The GWA
"German Uniform Regs"

GWA Authenticity Standards for German Reenactors, 1917-18

SENIOR NCO/OFFICER UNIFORM.
This section applies to all individuals portraying German soldiers with ranks from senior sergeant (Vizefeldwebel/Vizewachtmeister) through officer ranks. The following items are required for this impression:

Uniform:

• field cap (Feldmütze)
  
• tunic (Waffenrock or Bluse)
  
• trousers (Hose)
  
• boots; or ankle boots and wrap leggings
  
• (Stiefel/ Schnürschuh undGamaschen)
  
• neck stock (Halstuch)

Equipment:

• steel helmet (Stahlhelm)
  
• weapon
  
• belt with belt plate (Koppel und Koppelschloß)
  
• gas mask and carrying can (Gasmaske und.
  
• Tragebüchse)
  
• bread bag (Brotbeutel)
  
• canteen (Feldflasche)
  
• bayonet and bayonet frog (Seitengewehr und Seitengewehrtasche) or trench dagger (Grabendolch—optional)

I. Senior Noncommissioned Officers.

Individuals portraying Vize-Feldwebel/Wachtmeister, Feldwebel/Wachtmeister, or Offizierstelvertreter will wear the uniform described for enlisted personnel, but may exercise any or all of the following options:

N-1 Field cap (Feldmütze):

1. The field cap will be fitted with officer-quality (2 piece) cockades in the state and Reich colors.
   
2. Field caps may be fitted with a narrow black or field grey visor of flexible leather, not to exceed 3 inches in width at the widest point.
   
3. NCO visored field caps may optionally display chin straps. These will match the visor color, and be held to the cap with 2 small, smooth buttons in a color matching the shade of the straps. Chin straps must be of two-piece construction and may be joined via a buckle or "press snap" arrangement.

N-2 Tunic. (Waffenrock or Bluse):

1. NCOs may wear the issue enlisted tunic or a custom tailored tunic corresponding to any of the authorized styles. The following options are permitted on custom tunics:

• In addition to wool or wool blends, custom tunics may be made of cotton or linen in field grey or grey green color.
  
• The standing portion of collars may be increased to a height of 3 inches and may include the addition of an additional hook and eye to facilitate closing
  
• Curved skirt pocket flaps; on Model 1907/10 and transitional tunics, pocket flap buttons may be omitted.

N-3 Trousers (Hose):

1. NCOs of dismounted formations may wear trousers corresponding in cut to boot trousers. These may be worn with ankle boots and leggings. Wrap leggings or optional leather leggings with a front closure may be worn. Boot trousers will not be worn with the enlisted pattern boot. NCOs portraying mounted formations will wear either the enlisted pattern riding trousers or riding breeches (balloon leg); the latter will not be piped with colored piping

N-4 Weapon.

1. NCOs may, in addition to the issue long arm (if any), carry an appropriate pistol (automatic or revolver) in a brown or black holster.

N-5 Bayonet and Frog (Seitengewehr (or Bajonett) und Seitengewehrtasche).

1. NCOs will carry the issue pattern bayonet in either an issue or commercial pattern frog with silver Portepeé (sword knot) signifying their rank. They may substitute the trench dagger to which the Portepeé may be attached.

N-6 Insignia of Rank. (Dienstgradabzeichen).

1. Metallic rank braid may be used only on Model 1907/10 and transitional garments. If used, it will be of silver (aluminum braid is not acceptable) or gold according to button color. Subdued braid (made of rayon, subdued metallic wire, or ersatz materials) may be worn on any garment; on the Bluse, it is the only braid authorized.

O-1 Field Cap (Feldmütze).

1. Officers will wear the visored field cap with officer-quality cockades. Officers’ caps, in addition to wool or wool blend materials, may be made of gabardine wool in field grey or grey green shade and lined with polished cotton.

O-2 Tunic (Waffenrock or Bluse ).

1. Officers, with the proper rank insignia, may wear the enlisted tunic or the custom style tunic described.
   
2. On the Bluse only, pleated breast pockets with a scalloped flap and button closure may be present.
   
3. Tunics of those portraying officers of formations with distinctive officer trim/lace must display the officer trim or lace pattern.
   
4. The tunic collars of those portraying Uhlan officers will have rounded edges for non-Guarde units; Guarde regiments will have squared collar edges.
   
5. Those portraying hussar officers must wear the officer style jacket, characterized by a 2.5 inch high stand and fall collar (vice the standing collar of the enlisted jacket); officer quality field grey cording (worked through with black chevrons); and rosette and lozenge buttons covered with field gray cloth "pebbled" with black. The front pockets will be slits without flaps, and outlined with cords and knottings.

0-3 Trousers (Hose).

1. Officers may wear the enlisted pattern cloth trousers, boot trousers, or may optionally wear riding breeches (balloon leg). Riding breeches may not be piped. Officer trousers may be made of wool, wool blend, gabardine wool, or corduroy in field grey, grey green, or stone grey shade.
   
2. Boots/Ankle Boots & Leggings. (hohe Stiefel/ Schnürschuhe und Gamaschen) Those portraying officers will not wear the enlisted pattern boot. If enlisted pattern trousers are worn, they may be worn only with ankle boots and leggings. With all other style trousers, officers may wear either ankle boots and leggings, or high boots. Leggings may be either the wrap or leather type at the wearer’s option. Officers’ boots will have a shaft height of at least 15 inches and will be of either black or brown smooth leather with leather soles.

0-4 Stock. (Halstuch).

1. Officers may wear a stock of white material.

0-6 Weapon.

1. Officers shall be armed with an automatic pistol or revolver carried in a black or brown smooth leather holster. If an officer chooses to carry a long arm, it will be one of the authorized carbines. Officers may wear pistol magazine pouches.
2. Bayonet and Frog. (Seitengewehr (or Bajonett) und Seitengewehrtasche).
3. If worn, the bayonet will be of the 84/98 (short) pattern. It may be of the chrome plated custom variety. It will be carried in a smooth leather frog in brown or black color; a silver Portepeé will be worn on the frog or officers may wear the trench dagger in lieu of the bayonet with the silver Portepeé. These items may not be worn simultaneously.

0-7 Belt and Buckle. (Feldkoppel).

1. Officers will not wear the enlisted pattern belt/belt plate. Officers will wear the officer pattern belt, consisting of a brown (preferred) or black smooth leather belt closed by a circular buckle bearing the cipher appropriate to the state of origin of the officer’s unit. This buckle will be of subdued white metal, or painted grey, field grey, brown, or olive. Officers may optionally wear a black or brown smooth leather belt with rectangular single-pronged brass or white metal buckle.

0-8 Insignia of Rank. (Dienstgradabzeichen).

1. Officers will wear shoulder boards of silver metallic (aluminum braid is not acceptable) or subdued braid reflecting their rank class. This braid will be interspersed with chevrons in the color(s) of the state of origin of the officer’s unit. Shoulder boards will have a colored cloth underlay (or underlays) reflecting branch, Corps assignment, or regiment. Bright silver metallic shoulder boards will not be worn on the Bluse. The wearer’s rank will be denoted by "stars." Stars worn with bright metallic shoulder boards will be of brass; those worn on subdued boards will be of tarnished brass or painted dark grey. For field wear, subdued boards and insignia are preferred.