The
"reenactor
moment";
a
phenomenon
that
only
lasts
a
second
or two
when
you
forget
that
it is
actually
the
21st
Century
and
are,
for
that
fleeting
moment,
transported
back
in
time.
If
you've
experienced
it
before
you
know
exactly
what
we're
talking
about.
If you
haven't,
you're
missing
out on
one of
the
most
rewarding
experiences
in the
hobby.
Reenactor
moments
usually
occur
when
your
surroundings
belie
the
fact
that
it is
the
modern
era.
You
are
suddenly
immersed
in
another
time
period
and
there
is
nothing
to
tell
you it
isn't
1944
(or
whatever
you
might
be
portraying
at the
moment).
The
uniforms,
equipment,
and
kit
are
only
one
part
of the
equation.
Practicing
the
proper
field
tactics
and
use of
the
German
language
take
the
experience
to the
next
level,
but
actually
feeling
like a
Landser
in the
Wehrmacht
during
WWII
and
having
a
reenactor
moment
takes
a
"first
person"
mindset
to
achieve.
The
Meaning
First
person
is
meant
to put
the
"acting"
back
in
reenacting.
It
does
not by
any
means
have
to be
staged
or
scripted.
It is
simply
the
individual
playing
a
"persona"
of his
own
creation
and
interacting
with
others
on
those
terms.
Of
course,
we
aren't
reenacting
ourselves
or an
actual
historical
person,
but
rather
a
reflection
of
ourselves
in a
historical
context.
In
addition
to
using
German
names,
we
have
detailed
personal
histories
(see
our Member
Profiles)
that
include
everything
from
the
names
of our
families
and
friends
to our
favorite
music
and
movies.
In
this
sense,
GI
reenactors
have
it
much
easier.
Ultimately
we're
all
Americans
who
look,
act,
speak,
and
think
very
much
like
our
1940's
counterparts.
Those
of us
who
reenact
Germans
have
to
shed a
lot of
the
thoughts
and
mannerisms
that
define
us as
Americans
(and
modern
ones
at
that)
to
more
accurately
portray
Europeans.
When
the
foreign
begins
to
feel
natural,
we've
hit
our
mark
in
this
aspect.
The Use
If you
have a
completed
Soldbuch,
you
have
already
put a
deal
of
thought
into
the
first
person
aspect
of
reenacting.
It was
the
quintessential
document
of the
German
soldier
that
recorded
details
of an
individual's
personal
life
and
military
service.
We
require
every
member
of Der
Erste
Zug to
have a
completed
Soldbuch
and
Erkennungsmarke
(dog
tag)
and to
carry
them
at all
times,
just
as the
German
soldier
would
have.
On a
unit
level
we
create
and
update
paperwork
such
as
Stammrolle
(company
roster)
for
each
man,
just
as was
done
during
WWII.
In Der
Erste
Zug
you
will
experience
many
forgotten
aspects
of
WWII
German
military
life.
When
we
have
mail
call,
you
may
receive
letters
and
packages
from
home.
When
we
have
pay
call,
you
will
be
handed
WWII
currency
according
to
your
pay
grade.
The
Feldgendarmerie
(field
police)
will
inspect
your
Soldbuch
at
checkpoints
to
insure
your
paperwork
is on
order.
Some
of it
may
seem
mundane,
but
when
added
up you
will
surely
begin
to
feel
like
part
of the
German
military
machine.
Hopefully,
when
you're
huddled
in a
foxhole
with
your
Kamerad
sharing
letters
from
home
or
gambling
your
month's
pay on
a game
of
Skat,
you
too
will
be hit
by a
reenactor
moment.
Getting
Started
All of
the
information
you
need
to get
started
can be
found
on
this
downloadable
form:
Use
it as
a
template
to
organize
the
details
of
your
persona.
Upon
confirmation
of
your
membership
in Der
Erste
Zug,
you
will
receive
a link
to our
online
first
person
form
where
you
can
transfer
the
information
for
our
records.
It may
seem
like
an
excessive
amount
of
details,
but it
is the
basic
personal
information
required
in the
Soldbuch
and
Stammrolle
forms
with a
little
extra
about
"you"
for
our
guys
to
write
Feldpost
or
strike
up a
period
conversation.
We are
constantly
adding
to the
Culture
and
Mannerism
articles
on
this
site
to aid
in
your
research,
but
there
is a
great
deal
of
information
out
there
on the
internet
and,
of
course,
through
books.
Also
feel
free
to
contact Brad
H.
with
any
specific
questions
relating
to
your
persona.
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