Now that you have decided to do an impression for reenacting, let us discuss a few things.
First, the most commonly overlooked part of any impression is the haircut. Germans had a very distinct hairstyle during this time period. Your hair is a major part of your appearance. So having the correct German haircut would be a really good enhancement to one's Heer impression. The following will hopefully eliminate the usual confusion of how to ask the barber to cut your hair, so soon you will be out in the field looking like a Landser. The most common & easiest description of an authentic German military style haircut is said to be:
"Shaved from the neck and tapered up to the top above the ears all the way around. The hair was usually very long on top, combed (& slicked) straight back from the forehead. If parted, the part is very high on the head."
First, the most commonly overlooked part of any impression is the haircut. Germans had a very distinct hairstyle during this time period. Your hair is a major part of your appearance. So having the correct German haircut would be a really good enhancement to one's Heer impression. The following will hopefully eliminate the usual confusion of how to ask the barber to cut your hair, so soon you will be out in the field looking like a Landser. The most common & easiest description of an authentic German military style haircut is said to be:
"Shaved from the neck and tapered up to the top above the ears all the way around. The hair was usually very long on top, combed (& slicked) straight back from the forehead. If parted, the part is very high on the head."
OUR SECOND MATTER OF DISCUSSION IS FACIAL HAIR. DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR, THE GERMANS, LIKE MOST SOLDIERS EVEN TODAY WERE WELL SHAVEN, WITH NO FACIAL HAIR. A FEW PHOTOS CAN BE FOUND WITH SOLDIERS WITH A MUSTACHE, ADOLF HITLER AND HIMMLER BOTH HAD ONE, BUT THE AVERAGE SOLDIER DID NOT.
UNLESS YOU WERE A MOUNTAIN TROOP (Gebirgsjäger) OR ON BOARD A SUBMARINE, YOU DID NOT HAVE FACIAL HAIR.
UNLESS YOU WERE A MOUNTAIN TROOP (Gebirgsjäger) OR ON BOARD A SUBMARINE, YOU DID NOT HAVE FACIAL HAIR.
FINALLY, TATTOOS. TATTOOS WERE FAIRLY POPULAR DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. HOWEVER, TO MAINTAIN REALISM ANYONE WITH TATTOOS SHOULD KEEP THEM COVERED. THROUGH ENDLESS HOURS OF SEARCHING, WE HAVE FOUND VERY FEW PICTURES OF GERMAN SOLDIERS WITH VISIBLE TATTOOS. I know some will think this article to be kind of pointless for reenacting, but it is the little details that add a certain aspect to the scenario. It is easy to do & will set you apart from the others.