumination. (Also, we appreciate donations to the unit, but please do not bring lamp oil unless it’s 100% paraffin oil (smokeless & odorless). Donations of firewood are also appreciated to heat the cook stove and for heating purposes. The dim lighting inside the bunker adds a great deal to the surreal feeling that transports you back to the Great War.
4. No modern firearm cleaning equipment, such as (but not limited to) WD-40, K-Mart cleaning kits, WWII cleaning kits, etc. If you want to clean your weapon (which a good soldat should since their life depended on it), cloth squares, gun oil in a period container and a pull-through made out of string & a weight are OK if you can’t find a correct WWI cleaning kit.
5. All drinks are to be in period-style bottles. No hiding cans and pouring the contents into a cup as done in other time periods. The most common method is to get some correct bottles and pour your favorite drinks into them. Additionally, several beers and imported sodas already come in period lever-top bottles. All you need to do is soak the modern labels off. You are strongly encouraged to paste on period labels. Small things like proper period labels go a long way in making a persona come to life, not to mention adding a great deal of atmosphere to the bunker and trenches.
6. No coolers hidden under blankets or in boxes or elsewhere, either inside or outside the bunker. Placing bottles outside should be sufficient to chill them in the cold air of Neuville. Also, to improve your impression of a German Soldat, you shouldn't drink your beverages ice-cold anyway, just pleasantly cool. There is no reason for coolers anyway as Herr Deksheimer provides a delicious selection of rations. Correct sausage, cheese, or dark bread will tide you over in the mean time - the German Army was not dining in style by the end of the war anyway!
7. No modern food items. No Pop Tarts, no Beef Jerky, no Ho- Hos, no Gatorade and the list goes on and on. Deks will provide breakfast and the evening meal on Friday and Saturday. You should bring your own food for the other mealtimes. Correct German food is relatively easy to come by, and consists of items such as cold sausage, cheese, dark bread, jam, canned fish (try to find the cans without pull tabs) pickles, chocolate and so on. Either use period labels on canned food, or just leave the cans plain.
(See #'s 5 & 6.)
8. NO BIC Lighters!! Not only are the bright fluorescent cases drastically obvious and out of place, they aren’t much good in the winds of Neuville, as there is no wick to hold the flame. Check EBay, Amazon or the Flea Market at the event for proper period lighters or match safes. Nothing ruins someone else's moment like a modern hot pink lighter. Period lighters are inexpensive, much easier to keep lit, and work well for sims and smokes.
9. No tape recorders or CD players, even if hidden or disguised, to play cool German music. Instead, learn to sing the songs as you listen, leaving the players behind. The German Army, and really society as a whole was very fond of singing. We are fortunate to have a working Victrola as well as a soldat that is a skilled accordion player, this is something we can certainly take advantage of!
10. NO FILTER CIGARETTES!! Pipe tobacco, cigars, cigarettes and even chew were used by WWI soldiers, but not filter cigarettes. This is another example of doing the little things correctly to improve the overall impression.
11. No non-period storage boxes. Items you bring should be in wooden boxes or cloth bags. Floor space is limited, so, if it won’t fit under the bottom tier of bunks or on your own bunk it doesn’t belong. The floors must be clear, bring only what you need!!! Our hobby allows the addition of extra items as soldats were commonly in the same positions for extended periods of time. Extra gear and equipment that adds to the overall atmosphere of our trench and our bunker are heartily encouraged, just remember that space is limited, you don't want to bring somthing irreplaceable that might break, and whatever you bring will have to go home with you at the end of the event.
12. Uniform and Equipment Guidelines. These are listed on our Uniform and Equipment Page – Follow them.
13. Visual and Physical Impression Guidelines. These are also listed on our Uniform and Equipment Page – Follow them.
14. No items from other reenacting periods are allowed because they’re “close enough.” Close enough - isn’t right! Examples: US marked or obvious non-period blankets, CW cups and brogans, WW2 shirts and gun cleaning kits, etc... (Refer to Rule #1) Ask for any needed clarification before the event, not the day of!
15. You choose a German name when you joined the unit. Use it! Find out the names of other members and call them by that name. If someone calls you by your real name, correct them or don’t respond unless they use your period name. See the Members of Elfte Kompanie page to match names with faces. The only time you should use your real name is on your registration and liability waiver forms.
16. Our unit portrays 11th Kompanie of the 129th Regiment of the Imperial German Army, late 1917-18. The appropriate impression is of riflemen and grenadiers. Rank and awards are assigned by the unit. Other combat portrayals are acceptable only during living history events and must be approved by unit vote prior to the event if it passes scrutiny of the Authenticity Committee.
17. When JR129 was established as a reenactment unit, it was chosen because of it historical lineage to a unit member and its outstanding service history. It was a typical German combat infantry unit. Therefore, items for your impression should be what were common, typical and ordinary for a German soldat. Exotic, exceptional or unusual items should be avoided, unless clearly documented. Remember, the more a soldat stood out, the shorter his life expectancy was! Again, if in doubt (Refer to Rule #1). Any major unit decisions will be voted on by the unit and decided by the majority. The founding members are all veterans of multiple reenacting time periods. We are here to enjoy each other’s kameradschaft, not to bicker or squabble as many of us have experienced that before within different reenacting organizations and have no desire for that to continue in JR129.
18. This list is not an all-inclusive list. It’s just to remind us what’s expected. In other words, if it isn’t listed here, that doesn’t mean it’s OK. If it’s not period, it doesn’t belong in our bunker. When in doubt (Refer to Rule #1). If you accidentally or intentionally bring a farb item into the bunker, don’t complain if you are asked to return it to your vehicle for the duration of the event and don’t be an ASS when asking someone to return an item to their vehicle! None of us claim to be perfect; however by always striving to improve together we can have an excellent unit.
Going the Extra Mile:
The goal of each member should be to push one’s impression a little farther at each event. Whether by making something for the unit or yourself, learning a song, more of the German language, adding to your persona, de-farbing an item, adopting another (allowed) impression within the unit such as a Sani, or one of many other actions, members should not, as is often seen in reenacting, reach a stagnation point where nothing ever changes.
Persona - Have you developed your personal history? Do you know when & where you were born, who’s in your family, what your peacetime job was and so on?
First Person - This is a term that describes speaking and acting as if you are really a German soldat and it really is 1914/15/16/17/18. This sounds difficult if you’ve never tried it, but it’s not that hard and gets easier each time. The easiest way to do first person is simply to avoid talking about modern things; forget the big football game, your new truck, computers, etc. Discuss the battle, the Kaiser, the French, Deks' cooking (it sucks), all the things soldiers have talked about since warfare began. Many modern topics, however, can easily be “translated” and discussed in first person. Complain about your wife---back home, the constant shelling, gripe about your work---instead of your computer programming problems, talk about the problems in the telegraphy shop; complain about allied aircraft, tell dirty jokes---about the Russians or French; discuss the latest kinescope (movie) you saw when you were on leave, most importantly complain about Deks' cooking! (Deks cooks fantastic German dishes.)
If you try it, you’ll find some of the most memorable moments from past events will be “first person” moments. The more you learn of the unit’s history, improve your own persona, and study the history of the Great War in general the easier it will be. For some people it takes practice. Not all of us were experts when we started first person either. Also, if you are not in a first person mode, and others around you are, please don’t ruin their moment by discussing something modern. Move away from them to continue your discussion. At each event there will be designated start and end times for first person to begin within the kompanie. Respect your kameraden by following these times. Don't be nervous about this, we are more then willing to help you get started!
The following excerpt is from a class our own Herr Deksheimer presented at the Fall 2011 Training Session:
LESSON: FIRST PERSON, WHAT TO CARRY IN THE FIELD, PRISONERS
First Person
Why is this so important to do. Two reasons:
- It helps put our mind where our gun is. We act better when we talk better.
-It really helps our comrades. It truly is disturbing when we hear someone laughing about “Dancing with the Stars” when we are hunkered down trying to avoid getting wasted by the enemy.
OK, doing First Person. It is not hard to do. We simply make it hard. Some basics:
- Do not talk politics, national history or why we are in the war. Or at least save this discussion for back in the bunker.
- Talk as you normally do. Cut jokes, laugh at Deksheimer as he hurts himself again, make light of the anal retentive Russian bastards, complain about the food, tell Steinbicker that if he picks his nose one more time we’ll have enough ammo for the war.
- The biggest tip in doing first person is not what do I say; it is what do I not say. Aside from the stupid items of why we are in the war, etc... simply avoid topics which occurred after the war – WWII, Hitler, modern tanks, current events, Obama and the election, etc…
- If you can, use a German accent. But if your accent sounds like my attempt – some sort of Southern drawl mixed with a South American pigmy dialect, just be natural and don’t worry about this part. The words we avoid are much more important than the accent.
Having a tiny bit of German will make everything go wonderful. It really ruins my Karma when we go “over the top” to the orders “Let’s get em boys!” Learn five very short phrases and use them. These are also important in order to take orders as Herr Cassel uses them.
- Attack! -- Vörwarts! (For-w-artz)
- Fall Back! -- Zürruck! (Zur-rook)
- Follow Me! -- Mir nach! (Meer knock))
- Hands Up! (French) Haut les Mains (haut-lay-mann) – (Russian) руки вверх (Roo-key Verkh) or капитуляция (Zd-vie-sha) -- (American/English) Hands up (hands up)
- Do you have any food? -- Haben Sie etwas zu essen? (Hab-en zee Et-wass tsu – ess-en) Or beer? -- Oder Bier? (Oh-dir Beer)
How to act in the trenches and on attacks – Remember just a few short things
- Act as if those are real bullets flying. Would you be walking about normally in the trenches? Snipers were really good and many soldiers died before they even went over the top. Keep your head and body below the trench top. Remember, machine gunners were trained to fire along the trench top. If you have to move along a more visible area, duck, run fast, and attempt concealment.
- Stay to your character when in combat. No one hates it more than when you are really into the moment and pass by a dead guy who is talking the coming election with another dead guy. If you’re dead, stay quiet. If wounded, act wounded. If still alive, stay in character. Speak German or at least stay in first person.
- Rules of Engagement.
- Taking a hit. If you take a hit, decide if dead or wounded. Act accordingly. When can you get up? The general rules change, but currently you can get back up after the action passes. You must go back to your trenches and then can return to combat. If you are dead in your own trenches with the enemy present, you must stay dead.
- Grenades. A grenade which hits within a couple feet of you kills you. Go down and act with the same rules as ‘taking a hit’. Stay away from the John Wayne stuff. Don’t try to pick up a grenade and throw it back. Poor safety.
- Mortars. Those units who have mortars really appreciate when they make a good shot. Honor this by taking a hit. The mortar round that hits within ten feet of you with a clean line kills you. Take the hit even when the enemy is not there. Stay down for a couple minutes. Please avoid the laughter and/or high squealing, wailing death.
Prisoner? Here’s how to act.
During World War I, about 8 million men surrendered and were held in POW camps until the war ended. All nations pledged to follow the Hague rules on fair treatment of prisoners of war, and in general the POWs had a much higher survival rate than their peers who were not captured.
The German Empire held 2.5 million prisoners; Russia held 2.9 million, and Britain and France held about 720,000, mostly gained in the period just before the Armistice in 1918. The US held 48,000. The most dangerous moment was the act of surrender, when helpless soldiers were sometimes shot down. Once prisoners reached a POW camp conditions were better (and often much better than in World War II), thanks in part to the efforts of the International Red Cross and inspections by neutral nations.
From 1915, imprisoned officers were held in camps reserved for them, where living conditions were often less difficult than those endured by troops.
According to the Second Hague Convention, “The Government into whose hands prisoners of war have fallen is charged with their maintenance. In the absence of a special agreement between the belligerents, prisoners of war shall be treated as regards board, lodging, and clothing on the same footing as the troops of the Government who captured them”.
Conducting oneself at an interrogation:
- Escape was often on the mind of the soldier, BUT, most soldiers were simply glad not to be in combat anymore and quickly accepted their fate. It was only later as they began enduring the relatively poor conditions of the camps that the thought of escape was more a priority.
- In the same way, acting as a hostile captive is stupid. It would have ended up you being mistreated or even shot. Again, no John Wayne efforts here. When surrendering, raise your hands—do not place them on top of your head. This practice only evolved in WWII.
- Remember your personae. If you lived in England or other English speaking nation before the war, you might speak English. Try to do so with a German accent if possible. If you are an officer, you are more likely to speak English or French, but for the common footslogger, most could only speak German. Speaking multiple languages in Europe is a late 20th and 21st century phenomenon. Bottom line: if your persona does not speak English, speak German or do not speak.
- Most soldiers, while they loved their country were not ready to act resistive to their captors. Especially if they could get something to eat. So, being reserved or sullen is OK, but so is acting with a ‘don’t give a care attitude’. When talking with your captor, giving your name and unit was not usually withheld as well as where you were when or where captured and other minor information.
- When you are interrogated, if you do not speak English, do not respond to questions given in English (even with the German you know). When an interpreter comes, you will need to know a few German phrases. To know how to respond, listen for key words in the German spoken TO YOU)
- What’s your name? (Key Word) name – (Nam-ah)
My response: “Ernst Deksheimer von Danzig”
- What unit are you with? (Key Word) regiment – (Reg-i-meant)
My response: “Infanterie Regiment ein hundert neun u. zwanzig. Elfte Kompanie”
- Where were you captured? (Key Word) gefangen – (Gee-fang-in)
My response: “In den Gräben westlich von Neuville”
- How many men do you have there? (Key Word) soldat – (Sole-dat)
My response: “Vielleicht fünf hundert bis ein tausend”
- What were your orders? (Key Word) Befehle – (Bee-fail-a)
My response: “Ich folge meine Offiziere”
When it gets beyond this, language for us who don’t speak German is going to get tough, so you can simply tell the interrogator that:
- you don’t know “Ich weiß nicht”
- or mutter that you are very tired “Ich bin sehr müde” and that you want to go home. “Ich möchte nach Hause gehen”.
- if you get stuck, shake your head and simply say, “no more” “kein mehr”.
What should you carry on you?
When we go into combat the likelihood of getting taken as prisoner is considerable. Therefore, we should only carry what the soldier had on him during the actual war. Check your pockets. No medicines, plastics, modern money or car keys. No items purchased at the flea market which don’t belong. No extra stuff. Remember that the soldier went into combat as light as he could. Check your bread bag and field pack for the same inappropriate items.
Items which are great to have aside from your weapon and regular accoutrements:
i. Soldbuch – should be in your field pack, or on your body, not in Breadbag
ii. ID disc – occasionally around the neck in a leather bag or in field pack.
iii. Cleaning kit, pictures from home, sewing kit, period wallet, military passes, smoking items
Drill
You simply can’t relive the life of a soldier without doing drill. That’s it. Anyone who dislikes drill and only wants to bang blanks will probably be unhappy in the 129th. It is also imprtant to note that no one is here to play Rambo. We work as a unit, there may be times were a small gruppe is sent on patrol or out to a listening post, however no one is to leave the kompanie position without permission. Absolutely nobody is to leave the kompanie position or to enter no-man's land without orders. This is part of playing the game correctly, as well as for safety purposes.
Fatigue Detail.
All members are expected to do their share of fatigue details during events. This can range from chopping firewood to filling sandbags, stringing barbed wire, improving our section of trench, assisting the kompanie cook, water detail, or serving as a runner for the Sergeant.
Membership Requirements
1. Prospective Members will be considered Associate Members until they have been voted a Full Member and have met Full Membership Requirements.
2. Associate Members will attend two events with the unit, after which they will be voted on based upon safety at the events and general chemistry with the kompanie.
3. The Associate Member must put together a 1st Tier Late War Kit (This is the minimum required kit to field. See the Uniform and Equipment page for example.) that meets unit standards.
4. Choose an appropriate German name and create a first person persona to share with the unit. From that point onwards this will be the only name used by unit members.
5. New members must agree to follow all JR129 Guidelines and GWA Regulations.
6. There is a onetime membership fee of $200 that goes to maintenance of the bunker and trench line. This may be made in separate payments; however Full Member benefits such as voting are subject to payment of the fee. This does not mean that Associate Members are not allowed to take part in any type of unit meeting or business discussion, as everyone within the unit has equal say on unit business.
7. The Associate Member must be familiar with and abide by all GWA Combat Safety Rules. They will be assigned a combat kamerad for their first event in order to make sure they abide by all rules and maintain safety.
*Sources for the above Guidelines include the JR63 Handbook as well as various reenacting guidelines devised by JR129's members for other time periods.
2. Associate Members will attend two events with the unit, after which they will be voted on based upon safety at the events and general chemistry with the kompanie.
3. The Associate Member must put together a 1st Tier Late War Kit (This is the minimum required kit to field. See the Uniform and Equipment page for example.) that meets unit standards.
4. Choose an appropriate German name and create a first person persona to share with the unit. From that point onwards this will be the only name used by unit members.
5. New members must agree to follow all JR129 Guidelines and GWA Regulations.
6. There is a onetime membership fee of $200 that goes to maintenance of the bunker and trench line. This may be made in separate payments; however Full Member benefits such as voting are subject to payment of the fee. This does not mean that Associate Members are not allowed to take part in any type of unit meeting or business discussion, as everyone within the unit has equal say on unit business.
7. The Associate Member must be familiar with and abide by all GWA Combat Safety Rules. They will be assigned a combat kamerad for their first event in order to make sure they abide by all rules and maintain safety.
*Sources for the above Guidelines include the JR63 Handbook as well as various reenacting guidelines devised by JR129's members for other time periods.
Sprechender Deutscher
Learning to speak German
Since the unit is a German unit, the German language is an important part of the impression. While we don't expect everyone to become fluent, you should know basic words and commands, as well as the German names for the items in your kit. Some of us are diligently working to try and learn as much German as possible to take our impressions to the next step, however that is not a unit requirement.
German Vocabulary
Auf Deutsch:
Here - Hier
Come - Komm
Stop- Halt
There- Da
Turn- Dreh
Corner- Eche
Forward- Vorwarts
Back- Zuruck
Throw- Werf
Fire- Feuer
Cease Fire- Feuer Einstellen
Quick- Schnell
Watch Out- Pass Auf
You- Du
Enemy- Feind
With Me- An mir
* Company in one line fall in. - Abtelung eine zeile antreten
* That Way - Dieser Weg
* Check Ammunition, Water and Food. - Schau auf die Manner Munition, Wasser und Essan.
Basic Commands
Attention - Achtung
As you were - Grundstellung
At ease - Ruhrt . . . Euch
Count off - Abzahlen
FALL IN, FACINGS & DISMISSING
Fall in – ANTRETEN
Behind stacks, fall in - An die Gewehre
Take arms - Gewehr in die . . . Hand
Fall in, march order - In Marschordnung . . . Antreten
Stack Arms - Setzt die Gewehr . . . Zusammen
Fix bayonets - Seitengewehr . . . Pflantzt . . . Auf
Unfix bayonets - Seitengewehr . . . an Ort
Dress Right, Dress – RICHT EUCH
Left face – Links…UM
Right face – Rechts…UM
About face – Kehrt UM
Eyes-right – Augen…RECHTS
Front. – Gerade…AUS
Rest – Ruhrt…EUCH
Squad - Gruppe
Front rank – Erste Linie
Rear rank – Zweite Linie
Detail, Dismissed – Abteilung . . . WEGTRETEN
MANUAL OF ARMS
Shoulder arms – Das Gewehr…UBER
Order arms – Das Gewehr…AB
Fix bayonets – Seitengewehr…PFLANTZT AUF
Unfix bayonets – Seitengewehr…AN ORT
Present-arms – Prasentiert das…GEWEHR
Sling Arms – Gewehr Umhangen
Unsling Arms – Gewehr Abnehmen
Fire - FEUER
Cease firing – Feuer… einstellen
Left oblique - Links schräg
Right oblique - Rechts schräg
MARCHING COMMANDS
Forward march – MARSCH
March not in step – Ohne Tritt Marsch
Halt - HALT
Double quick step march – MARSCH…MARSCH
Colum left – Links schwenkt…MARSCH
Colum right – Rechts schwenkt…MARSCH
Route step – Ohne Tritt…MARSCH
Column half right - Halb rechts schwenkt . . . Marsch
Column half left - Halb links schwenkt . . . Marsch
Detail/Company, halt - Abteilung/Kompanie . . . Halt
Sling Arms - Gewehr . . . Umhangen
COMMANDS FOR GUARDS
Who goes there? – WER DA!
Hands up – HANDE HOCH
Show me your Papers – ZEIGEN SIE MIR PAPIER
German Vocabulary
Auf Deutsch:
Here - Hier
Come - Komm
Stop- Halt
There- Da
Turn- Dreh
Corner- Eche
Forward- Vorwarts
Back- Zuruck
Throw- Werf
Fire- Feuer
Cease Fire- Feuer Einstellen
Quick- Schnell
Watch Out- Pass Auf
You- Du
Enemy- Feind
With Me- An mir
* Company in one line fall in. - Abtelung eine zeile antreten
* That Way - Dieser Weg
* Check Ammunition, Water and Food. - Schau auf die Manner Munition, Wasser und Essan.
Basic Commands
Attention - Achtung
As you were - Grundstellung
At ease - Ruhrt . . . Euch
Count off - Abzahlen
FALL IN, FACINGS & DISMISSING
Fall in – ANTRETEN
Behind stacks, fall in - An die Gewehre
Take arms - Gewehr in die . . . Hand
Fall in, march order - In Marschordnung . . . Antreten
Stack Arms - Setzt die Gewehr . . . Zusammen
Fix bayonets - Seitengewehr . . . Pflantzt . . . Auf
Unfix bayonets - Seitengewehr . . . an Ort
Dress Right, Dress – RICHT EUCH
Left face – Links…UM
Right face – Rechts…UM
About face – Kehrt UM
Eyes-right – Augen…RECHTS
Front. – Gerade…AUS
Rest – Ruhrt…EUCH
Squad - Gruppe
Front rank – Erste Linie
Rear rank – Zweite Linie
Detail, Dismissed – Abteilung . . . WEGTRETEN
MANUAL OF ARMS
Shoulder arms – Das Gewehr…UBER
Order arms – Das Gewehr…AB
Fix bayonets – Seitengewehr…PFLANTZT AUF
Unfix bayonets – Seitengewehr…AN ORT
Present-arms – Prasentiert das…GEWEHR
Sling Arms – Gewehr Umhangen
Unsling Arms – Gewehr Abnehmen
Fire - FEUER
Cease firing – Feuer… einstellen
Left oblique - Links schräg
Right oblique - Rechts schräg
MARCHING COMMANDS
Forward march – MARSCH
March not in step – Ohne Tritt Marsch
Halt - HALT
Double quick step march – MARSCH…MARSCH
Colum left – Links schwenkt…MARSCH
Colum right – Rechts schwenkt…MARSCH
Route step – Ohne Tritt…MARSCH
Column half right - Halb rechts schwenkt . . . Marsch
Column half left - Halb links schwenkt . . . Marsch
Detail/Company, halt - Abteilung/Kompanie . . . Halt
Sling Arms - Gewehr . . . Umhangen
COMMANDS FOR GUARDS
Who goes there? – WER DA!
Hands up – HANDE HOCH
Show me your Papers – ZEIGEN SIE MIR PAPIER