www.gd-uk.org

Hi all,

Winter is coming! What to buy?

Repro M40 Greatcoat?
Original M42 greatcoat? (I don't see the harm in wearing an original coat if you don't roll around in the dirt! Just walking around in an original coat won't do it any harm?)
Repro Winter Parka Set? Just the Trousers?
Golves?
Toque?
Scarf?

Greatcoats are more 'Classic German' and can be used as bedding? I asked on another forum and was told to buy a greatcoat. I am asking here to see what you guys think!

All the best,
Nathan

Hi Nathan

Yes, certainly the last couple of days have shown that a greatcoat is in order! Me personally, my winter kit at present is a set of tan and water winter reversibles. Be careful if you go down this route as some colours look postitively day-glo!

That said, there are not enough greatcoats worn, so I would say go in that direction young padwan.

All the best

Hi Bauer ,

Should I go for Replica M40? Then I could roll about in mud (if I needed to ).

At £80 they are not that bad, buttons will need painting on most 'Sturm' made uniforms. Possibly get it made shorter. Maybe replace some buttons?
The MAIN thing is will it fit me They do a 38?

Thanks ,
Nathan

Hi again,

I could go for a pair of tan and water trousers? Just wear my M43 tunic and the trousers and leave out the parka?
I like that look!
If you wear a winter underwear, service shirt, jumper and tunic (scarf and gloves), I don't thik you'll be tooooo cold. Winter underwear, M42 trousers and parka trouser. And a thick pair of wool socks (with foot wraps or second pair of socks?).
I am going towards getting the parka trousers now!


Thanks,
Nathan

Hi again,

Where can I get a pair of tan and water winter trousers? The 'Sturm' ones look really bad!

Thanks,
Nathan

I would go for the greatcoat first as its the classic piece of warm kit you can always use, start with repro so you can use it to get muddy. You can always move on to the Winter Parka set later. I'm not sure who does decent tan and water parkas, they are out there but some are a little bright!

Richard underwood did sell them but I'm not sure what more knowledgeable people think of the camo patern.

Zeugmeisterei sell the sturm ones I think and looking at them the camo seems very similar to Richards but the 'EC' ones he sells are some of the cheepest I have seen.

1944 militaria formt the states sellers the parka sets but I'm not sure its a good time to buy with the exchange rate at the mo!

Ebay sellers generally seem to have the day glo camo talked about previously!

Hope this helps,

Olly

Hi Olly,

Epic militaria sell 'Sturm' M40 greatcoats. £84.95 I think suesue66 also does 'Sturm' M40 greatcoats at £65.00.
Will it fit
Also I thought of the trousers because of me riding my truppenfahrrad. Me trying to ride my tf in a greatcoat .

Thanks ,
Nathan

I've got a sturm greatcoat, its a good fit and I just bought my size if I remember correctly! It was a long time ago and its just been sat in my room since! That said I much prefer my parka set but have never had the opertunity to wear it.

Good luck with which ever you choose.

Olly

Hi Olly ,

Thanks for your help, which ever I choose

Thanks again ,
Nathan

Nathan,

I would start with a repro greatcoat as they are much cheaper. Both Sturm and SueSue on eBay (who actually sells Sturm uniforms) sell greatcoats and they are very good value for money. I got my greatcoat from eBay and the quality is of a hgh standard. With original clothing it is likely that you end up paying a lot more and of course if you damage it by rolling around in the mud and then imagine how you will feel!

As for size, I purchased one size up and it is a good fit, perhaps a little roomy. I could probably have purchased one in my normal chest size. However, take into consideration that you are still growing, so allow some compensation for that. Ultimately it will have to be your choice and experience that will dictate how you proceed.

Once you have a greatcoat then you could buy a parka and over-trousers at a later date, as I did. As for suppliers of parkas, I cannot help too much. I think Underwood sells good parkas, but best to ask Ron or Rob. I bought a reasonable parka from a French seller set at Beltring one year but had to do a bit of customising with the cords on the hood etc. The parka was a bit too bright so I also threw it in a puddle and jumped on it a lot!

I would not worry about riding bicycles too much. It's unlikely you would be riding them around at a tactical event - you would probably be sat in a foxhole, shivering thinking "I wish I had worn the right winter clothing rather than checking the air pressure on my tires"! If you would like to ride a bike at public shows the majority are done during the summer, when you are unlikely to want to wear any winter clothing during the day for certain.

It’s hard to say what you will need for winter, as temperatures vary. For example over the past few days it has been very cold, whilst only a couple of weeks ago at Fort Amherst it was much milder than we thought it would be. Bear in mind that the day time temperature and the night/morning temp will change significantly. So whilst you may be warm enough running around during the day in tunic and trousers, working up a sweat, at night things will be quite different.

Get yourself a pair of thick woollen socks and a spare pair. I would also recommend a scarf, torque (or tube scarf), woollen gloves and possibly a jumper. After you have experienced a night out in the cold I am sure you will be able to determine what you think you do and don’t need for the future. Many of us here will have personal preferences.

Good luck!

Wolfie

Hi Wolfie ,

I have a pair of service socks (with rings) and a pair of light grey wool socks (well, my dads old fishing socks which I have nicked).
Should I buy a pair of modern long johns and a top?
Fitos has a pair of replica service gloves (with rings) for sale at £10.
What scarf should I buy (a modern dark grey one?)
Greatcoat? £65.00! suesue66! Sturm! M40! Size 38!
I have an old school jumper (Plain v-neck, I had it on at Beltring)

Thats what I would get! After get a pair of winter tan and water over trousers

Thanks again for the help ,
Nathan

Nathan,

"I have a pair of service socks (with rings) and a pair of light grey wool socks (well, my dads old fishing socks which I have nicked)."

- They will do fine.

"Should I buy a pair of modern long johns and a top?"

- Not sure, ask the uniform advisor. I haven't worn any before. However, I know German soldiers did have long-johns.

"Fitos has a pair of replica service gloves (with rings) for sale at £10."

- Get them, a good price to.

"What scarf should I buy (a modern dark grey one?)"

- Hmm not sure about a modern one. I believe Fitos sells these - I got my grey wool post-war one from him. It's exactly the same as the SOF ones which are selling at £10 on their website.

"Greatcoat? £65.00! suesue66! Sturm! M40! Size 38!"

- Excellent price, buy it when you have funds!

"I have an old school jumper (Plain v-neck, I had it on at Beltring)."

- Plain wool jumper would probably be ok, but ask the uniform advisor. I do not have one at present. They're a bit difficult to get at the moment - anyone else provide any light on this?

"Thats what I would get! After get a pair of winter tan and water over trousers."

- If you want them, then get them, but I would strongly advise something for your top half as well.

Wolfie

Hi Wolfie,

Who is the uniform advisor? Is it Ron? I know Rob is also good on the subject of uniforms! As is Fitos.
I tryed to contact Ron ages ago and have had no reply! Should I ring him?
I will contact Fitos about the gloves and about a scarf!

Thanks,
Nathan
P.S. Der Erste Zug do repro Jumpers!
http://dererstezug.com/WHturtleneck.htm

Nathan,

Ron is the uniform advisor, when he's not fly-fishing and collecting stamps (he also enjoys long walks in the country and romantic meals for two).

I'm sure Ron will read these posts in the near future and will soon make his dark presense felt on the message board - or someone else will.

Fitos and Rob are both excellent sources of knowledge.

Thanks for the link for the jumpers.

Wolfie

Hi Wolfie,



Am I right in thinking that Ron has not been on here for over a month?

All the best,
Nathan
''Der Erste Zug'' also do blankets!

Hallo,

Have followed this thread with interest and hope the following helps to 'flesh out' the previously given information.

Jumpers: Civvy type are fine, as long as they period looking. Items like this would have been sent from home to the front from loving Mothers, sweethearts etc.

Scarves: Same applies, plenty of period photos show 'non-military' examples being worn. Grey and woolen and simple will do the trick. Try not to buy the grey 'Bundeswehr' scarves with the blue stripe at each end. There is no evidence to my knowledge of these type being issued during the war? Just get a civvy one.

Socks and gloves: repro with size rings preferable, but again plain grey 'civvy' examples are suitable.

Greatcoat or reversible: Your choice. Heed the advice regarding the dayglow print on some reversible suits! Also, as Wolfie states, you will sweat buckets during the day if you wear these suits at a tactical event, but they are great at night when things calm down and it's three in the morning....................

DDD!

Yes, it seems that the frozen norff has resulted in frostbite, alas he clearly has no fingers left and is henceforth known as "Old Stumpy". Let's hope that his mouth gets a dose.........

Hi Nathan

Sorry for not getting back sooner but despite the rumours I have not been fly fishing, stamp collecting or dog walking or substained severe frost bite (thanks Nick);
the simple truth is everytime I go on to the forum I have been coming up with no new posts, been a complete nurd didn't think to press the refresh button

To the matter in hand I will go over one or two things as most of it has been taken care of by the other lads.

I would suggest you go for the greatcoat first as you quite rightly said this is the classic look and it can be used all year round not just winter. So you get double the use for your money.

As for size, go one size bigger It dosnt matter if it looks baggy just look at period photos and you will grow into it. If and when you decide to for reversables (and this goes for everyone) don't just buy the jacket or trousers, buy the suit. This is how they would of been issued. Once you have the suit you can decide whether or not to wear the jacket and trousers as a set or not.

As for scarfs, underwear, gloves etc common sense prevails. If it looks modern it is no good, If it looks peroid you can wear it.

If yourself or anyone else cannot get hold of me through the forum then email or ring me.

Any other queries wait until I see you at the end of the month in London, and I will discuss the issues with you then.

Got to go now, have some stamps to stick in my book and the dog wants to go for a walk.

HauptFeldwebel Kalten

Looks like ol' stumpy has learnt how to use his pc again........ the new fangled non-1940's thing!!!