Fallschirmjäger-Lehrkompanie
Ardennen 1945

Fallschirmjäger Uniforms

This event is a great opportunity for late-war uniforms and equipment along with formal mess uniforms. It's January 1945 in the Ardennen, so for the formal mess the dress uniform, Tuchrock, Lange Hosen, Shoes and Gloves, and Schirmmütze is very period. Our goal is to balance authenticity with commonality, please don’t show up with oddball/rare items. Stick with a common, easily-documented impression.

Haircut / Facial Hair - Please arrive clean-shaven (no facial hair) with a proper 1940’s haircut.

Headgear - Always worn outside. Continental caps either the Fliegermütze or Feldmütze were often seen out of combat. For the formal mess, either of the preceding caps, or the Schirmmütze.

Helmets – The Fallschirmjägerhelm in single and double decal form, in original and a wide variety of camoflauge paint schemes, especially with whitewash winter camoflauge.. Covers in Splinter B or Green, chicken or bailing wire and nets were all common. Extras were removed for Jump Training (or bring a second helmet).

Jump Smock – 2nd Pattern Step-In Green or LW-Splinter (Splinter B), converted 2nd Pattern, or 3rd Pattern on LW-Splinter or Sumpfmuster Pattern (Marsh) are acceptable.

Uniform Blouse – Fliegerbluse, for the evening formal mess a Tuchrock if you have one.

Shirts – A long sleeve grey or green shirt for field wear, a blaumeliert (blue-flecked) long sleeve shirt for the formal mess with the Fliegerbluse or Tuchrock, or even a white long sleeve shirt with the Tuchrock. Continental blue wool shoulder boards.

Pants - Paratrooper Pants, of course! Lange Hosen (Long Pants) were definitely worn out of combat, so bring a pair if you have them for the evening formal mess.

Boots – For the ground school, 1st/2nd Pattern Jump Boots are required, and available from several suppliers. Converted Dutch, Canadian SF, older U.S. (no Mid-Eyelet Notch). For off duty, Mountain Boots or Low Boots are acceptable. Don’t bring Jack Boots. Scroll down for some additional Boot information.

Low Shoes – For the evening formal mess both evenings, black low-quarter type shoes with the Long Pants, or, since it is May 1944, white low-quarter type shoes with White Pants and White Gloves, the Tuchrock and White Cover on the Schirmmütze. Brown or black leather sports shoes for off-duty.

Field Gear – Leather and webbing were commonly mixed, metal equipment in late-war continental colors. With the K98k, bring an FJ Ammo Bandoleer.

If you have any specific questions regarding authenticity, please contact the event organizers.

Dienstanzüge (Duty Uniforms)

Thursday Activities and Informal Mess
Dienstanzug (Continental Service Uniform),
Ausgehanzug (Continental Walking Out Dress) or
Sommeranzug (Summer Walking Out Dress)
See Below

Friday Morning Ju-52 Manifest Formation
Sprunganzug (Jump Uniform)

Continental Fliegermütze or Feldmütze
Fallschirmjägerhelm
(Paratrooper Helmet - Plain, No Nets, Wire or other Attachments)

Fliegerbluse with Green or Grey Service Shirt
Fallschirmschützenbluse (Jump Smock, the "Knochensack"/"Bone Sack")

Brown or Black Belt with Bluegrey or Silver Buckle and Pistol Holster

FJ Gauntlets (Brown or Black)
Elbow and Knee Pads

Parachute Harness with RZ-1, RZ-16 or RZ-20 Parachute Assembly

Springerhosen with 1st or 2nd Pattern Boots
Rubber Sole Covers
Fallschimmesser (Gravity Knife)

Friday Night Mess
Ausgehanzug (Continental Walking Out Dress)

Continental Flieger-, Feld- or Schirmmütze

Fliegerbluse with Blue-Flecked (blaumeliert) Shirt with Black Tie
Tuchrock with Blue-Flecked (blaumeliert) Shirt with Black Tie
Tuchrock with White Shirt with Black Tie

Brown or Black Belt with Bluegrey or Silver Buckle and Pistol Holster

FJ Gauntlets (Brown or Black) or Grey Leather Gloves

Springerhosen with 1st or 2nd Pattern Boots
Langehosen (Long Pants) with Black Low-Quarter Shoes

Saturday Morning Appell
Dienstanzug (Continental Service Uniform)

Continental Feldmütze Preferred, Otherwise Fliegermütze

Fliegerbluse with Blue-Flecked (blaumeliert) Shirt with Black Tie

Brown or Black Belt with Bluegrey or Silver Buckle and Pistol Holster

FJ Gauntlets (Brown or Black) or Grey Leather Gloves

Springerhosen with 1st or 2nd Pattern Boots

Saturday Morning Tactical Training
Gefechtsanzug (Continental)

Continental Fliegermütze or Feldmütze
Fallschirmjägerhelm (Paratrooper Helmet - As Prepared For Combat)

Fliegerbluse with Green or Grey Service Shirt
Fallschirmschützenbluse (Jump Smock, the "Knochensack"/"Bone Sack") Winteranzug (Winter Suit)

Brown or Black Belt with Bluegrey or Silver Buckle
Pistole u. Seitengewehrtasche (Pistol & Black or Brown Pistol Holster)
Leichte Trageriemen (Black or Brown Lightweight Leather Y-Straps)
Trageriemen (Black/Brown Leather Service Y-Straps)
Ersatztrageriemen (Web Y-Straps)

FG42, G33/40, G43, G44, K98k, MP38, MP40, MG34, MG42, P08, P38
(Germany Infantry Weapons)

Fallschirmjägerpatronentasche (K98k Bandoleer in Blue, Green, Splinter-B)
Patronentaschen für FG42, G43, u. Machinenpistole (Ammo Pouches for FG42, G43 and Machine Pistols)
Patronenkasten u. Werkzeugtasche für Machinengewehr(MG34/42 Ammo Boxes and Tool Kit)

Fallschirmjägergasmaskbeutel (Paratrooper’s Gas Mask Bag & Mask)
Feldflasche u. Becher (Canteen and Cup)
Brotbeutel (Bread Bag)
Kochgeschirr u. Eßbesteck (Mess Kit & Utensils)

FJ Gauntlets (Brown or Black)

Springerhosen with 1st or 2nd Pattern Boots

Andere Gefechtsausrüstung (Other Combat Equipment As Desired)

Saturday Afternoon Jump Training
Sprunganzug (Jump Uniform)
Same As Friday Morning Ju-52 Manifest Formation

Saturday Night Mess
Ausgehanzug or Sommeranzug
Same As Friday Night Mess

Sunday Morning Appell
Gefechtsanzug (Continental)
Same As Saturday Morning Tactical Training

More FJ Boot Information:

As far as is known, there are currently 2 sources of repro German second pattern Jump Boots - one is SM Wholesale (in CA), the other is James Brown in England.

The English boots are pretty good, though they are a bit loose at the calf when laced up tight. Unfortunately, the exchange rate for pounds-to-dollars is almost 2 to 1, so they are prohibitively expensive right now.

The SM Wholesale boots are pretty decent, though probably cut 1" shorter than what they should be. Most likely the pattern came from a very small pair of originals, and simply "not scaled-up" quite accurately for the larger sizes(?). "Conversions" can be made using a variety of post-WW2 military boots:

- US 1960's era 'garrison/recruit' boots (black, smooth leather, no toe caps or ankle notches, but only 9 pair of eyelets.

- Post war Dutch brown pebbled leather paratrooper boots: a poor man's Cochoran, but a really nice pair of German FJ Boots if converted correctly. The hardest thing is removing the toe cap, filling in the stitch holes, and re-dyeing them to match... Recommend resoling & reheeling.

- 1950's Bundeswehr lace-up boots: Need to remove speed laces (9 pairs) & replace w/eyelets, resole, and reheel.

- Doc Martins "Model 1940" boots: need to cut them down to 12 pairs of eyelets, strip the cherry red dye, and redye w/dark brown. All details look great, except for the molded rubber sole, but perhaps there's a way to
resole them?

See the following for specific guidelines:

FJ Continental Field Uniforms
FJ Continental Walking Out Uniforms
FJ Summer Uniforms
FJ Field Equipment