Hello everyone, and welcome to this new uniform review video ! Today I am going to present you an Unterfeldwebel uniform in its tropical version, also known as Afrikakorps' uniform.
Before we begin, I must make a few points clear.
First of all, this video is only a base that will help you to assemble your uniform. In no case may this video spare you from buying specialized books, magazines, or even making serious internet searches.
Historical photos could contradict me, but keep in mind that pictures can prove everything as much as nothing.
Just because an equipment can be seen on a picture, it does not mean that it is regulatory. Similarly, just because an equipment as never been photographed, it does not mean that it never has existed, as long as the historical chronology is respected.
I voluntarily didn't hide this uniform's insignias for historical purposes only. In no manner I will tolerate political views neither in this video nor in the commentary section. We are on a historical video and not a political video.
If you have observations or anecdotes, please write them below, it will help to move the debate forward. Maybe then we could learn from one another.
And finally I will only present what I am wearing, in order to save you from a 2 hour long video. You will find the complete equipment's list in the description box down below with the corresponding timing.
BACKGROUND
The Afrikakoprs, or Deutsche Afrikakorps was the expeditionary force sent in North Africa during the World War 2.
Formed on January, the 11th 1941 to assist the Italians in Libya, the DAK was placed under the command of one of Hitler's favorite officer, the Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.
Indeed, the Italians got blocked by the 8th British corps' counter-offensive during operation Compass. Initially, the sole mission of the DAK was to reconquer Cyrenaica and Libya.
Composed of 45,000 soldiers and 250 tanks in August 1941, Rommel succeeded in remedying the catastrophic situation initiated by the Italians.
Departed from Tripoli, the Libyan Headquarter, he arrived 200 kilometers away from Alexandria and managed to besiege Tobruk for the first time, before finally conquering it in 1942 after multiples British counter-attacks.
These were then forced to head to El Alamein, which the DAK will never happen to take.
On 1 November 1942, the DAK is officially on the decline. The Battle of El Alamein was the first of a long series of defeats.
Sir Winston Churchill summed up this battle by saying: "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
Tobruk is conquered back in 1942 by British Marshal Montgomery. Then, Rommel had to face several distinguished Allied officers, such as Montgomery, General Leclerc, and General Fredendall, later replaced by General Patton.
The Kasserine Battle, which took place between 19 and 25 February 1943, was Rommel's last victorious battle, the latter being called back to Europe by Hitler on 19 March 1943;
officially for health reasons, but informally the aim was to protect Field Marshal's military reputation, as defeat was coming near.
The DAK could still be saved by retreating. Rommel approved this solution and so, suggested it to the Fuehrer, which refused it categorically.
Therefore, Afrikakorps troops, leaded by Von Arnim, surrendered on 12 March 1943, causing the capture of 130,000 soldiers.
German soldiers often described this very difficult campaign. Not only they had to fight back against the enemy fire, but also against friendly fire; Italians were having difficulties to recognize German vehicles.
But the biggest troubles were thirst and heat: temperatures sometimes approached 50°C in the shade, knowing that there was no shade anyway. Soldiers even used to fry their eggs on their panzer's armor.
Uniform
Created for battles in tropical climate as of 1940, the outfit worn by the DAK was therefore named "tropical uniform". For this reason, it takes over a few elements of the classic uniform, most of them being repainted.
Some other uniform and equipments pieces have been rehabilitated for this very hot climate campaign.
The tropical type regulatory shirt can have many variations. Here it is equipped with a collar and two pockets on the front, allowing to carry a wallet or a Soldbuch.
Some shirts may have badges, but most of them had none, the latter being intended to be worn under the jacket.
Buttons were placed on the shoulders to wear shoulder straps, but I chose to remove them so that they would not hurt my shoulders with the gear worn over it. It is made of cotton and closes with 4 buttons.
The tropical trousers come with the jacket: it is made of light lattice, of the same type as the Drillich or the HBT, so as to keep light clothing.
This one is a sand-coloured trouser, which was less common than the olive-green colour, but could still be found on the battlefield. However, it differs from the model worn in the Luftwaffe.
It closes by means of an integrated belt with a buckle that has spikes to block the belt.
Made of leather, canvas and wood, tropical boots were commonly used. They have a wooden heel, on which an iron has been added. The sole is leather and has an iron at its end,
Iron that cannot be found on all manufactures.
The boots were not studded, in contrast to the other AfrikaKorps ankle-high boots that could be found. They are surmounted by gaiters, which are latched by 2 loops and two strips of leather.
This is a poor quality reproduction, on which the straps and buckles have been replaced by a more robust leather.
In 1940, light outfits for the summer were developed for the Wehrmacht and the other corps, in anticipation of arid climates and to adapt the color of the uniform with the colors of the surrounding vegetation.
The breast eagle is found on the right breast, with the cross slightly overlapping the flap of the pocket.
Litzen are present on the collar, in the same way as the European outfit, except that they are generic: they do not have the color of the weapon specified on the insignia.
The collar is here intended to be worn opened, sometimes letting a tie appear.
We notice the reminder Ribbon of the second class Iron Cross, awarded for bravery in combat. It is sewn on the second button, but as the first one will remain open, so this is the 1st apparent button.
We notice the AfrikaKorps arm band, which could be worn after two months of service in the AfrikaKorps.
We are here facing with a NCO, as evidenced by the braid on the collar. The same braid is found on the shoulder boards, forming the rank of Unterfeldwebel, or staff-sergeant.
The M35 helmet is the first big improvement since the 1914 helmet. There were other intermediate versions of course, such as the firemen's M33 helmet. Originally in an apple-green colour, it was repainted in sand-yellow in an artisanal way.
The insignias of the Reich were still placed: the black white and red flag on one side, and the white eagle on the black crest on the other.
The inside of the helmet consists of a steel headband, on which leather legs have been fixed, laced at the bottom by a lace, allowing to adjust the depth.
Each shell has its size, as well as the headband, in order to have a suitable size for its head morphology and avoid the "La Grande Vadrouille" (French famous film) effect.
The pith helmet was offered to the soldiers of the AfrikaKorps from the beginning of the African campaign, as protection against the sun.
It is a cork hat covered with an olive green canvas, on which we will have added a leather jugular. The insignia of the Reich are found on the sides, made of metal.
Most of the insignias on the bush hat reproductions will not have the swastika, as they are produced in Germany. It will be necessary to order the badges on sites from other countries.
Anti-dust sunglasses were added over the bush hat, maintained by an elastic band.
EQUIPMENT
Soldier's equipment is a vital element, especially when climatic conditions can be so difficult. In this way, taking his bread bag, the canteen and ammunition for his weapons was not an option, but an obligation.
This equipment is specific to an infantry NCO.
Because our German is armed with a submachine gun, it is appropriate to equip him with sufficient ammunition.
Thus the ammunition pouches in canvas and leather will carry the 6 regulatory magazines as well as the loader allowing the manual filling of the magazines.
On the left hand side, we find a P08 Luger pistol, slipped in its brown leather case. This case allowed to carry the dismantling tool as well as an additional magazine.
Originally intended to dig holes and trenches, the shovel can be a formidable weapon for close combat, especially when it is sharpened.
It is slipped in a case made of strong canvas especially made for tropical climates.
Over the shovel, the bayonet is slipped into a gusset also made of strong canvas.
A bread bag is a vital part for the soldier's life on the field: it allows to carry his butter dish, his cutlery, and his food rations. The AfrikaKorps could have its own style of bread bag, with its own shades.
Here is a complicated element to find in reproduction: the tropical water bottle made of vulcanized fiber mixed with wood; the water bottle called "Coconut" made it possible
to avoid using the traditional aluminum bottle, which would have served as a furnace to heat the water. It is transported on a strong canvas strap.
The whole gear is mounted on a strong canvas belt with a yellow painted aluminium buckle.
In order to help maintain the belt to support all its weight, tropical Y-straps will be necessary. Also made of strong canvas, it has the same shape and the same function as the traditional Y-straps made of black leather.
The Sturmgepäck arrived from 1939 and was easier to use than the Tornister used before. It made it easy to transport the complement of the soldier's equipment.
The M31 mess tin is here a European one repainted in sand yellow.
The Zeltbahn is a quarter of a tent fabric for assembling a complete tent. The pegs are transported in the middle of the roll.
This one is of yellow sand color, specific to the AfrikaKorps. This is a post-war quarter of the French army, which has taken on the same concept.
Mandatory accessory in the equipment, the anti-gas mask, stored in its iron case, is added over the equipment already set.
This is once again a European case repainted in sand yellow. The cover on top allows to carry an anti-gas cape, to be deployed as a cover to hide underneath in case of gas-alert.
The M24 hand grenade, called Stielhandgranate in the original language, was typical of the German soldier.
It consists of three parts: the head that contains the explosive, the wooden handle, which contains the detonator and the ignition system, and the cap, which protects the porcelain ball that was to be in the bottom of the handle.
This is a copy of a poor quality, which has neither markings nor string. Therefore, I had no remorse to repaint it in yellow, as was common at the time.
Developed between 1936 and 1938, the MP38 was adopted by the Wehrmacht in June 1938 to replace the MP35, deemed too cumbersome for tank crews and paratroopers.
The MP38 is made of steel with bakelite pads for the handle and side panels.
Under the barrel, a rod with a notch allows to stall the barrel of the weapon on the edge of a vehicle and serves as a wedge for shooting.
A tilting sight allows shooting at 100m or 200m, although shooting at the hip is quite possible, especially in buildings. A stock is retractable under the weapon, but can be unfolded to allow a better support during the shooting.
The original MP38 / 40 also have some gap in the stock, but not as much as here, because it is a replica of airsoft: the base is an AGM MP40, Shoei having realized a conversion kit to transform the MP40 to MP38.
The uniform presented here is specific to the rank of NCO, men of the troop not having the same armament, nor the same pouches.
The officers will have some elements of different, but not the tunic, unlike the Wehrmacht in Europe, where the officers had their own tunics.
It was obviously not impossible to find the sleeves rolled up on the jackets, and some pants could be converted into shorts.
Some troops, in the Afrika Korps, had special equipment, such as Panzertruppen or Gebirgsjäger. You will discover these specialties in dedicated videos that I will publish.
The Lüger and the MP38 are airsoft guns, which I already made the video review, don't hesitate to look at the links given in description to learn more.
Made in brown chocolate wool, the Afrika Korps greatcoat was very useful when the temperature drops sharply, as often happens in the desert.
It has two rows of 6 buttons, just like the European model, and has exactly the same shape. Buttons are also placed on the shoulders, so as to accommodate shoulder straps.
Two oblique pockets are present on the sides in order to slip his hands. An "Afrika Korps" arm band can also be added to the right sleeve, but it was only optional on the coat.
When the coat was not worn, or kept in a truck or barrack, it could be carried around the Tornister or Sturmgepack, wrapped in a certain manner and secured by leather or canvas straps.
As a practical measure, the equipment will be placed over the coat, allowing the soldier to be operational quickly.
SUMMARY
There were several shades of uniforms: I chose to present here the yellow sand, ideal for camouflage in the desert.
The pants have the same cut as the European pants M40, but here is made of canvas of the same type as the drillich, to remain light and flexible,
and especially so that the garment can breathe, and the air can circulate, avoiding boiling the soldier wearing the pants.
The tropical shirt was chosen in 1941 to be placed under the combat jacket. It can be decorated with a tie, but rarely seen in combat. She is here with pockets, but may not have any, and have a different shade.
It inspired the gray version that will be worn by the Wehrmacht on other fronts from 1942-1943.
The M40 tunic is here beige, allowing a better camouflage in arid environment. It has 4 pockets and can accommodate two hooks to hold the belt on the hips.
Various insignia are placed on the tunic: The German chest eagle, military badge that any German soldier had to wear.
The litzen are placed on the flaps of the open collar, and were the same for all, whatever the weapon of the troop.
The ranks are visible through the shoulder straps, because it is a NCO, when the men of the troop have badges on the sleeves. The braid on the collar confirms the NCO rank.
We are dealing here with an Unterfeldwebel, or sergeant-chef in French.
An "Afrika Korps " armband is a reminder of the army corps in which the soldier is, and a 2nd class iron cross reminder ribbon is sewn on the second button of the tunic.
The tropical boots were much more adapted to the hot climate than the classic Wehrmacht boots. That's why a model in light leather and canvas has been developed.
They are closed by a long lace to pass in holes and in hooks.
They can be worn with gaiters or simply socks folded up on the top of the shoe to avoid irritating the calf with the friction of leather or canvas.
The most famous hat of the Afrika Korps were the M35 or M40 helmet, as well as the pith helmet.
Made of cork and canvas, the pith helmet features an adjustable headband on the inside, allowing for a unique size for all soldiers. The badges are also put on the sides.
They are metal and are screwed into the cork shell. A helmet like this one had no vocation to protect bullets or splinters, only preventing from rays of the sun.
Anti-dust sunglasses were added over the pith helmet, held by an elastic band.
The helmet here is an M35, which is a European helmet converted into a tropical helmet. The side insignia are still there, it's here decals.
The inside of the helmet consists of a leather headband, on which legs have been fixed.
The name of the soldier is noted inside so that it can be recognized more easily when all the helmets of the section are stored together, each helmet having its own size.
A good soldier must be adequately equipped for his environment and his rank. That's why we find MP40 magazines slipped into their leather and canvas pouches.
The pouches containing the speed loader is also present on the side of a pouch. The Luger P08 is present here in its leather holster. He is here because the NCOs could have them in staffing.
The straight shovel is here slipped into a canvas case, on which a bayonet is slipped into its scabbard.
A bread bag will carry rations of combat and survival accessories. A tropical canteen, also called "coconut" canteen, keeps the water at a good temperature, even when the temperatures are very high.
The heavy Y-straps, here in tropical version, so made of canvas, is attached to the tropical belt, also made of canvas.
The anti-gas mask is mandatory in the German soldier's outfit, it had to be transported by means of its case made of sheet metal, on which an anti-gas cloth and its cover are placed with the help of a webbing strap.
The anti-gas mask could be used in a big storm, but also to shoot Panzerschreck, the projectiles being dangerous for the face of the shooter when shooting.
The Sturmgepäck made possible to transport the remaining elements of the soldier's equipment, namely the mess kit, here painted in sand yellow, and consisting of two parts; as well as the tropical Zeltbahn.
The Sturmgepäck is here tropical type, as evidenced by the straps in strong canvas, unlike the European Sturmgepäck, which has the same straps in leather.
The Zeltbahn is here a quarter of French tent canvas, much easier to find than an original canvas.
The M24 grenade, or Stielhandgranate, was famous for being much better than any egg or pineapple grenade. Indeed, his handle allowed to send the grenade further.
To light the wick, it was necessary to pull the porcelain ball, connected to the mechanism by a string.
The explosive charge was contained in the head, which was removable, thus creating assemble of 7 heads + a handle, creating an anti-tank weapon.
The tropical mantle is essential in the desert, where temperatures can be extreme in the night. It is made of chocolate wool, with gray plastic buttons.
Buttons and loops to the shoulders allow to slip shoulder straps, so you can recognize the rank despite the wearing of the coat.
An armband "Afrika Korps" can be added on the right sleeve, but there was no obligation.
The MP38 is the big brother of the MP40, appeared in 1938 in the ranks of the Wehrmacht to meet the needs of the troops regarding the firepower but also the reliability and compactness of the weapon.
It is powered by magazines of 32 cartridges of 9mm, has a sight that can switch from 100 to 200m. A stock is foldable, allowing a more efficient shoulder shoot.
The MP38 has a safety: to do this you must pull back the cocking lever and then back to let it slip into the small rail above. Too bad this feature has not been taken on this model airsoft.
You can find the link of the review in the description of this video.
Here is what concludes this uniform video review, I want to thank KhanSeb for making the road to participate in this video! Well, he came for something else too, don't worry.
Do not hesitate to visit his channel to discover his great work, especially for the airsoft players!
Thanks also to Oni, my companion, for framing me! Without her, the video would be bad !
I invite you to visit my channel to find other videos review of uniform of this type, and to subscribe to miss nothing of the next videos! The little bell will send you an alert when I post something!
And finally, I invite you to follow the link Tipeee in the description to support me in my work, do not hesitate to contribute, every little gesture allows me to always do better!
Thanks to my tipeurs of January and February 2018, the list is here!
See you soon for an upcoming video review of uniform or replica or VIP! Bye!
Directed by Neo035
With the help of Sonia, Jean and Victor
With the intervention of Khan-Seb
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