Authenticity Policies

The first line of authenticity is the individual's kit; this is the responsibility of the Gruppenführer to make sure that his Gruppe is not in the field with wrong items. After the kit, the next line of authenticity is the bunker. If each of these components is correct, the unit will be correct. We assume that you want to do it right, or you wouldn't want to be in JR63.

If you find what follows to be too restrictive, we will be glad to help you find a unit that allows you the leeway you feel comfortable with.

1.  The foundation rule is: If you're not sure it's right, don't do it. Questionable items should be cleared prior to use with an NCO or your sponsor.

2.  NO  modern clothes or equipment. This includes obvious modern socks (like polyester white athletic socks), thermal underwear, t-shirts and anything Gore-Tex. No sleeping bags, however, you may bring as many blankets as you can stack on your bunk to keep you warm.

3.  NO modern flashlights or other lighting utensils. Additionally, no lights without a safety protection for open flames are to be used. (Also, we appreciate donations to the unit, but please do not bring lamp oil unless it's 100% paraffin oil. We use only that because it burns without fumes or odor.) The generator is to be used only: 1) during the daylight Thursday and Friday; 2) Sunday morning and 3) for emergencies. And no, finding your socks doesn't qualify as an emergency, so don't ask for the generator to be turned on simply for your convenience.

4.  NO modern gun cleaning equipment, such as (but not limited to) WD-40, K-Mart cleaning kits, WWII cleaning kits, etc. If you want to clean your weapon, cloth squares, gun oil in a period container and a pull-through made out of string & a weight are OK if you can't find a correct WWI cleaning kit.

5.  All drinks are to be in period-style bottles. No hiding cans and pouring the contents into a cup a la Civil War or WWII. If you want to do it that way, go do another period. The most common method is to get some correct bottles and decant (pour) your favorite drinks into them. Additionally, several beers and imported sodas already come in period lever-top bottles, for the exertion-impaired among us. All you need to do is soak the modern labels off. Try a store that sells a lot of imported items. If you wish, you are welcome to paste on period labels.

6.  NO coolers hidden under blankets or in boxes or elsewhere, either inside or outside the bunker. Placing bottles outside should be sufficient to chill them in the cold air of Newville. Also, to improve your impression of a German Soldat, you shouldn't drink your beverages ice-cold anyway, just pleasantly cool. Ice-cold beer is an anachronism to the Great War, for any soldier of any army portrayed.

7.  NO modern food items. If you want to eat MREs, join the Armed Forces. No Pop Tarts, no Slim Jims, no Moon Pies, no Nabs, no Gatorade and the list goes on and on. The unit, as always, will provide breakfast and the evening meal on Friday and Saturday. You should bring your own food for the other mealtimes. Correct German food is relatively easy to come by, and consists of items such as cold sausage, cheese, dark bread, jam, canned fish (try to find the cans without pull tabs) pickles, chocolate and so on. Either use period labels on canned food, or just leave the cans plain. Do not paint cans Feldgrau. Just because the American Army does it, that doesn't mean every other army in the world does it too.

8.  NO BICS!! Not only are the bright fluorescent cases obvious, they aren't much good in the winds of Newville, as there is no wick to hold the flame. Check ebay, your sponsor or the Flea Market at the event for proper period lighters or match safes.

9.  NO tape recorders or CD players, even if hidden or disguised, to play cool German music. Instead, learn to sing the songs as you listen, then leave the players behind. Sometimes a member will bring a correct record player so, if you can find old 78s, they are acceptable.

10. NO FILTER CIGARETTES!! Pipe tobacco, cigars, cigarettes and even chew were used by WWI soldiers, but not filter cigarettes. If you can't go 48 hours without a filter cigarette, even by switching to another form of tobacco, you need to listen to your significant other and cut down.

11. NO non-period storage boxes. Items you bring should be in wooden boxes or cloth bags. Floor space is limited, so, if it won't fit under the bottom tier of bunks or on your own bunk, it doesn't belong. The floors must be clear. Again, this is not Revy or Civil War where people try to bring everything possible for every occasion. Bring only what you need.

12. NO modern eyeglasses. If you haven't taken care of this yet, you will have to wear contacts or go without your usual glasses.

13. NO long hair. If it can be seen with your helmet on, it's too long! Amaze your friends, relatives and co-workers by getting a correct German Army haircut! If you're not willing to cut your hair, you're reenacting the wrong period.

14. NO items from other reenacting periods because they're "close enough." Close enough - isn't right! Examples: US marked or obvious non-period blankets, CW cups and brogans, WW2 shirts and gun cleaning kits, etc...

15. NO anachronistic personal jewelry, including, but not limited to neck chains, modern watches and rings, earrings, nose rings, tongue posts, etc.

16. Modern cameras are not to be used once an event goes live, usually from Friday evening until Sunday morning. Those wishing to take photos during the live period should use period cameras only. Unit member Erich Fritsch PSanch62@aol.com can provide any information needed regarding purchase & operation of authentic cameras as well as printing or saving pictures to disc for your computer. Farby modern cameras are like farby modern anything else---they don't belong in the field during the event.

17. You were required to choose a German name when you joined the unit. Use it! Find out the names of other members and call them by that name. If someone calls you by your real name, correct them or don't respond unless they use your period name. On the farb level, it's way up there when you hear supposed "Germans" yelling, "Hey Artie! You and Billy move to the left!"

18. Our unit portrays 2te Zug, 3te Kompagnie of the 63te Regiment of the Imperial German Army, late 1917. The appropriate impressions in 2te Zug are riflemen, grenadiers and light machine gun crewmembers. Rank and awards are assigned by the unit. Other combat portrayals are acceptable only during living history events and must be approved prior to the event by the Kompagnieführer.

19. Note: Authenticity errors are never "grand fathered" in just because they are not noticed right away. Authenticity is a continual effort and the kits of 20 years ago, for example, would look farby today. If you have an incorrect item for several events before someone notices, you will still be expected to correct it. "Nobody told me" is not an excuse to keep something wrong in your impression.

20. When JR63 was established as a reenactment unit, it was chosen because it was a typical German combat infantry company. Therefore, items for your impression should be what were common, typical and ordinary for a German soldier. Exotic, exceptional or unusual items should be avoided, even if documentable. Again, if in doubt, please check with your sponsor or a unit leader of higher rank.

21. To repeat, this list is not all-inclusive. It's just to remind each of us what's expected. In other words, if it isn't listed here, that doesn't mean it's OK. If it's not period, it doesn't belong in the bunker. When in doubt, check with your NCO or sponsor. If you accidentally or on purpose bring a farb item into the bunker, don't complain if you are asked to return it to your vehicle for the duration!

Going the Extra Mile

JR63 has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best units of WWI German reenacting. That means, as the title of this paragraph implies, that we go the extra mile when at an event. The goal of each member should be to push one's impression a little farther at each event. Whether by making something for the unit or oneself, learning a song, adding to one's persona, de-farbing an item, or one of many other actions, members should not, as is often seen in reenacting, reach a stagnation point where nothing ever changes. That in mind, here's some food for thought about how our unit can grow in a qualitative way.

Persona - Have you developed your personal history? Do you know when & where you were born, who's in your family, what your peacetime job is and so forth? If not, how can you do…

First Person - This is a term that describes speaking and acting as if one really is a German soldier and it really is 1917. It sounds difficult if you've never tried it, but it's not really that hard and gets easier each time. The easiest way to do first person is simply to avoid talking about modern things; forget the big game, your new truck, computers, etc. Discuss the battle, the Kaiser, the French, the food, all the things soldiers have talked about since warfare began. Many modern topics, however, can easily be "translated" and discussed in first person. Complain about your wife---back home in Schlesien; gripe about your work---instead of your computer programming problems, talk about the problems in the telegraphy shop; tell dirty jokes---about the English or French; discuss the latest kinescope (movie) you saw when you were on leave. If you try it, you'll find some of the most memorable moments from past events will be "first person" moments. Also, if you are not in a first person mode, and others around you are, please don't ruin their moment by discussing something modern. Move away from them to continue your discussion.

Drill - You can't relive the life of a soldier without doing drill. That's it. Anyone who dislikes drill and only wants to bang blanks will probably be unhappy in the 63rd.

Fatigue Duty - Same concept. Some duties, like firewood collection are required if we are going to eat. Others, such as trench work are a necessary part of reenacting at Newville. If you look at the life of an average soldier, even in wartime, they spent far more time doing fatigue duty and drill than they ever spent fighting. You can volunteer or be assigned (the NCOs try their best to spread the joy around), but again, if fatigue duty isn't for you, then neither is the 63rd.

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