OPERATION VARSITY, 11-13 December, 2015
Keep checking back on this web page periodically, as updates will be added on a regular basis. Impression guidelines, Rules of Engagement, amenites offered, etc. will be added as the event develops.
Welcome to the "Operation Varsity" event web page. Participants who attended "Orne Bridgehead" can expect the same great experience they had at Orne, with even more great features added for "Operation Varsity". In response to suggestions from participants, the cafe will also be open on Friday night for Varsity as well as Saturday night too. Operation Varsity will be open to U.S. airborne and ground troop impressions to participate. Like Orne Bridgehead, at Operation Varsity you will experience:
- An expanded, larger authentic functioning Drop Zone including discarded paratrooper parachutes with packs and rigging, marker panel designations for DZ and landing direction markers, "Rommel's Asparagus" anti-glider obstacles, and real and reproduction supply panniers, CLE containers, and palletized loads containing real supplies with the correct color-coded parachutes to supply the operation.
- More battlefield effects including British and US paratrooper casualties hanging in trees german military and civilian casualties laying on the battlefield, and destroyed military and civilian vehicles littering the battlefield.
- Dugin field fortifications reinforced with barbed wire obstacles and pillboxes.
- Authentic meals provided by authentic German and British field kitchen facilities.
- Professional grade pyrotechnics program simulating artillery barrages including HE and smoke shells.
- Expanded cafe program, "Gasthaus zum Prosit", including entertainment, an awards program for participants, Allied and German sing-alongs, and of course another legendary production of "Sock Puppet Theatre"
- Enhanced training program on Friday for participants incuding map reading and navigation classes, conducting indirect fire, and mission planning on an accurate 1:500 scale model of the event site.
- Friday night living history production of "XVIIIth Airborne Corps Mission Briefing".
- Sunday morning scenario added for all those wishing to participate.
- Awards for unit camp authenticity.
- Authentic field hospital with incentives to 'get wounded'.
- An expanded, larger authentic functioning Drop Zone including discarded paratrooper parachutes with packs and rigging, marker panel designations for DZ and landing direction markers, "Rommel's Asparagus" anti-glider obstacles, and real and reproduction supply panniers, CLE containers, and palletized loads containing real supplies with the correct color-coded parachutes to supply the operation.
- More battlefield effects including British and US paratrooper casualties hanging in trees german military and civilian casualties laying on the battlefield, and destroyed military and civilian vehicles littering the battlefield.
- Dugin field fortifications reinforced with barbed wire obstacles and pillboxes.
- Authentic meals provided by authentic German and British field kitchen facilities.
- Professional grade pyrotechnics program simulating artillery barrages including HE and smoke shells.
- Expanded cafe program, "Gasthaus zum Prosit", including entertainment, an awards program for participants, Allied and German sing-alongs, and of course another legendary production of "Sock Puppet Theatre"
- Enhanced training program on Friday for participants incuding map reading and navigation classes, conducting indirect fire, and mission planning on an accurate 1:500 scale model of the event site.
- Friday night living history production of "XVIIIth Airborne Corps Mission Briefing".
- Sunday morning scenario added for all those wishing to participate.
- Awards for unit camp authenticity.
- Authentic field hospital with incentives to 'get wounded'.
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GETTING THERE
When you're driving to the event, after you've followed the "WW2" arrow signs pictured to the right, you'll come to the Park and Register sign in this photo. Then you'll know for sure you're in the right place. Park your car first, and then get your gear on and report to registration. Thanks! |
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Driving Directions to the Event:
From Interstate Highway 20 - Exit Interstate 20 at exit number 540 at Van. You'll see a Love's Travel Stop on the north side of the highway. Go south on FR 314 for 3.7 miles. Take a right onto FR 858. Go 0.8 mile. Take a left on VZ 4614. Go 1.5 miles. Take a left on VZ 4605. Go 0.4 mile. You are at the event. You will see the Registration and Parking sign for the event. Parking is in the field on the right of the road.
From Ben Wheeler Texas - Take Highway 64 east toward Tyler. Go 4.6 miles. Take a left on VZ 4608. Go 1.2 miles. Take a right onto VZ 4605. Go 0.4 mile. You are at the event. You will see the Registration and Parking sign for the event. Parking is in the field on the right of the road.
From Tyler Texas. Take Highway 64 west. Go approximately 21 miles. Take a right onto VZ 4608. Go 1.2 miles. Take a right onto VZ 4605. Go 0.4 mile. You are at the event. You will see the Registration and Parking sign for the event. Parking is in the field on the right of the road.
When you reach the road intersections and junctions near the event, you will see 4' x 4' signs painted white with black letters saying "WW2", with black arrows pointing the direction to the event.
From Interstate Highway 20 - Exit Interstate 20 at exit number 540 at Van. You'll see a Love's Travel Stop on the north side of the highway. Go south on FR 314 for 3.7 miles. Take a right onto FR 858. Go 0.8 mile. Take a left on VZ 4614. Go 1.5 miles. Take a left on VZ 4605. Go 0.4 mile. You are at the event. You will see the Registration and Parking sign for the event. Parking is in the field on the right of the road.
From Ben Wheeler Texas - Take Highway 64 east toward Tyler. Go 4.6 miles. Take a left on VZ 4608. Go 1.2 miles. Take a right onto VZ 4605. Go 0.4 mile. You are at the event. You will see the Registration and Parking sign for the event. Parking is in the field on the right of the road.
From Tyler Texas. Take Highway 64 west. Go approximately 21 miles. Take a right onto VZ 4608. Go 1.2 miles. Take a right onto VZ 4605. Go 0.4 mile. You are at the event. You will see the Registration and Parking sign for the event. Parking is in the field on the right of the road.
When you reach the road intersections and junctions near the event, you will see 4' x 4' signs painted white with black letters saying "WW2", with black arrows pointing the direction to the event.
Operation Varsity Location: Here is the physical address and the latitude/longitude coordinates. Use the physical address for BATF paperwork, BUT DO NOT USE IT to try to locate the property with GPS or Mapquest or Google maps, etc. IT WILL NOT SHOW YOU THE CORRECT LOCATION. Use the Latitude/Longitude, and type it into GPS or cut and paste it into a google search, and it will show you the correct location. Thanks!
Physical Address
399 VZ CR 4605, BEN WHEELER, TX 75754
Latitude and Longitude
32.436227, -95.630407
When you get to Operation Varsity, you will see the farmhouse in the first photo, and there will be a sign out front pointing you to parking and registration. The gate in the second photo is across from the road, and that's where you will park your car, in the field inside the gate. When you've gotten your gear ready for registration, you will go back across the road and to the left of the farmhouse, you'll see a barn through another gate. That is where you will go to register. Go through the door into the barn in the fourth photo, and you will fill out your waiver form, get information and handouts, and be directed where to go from there after you pass your safety and authenticity checks. There will be leaders briefings and classes on how to read maps, use protractors to determine grids, call for and adjust mortar fire, use communications equipment, etc., in the barn all evening on Friday, and a 1:500 scale terrain model will be there for the training and for unit leaders to use for planning with their units. Leaders will be supplied with maps for the event.
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This event is a private tactical battle. It is not open to the public. All reenactors interested in participating need to be approved by the 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment. Attendance is by unit and individual invite only. If you or your unit are interested in attending, PLEASE FILL OUT THE CONTACT FORM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE AND SUBMIT IT. This is an immersion event depicting the bridgehead to the east side of the Rhine River in Germany, This event is open to British and American Airborne and Army impressions and German reenactors only. All British and American impressions that fought in NW Europe in 1945 north of the German city of Wesel are welcome to attend. German impressions should reflect those impressions that fought in the last few months of the war. Volkssturm ARE welcome! Civilian impressions are welcome! Although it is preferred that impressions such as British and US Airborne reenactors portray the actual units involved, i.e. Brits portray 6th Airborne and US portray 17th Airborne, it is not necessary to re-patch your uniforms, but it is appreciated.
For armoured vehicle owners, a cash stipend is being offered to help defray your costs for transporting your vehicles to the event. A $200.00 stipend will be paid to owners of fully-tracked armoured vehicles who bring their vehicles to the event for the weekend, and a $100.00 stipend will be pad to owners of half-tracked armoured vehicles who bring their vehicles to the event for the weekend.
Breakfast and supper on Saturday evening will be provided to all participants. Other meals need to be provided by the participants themselves. Please ensure that the rations and snacks you bring are period correct, and leave all modern labels and packaging at home. A recommended source for rations is http://reprorations.com/
Helmets are required for this event. There will be a large amount of pyrotechnics used at the event, including simulated mortar and artillery bombardments, as well as signalling pyrotechnics, smoke, and parachute flares. If you are planning on bringing any pyrotechnics, see the "Rules of Engagement" document below.
Several scenarios spanning various engagements that took place within the Rhine bridgehead. These will replicate the "Battle for the Drop Zones", "Battle for Hamminkeln", "Expansion of the Bridgehead" "Fight for the Diersfordterwald", and "Breakout from the Bridgehead". Read the rules of engagement below, and understand that there is no hit calling. Firepower won battles, and you will need lots of it.
Upon arrival, you will kit up and get your gear ready. There is a registration barn at the front of the property, and you will report inside the barn to register. Safety and authenticity will be checked in the barn. Your heavy equipment, weaponry, and any other gear or vehicles will be checked outside the barn. Once you have been registered and cleared, you will be directed to your positions for the night. If you have heavy gear and no period vehicle, WW2 transport vehicles will be on hand to move you and your stuff to your assigned positions. From the time you leave registration to the time you head to your vehicle after the event, you are expected to remain 'period' for the duration of the event. You are free to go back to the vehicle parking area during the event, but leave the modern stuff there.
On Saturday morning, there will be a brief formation consisting of a briefing on what to expect, what will be expected of you, and some demonstrations of pyrotechnics and hand-to-hand 'combat' to ensure safety during the event. Safety personnel will be pointed out and firefighting equipment pointed out, should it be needed during the event. After the formation, combatants will go back to their positions, and the scenarios will begin.
There is no 'down time' in between the scenarios. This is a campaign style event, and your chain of command will be giving you orders on what you will do, where and when. In 'down time' in combat, soldiers clean weapons, re-organize gear, sew torn uniforms, eat and sleep whenever possible, improve their positions, and talk about the normal things soldiers talk about. That is what you are expected to do from the time you leave registration to the time you leave the event. The only administrative 'down time' for the event will be at supper time on Saturday, when all participants, both german and british, will eat a meal together and administrative information will be given to everyone prior to the night combat.
Understand that this is a historic reenactment. There is no hit calling, and it is not a wargame. There is no "winning", only portraying events that occurred. There is no "you go over there on that hill and we'll try to kick you off". Hit calling is the most dis-respectful practice that "reenactors" engage in. It reduces the act of soldiers killing soldiers to a game, and dishonors the sacrifices of those we portray. Some of us are real combat veterans, and if your club does this, leave it at home.
Chain of command will be established for both sides by the organizers of the event. There is no 'reenactor rank' or 'reenactor time in grade'. All participants will follow the orders of their chain of command. Failure to comply will result in a warning, and repeated failure to comply may result from expulsion from the event. There will be pre-placed pyrotechnics for some of the scenarios, and individuals and groups who fail to follow orders could get themselves or others injured, and ruin the scenario for everyone.
Does this all sound a little too military? That's the point. If you want to take the hobby seriously, by all means, fill out the contact form and join us and see what "feeling like being there" can feel like. The organizers of this event are bringing 30 years of reenacting and event running experience in both North America and Europe spanning from the Napoleonic Wars to Vietnam to the table.
Keep referring back to this web page, as well as signing up on the "Orne Bridgehead" Facebook page, for updates and current information on the event. Thanks!
SCHEDULE
Thursday, 10 December 2015
Site opens, participants begin arriving, event setup begins, and living history.
Friday, 11 December 2015
Participants continue to arrive, living history, registration opens, event setup complete.
1800-200: Map reading classes, terrain association classes, and mortar gunnery classes conducted for all interested participants at registration barn. 1/500 scale model terrain board of the event site will be available for all training and briefings. Black and white maps will be provided for training participants, color maps will be provided to all unit leaders and key personnel. Bring your own compasses!
2000-2100: German orders group for all german unit leaders.
2100-2200: XVIII Airborne Corps Mission Briefing
2200-2400: Gasthaus Zum Prosit open. German, British, and U.S. liquid refreshments, pastries, sandwiches and snacks. Bring small bills! Soft drinks will also be on the menu.
2200-2400: Terrain board available for all unit commanders at Gasthaus zum Prosit to plan and coordinate, and brief their subordinates. Micro-armour and infantry will be available.
German field kitchen will be open on Friday night to all participants for supper. Cost for supper is $7.00 per head.
Saturday, 12 December 2015
0630-0730: Breakfast (included with registration fee) for all participants at the German field kitchen. BE THERE AT 06:30!!!
0730-0800: Briefing for all participants.
0800-1000: Combatants prepare for combat. Orders groups, briefings, and deployment.
0800-1000: Camp and living history judging while combatants prep for combat. Checklists for judging on various aspects will be used.
1000-1700: Combat operations for day scenarios.
1700-1800: Supper (included with registration fee) for all participants at the British field kitchen.
1800-1830: Briefing for night battle, all participants
1830-1900: Prep for night battle
1900-2000: Night battle
2000-2400: Gasthaus Zum Prosite open. German, British, and U.S. liquid refreshments, pastries, sandwiches and snacks. Bring small bills! Soft drinks will also be on the menu. Amateur entertainment contest (yes, this time we'll actually award the prizes!) Feel free to enter the competition with any talent you may (or may not) have. Sock Puppet Theatre will perform its presentation of "The Crossing". Period music will be played evening. Awards for unit camps and living history will be presented.
Sunday, 13 December 2015
Breakfast for those who wish at the German field kitchen. Cost is $7.00 per meal
0900-1100: Battle scenario for all who want to participate
1100-1200: Cleanup and return home.
This year there will be five scenarios on Saturday and one on Sunday morning. Saturday scenarios are:
1) Battle for the Rhine consisting of the fight for the Diersfordterwald and the fight for Hamminkeln
2) Breakout
3) Pursuit to the Baltic
4) Deliberate night attack
Sunday scenario will be one of two possible scenarios, to be determined by the ratio of the number of German and Allied participants taking part.
For armoured vehicle owners, a cash stipend is being offered to help defray your costs for transporting your vehicles to the event. A $200.00 stipend will be paid to owners of fully-tracked armoured vehicles who bring their vehicles to the event for the weekend, and a $100.00 stipend will be pad to owners of half-tracked armoured vehicles who bring their vehicles to the event for the weekend.
Breakfast and supper on Saturday evening will be provided to all participants. Other meals need to be provided by the participants themselves. Please ensure that the rations and snacks you bring are period correct, and leave all modern labels and packaging at home. A recommended source for rations is http://reprorations.com/
Helmets are required for this event. There will be a large amount of pyrotechnics used at the event, including simulated mortar and artillery bombardments, as well as signalling pyrotechnics, smoke, and parachute flares. If you are planning on bringing any pyrotechnics, see the "Rules of Engagement" document below.
Several scenarios spanning various engagements that took place within the Rhine bridgehead. These will replicate the "Battle for the Drop Zones", "Battle for Hamminkeln", "Expansion of the Bridgehead" "Fight for the Diersfordterwald", and "Breakout from the Bridgehead". Read the rules of engagement below, and understand that there is no hit calling. Firepower won battles, and you will need lots of it.
Upon arrival, you will kit up and get your gear ready. There is a registration barn at the front of the property, and you will report inside the barn to register. Safety and authenticity will be checked in the barn. Your heavy equipment, weaponry, and any other gear or vehicles will be checked outside the barn. Once you have been registered and cleared, you will be directed to your positions for the night. If you have heavy gear and no period vehicle, WW2 transport vehicles will be on hand to move you and your stuff to your assigned positions. From the time you leave registration to the time you head to your vehicle after the event, you are expected to remain 'period' for the duration of the event. You are free to go back to the vehicle parking area during the event, but leave the modern stuff there.
On Saturday morning, there will be a brief formation consisting of a briefing on what to expect, what will be expected of you, and some demonstrations of pyrotechnics and hand-to-hand 'combat' to ensure safety during the event. Safety personnel will be pointed out and firefighting equipment pointed out, should it be needed during the event. After the formation, combatants will go back to their positions, and the scenarios will begin.
There is no 'down time' in between the scenarios. This is a campaign style event, and your chain of command will be giving you orders on what you will do, where and when. In 'down time' in combat, soldiers clean weapons, re-organize gear, sew torn uniforms, eat and sleep whenever possible, improve their positions, and talk about the normal things soldiers talk about. That is what you are expected to do from the time you leave registration to the time you leave the event. The only administrative 'down time' for the event will be at supper time on Saturday, when all participants, both german and british, will eat a meal together and administrative information will be given to everyone prior to the night combat.
Understand that this is a historic reenactment. There is no hit calling, and it is not a wargame. There is no "winning", only portraying events that occurred. There is no "you go over there on that hill and we'll try to kick you off". Hit calling is the most dis-respectful practice that "reenactors" engage in. It reduces the act of soldiers killing soldiers to a game, and dishonors the sacrifices of those we portray. Some of us are real combat veterans, and if your club does this, leave it at home.
Chain of command will be established for both sides by the organizers of the event. There is no 'reenactor rank' or 'reenactor time in grade'. All participants will follow the orders of their chain of command. Failure to comply will result in a warning, and repeated failure to comply may result from expulsion from the event. There will be pre-placed pyrotechnics for some of the scenarios, and individuals and groups who fail to follow orders could get themselves or others injured, and ruin the scenario for everyone.
Does this all sound a little too military? That's the point. If you want to take the hobby seriously, by all means, fill out the contact form and join us and see what "feeling like being there" can feel like. The organizers of this event are bringing 30 years of reenacting and event running experience in both North America and Europe spanning from the Napoleonic Wars to Vietnam to the table.
Keep referring back to this web page, as well as signing up on the "Orne Bridgehead" Facebook page, for updates and current information on the event. Thanks!
SCHEDULE
Thursday, 10 December 2015
Site opens, participants begin arriving, event setup begins, and living history.
Friday, 11 December 2015
Participants continue to arrive, living history, registration opens, event setup complete.
1800-200: Map reading classes, terrain association classes, and mortar gunnery classes conducted for all interested participants at registration barn. 1/500 scale model terrain board of the event site will be available for all training and briefings. Black and white maps will be provided for training participants, color maps will be provided to all unit leaders and key personnel. Bring your own compasses!
2000-2100: German orders group for all german unit leaders.
2100-2200: XVIII Airborne Corps Mission Briefing
2200-2400: Gasthaus Zum Prosit open. German, British, and U.S. liquid refreshments, pastries, sandwiches and snacks. Bring small bills! Soft drinks will also be on the menu.
2200-2400: Terrain board available for all unit commanders at Gasthaus zum Prosit to plan and coordinate, and brief their subordinates. Micro-armour and infantry will be available.
German field kitchen will be open on Friday night to all participants for supper. Cost for supper is $7.00 per head.
Saturday, 12 December 2015
0630-0730: Breakfast (included with registration fee) for all participants at the German field kitchen. BE THERE AT 06:30!!!
0730-0800: Briefing for all participants.
0800-1000: Combatants prepare for combat. Orders groups, briefings, and deployment.
0800-1000: Camp and living history judging while combatants prep for combat. Checklists for judging on various aspects will be used.
1000-1700: Combat operations for day scenarios.
1700-1800: Supper (included with registration fee) for all participants at the British field kitchen.
1800-1830: Briefing for night battle, all participants
1830-1900: Prep for night battle
1900-2000: Night battle
2000-2400: Gasthaus Zum Prosite open. German, British, and U.S. liquid refreshments, pastries, sandwiches and snacks. Bring small bills! Soft drinks will also be on the menu. Amateur entertainment contest (yes, this time we'll actually award the prizes!) Feel free to enter the competition with any talent you may (or may not) have. Sock Puppet Theatre will perform its presentation of "The Crossing". Period music will be played evening. Awards for unit camps and living history will be presented.
Sunday, 13 December 2015
Breakfast for those who wish at the German field kitchen. Cost is $7.00 per meal
0900-1100: Battle scenario for all who want to participate
1100-1200: Cleanup and return home.
This year there will be five scenarios on Saturday and one on Sunday morning. Saturday scenarios are:
1) Battle for the Rhine consisting of the fight for the Diersfordterwald and the fight for Hamminkeln
2) Breakout
3) Pursuit to the Baltic
4) Deliberate night attack
Sunday scenario will be one of two possible scenarios, to be determined by the ratio of the number of German and Allied participants taking part.
REGISTRATION FOR OPERATION VARSITY !
The registration fee will be $35.00 for pre-registered participants paying on-line, and $50.00 FOR THOSE PAYING AT THE GATE. This is due to the Orne Bridgehead event operating at a loss. This is the 21st Century and unfortunately things are getting more expensive to run an event like this.
We don't like to do this, but let your people know that if they don't get pre-registered, they're going to pay $50 at the gate instead of $40. Pre-registration gives us a solid number to plan for financially for supplies and other expenses. The responses I keep getting from people telling me they have 5 and 8 and 10 people or whatever coming, is fine, but if we put all the money into all the rations and supplies and everything it takes to run the event, and all the "maybe" comings don't show up, it's not going to be the people running the event who are fronting the money for everyone else to have a good time that are going to bite the bullet for those who said they are coming and then didn't show up. If you know someone who is planning on coming, warn them about the fee increase and tell them to pre-register. Pre-registration $35, register at the gate $50. The event is three weeks away. Just about anyone wanting to come knows at this point whether they have a schedule conflict or not. Get registered.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
ALL NEW REGISTRATION WILL BE AT THE GATE AND WILL COST $50.00!!!!!!!!!!!
ALL NEW REGISTRATION WILL BE AT THE GATE AND WILL COST $50.00!!!!!!!!!!!
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As an incentive to our American Airborne Allies to re-badge to 17th Airborne Division to make the event more authentic, we are offering FREE 17th Airborne Division patches (shown at right) to the first 10 US airborne reenactors that pre-register. Pre-registration for Operation Varsity is now open! Click on the "Add to Cart" button to the right of the airborne patch to pre-register!
REGISTER AT THE GATE $50.00 |
Our 17th Airborne patches are from "Popular Patch". Josh at "Popular Patch" is graciously giving us all a 15% discount on his products at "Popular Patch". Just enter the discount code my15 when ordering from him. Cheers!
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UNIT AWARDS!
There will be three awards given out, one to each of the three major combatants, British/Commonwealth, American and German. The awards will be given for the most authentic camp or battle position for each major combatant. Criteria will consist of best tentage, camp gear, crate-age, fox holes or slit trenches, non-visibility of modern crap, camouflage, range stakes, period labeling of packages, etc. etc. etc. The better and more elaborate your unit's setup is, the better your chance of winning the prize. The prizes awarded will be ammunition or ration crates so that the units who win them can add to their already excellent impression, and encourage other units to up their game in the future. The prizes will be:
For the British/Commonwealth: A WW2 reproduction British Compo Ration crate produced by K. Doughtie.
For the Americans: A WW2 reproduction US .45 caliber ammunition crate produced by Frontline Crates.
For the Germans: A WW2 reproduction 7.92mm ammunition crate produced by Frontline Crates.
There will be three awards given out, one to each of the three major combatants, British/Commonwealth, American and German. The awards will be given for the most authentic camp or battle position for each major combatant. Criteria will consist of best tentage, camp gear, crate-age, fox holes or slit trenches, non-visibility of modern crap, camouflage, range stakes, period labeling of packages, etc. etc. etc. The better and more elaborate your unit's setup is, the better your chance of winning the prize. The prizes awarded will be ammunition or ration crates so that the units who win them can add to their already excellent impression, and encourage other units to up their game in the future. The prizes will be:
For the British/Commonwealth: A WW2 reproduction British Compo Ration crate produced by K. Doughtie.
For the Americans: A WW2 reproduction US .45 caliber ammunition crate produced by Frontline Crates.
For the Germans: A WW2 reproduction 7.92mm ammunition crate produced by Frontline Crates.
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Below are some examples of camps and setups to give you an idea of the kinds of things we're looking for (and *not* as well). Look close, because the judges will be!
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Top left is from "Atlas Repro Paperwork" website. Top center is 6th AARR harbor area. Top right is a bivi tent row from 6th AARR. Above left is a Heer unit from California setup at MOR VI. Above center and right are from GI camps at MOR VI. Left is from 6th AARR field kitchen at Bois de Bavent. Right is a GI camp from MOR VI. These are good examples of efforts different clubs have put into making their unit's impression better as a group. The fewer the flaws in your club's setup, the better your chance of winning the prize. The idea is that if you took the photo in black and white, can it be distinguished from an original photo, why or why not?
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For the sing-alongs at Gasthaus zum Prosit, instead of handing out printed flyers with the lyrics to popular WW2 allied and axis songs, we'll be projecting them onto the wall or a screen, so it'll be more like a 'group karaoke'. Also, we'll be doing the game "FUBAR", running it sort of like family feud. There will be UK, Yank and German teams of five competing against each other in their own slang terms. As in five UK guys/girls competing against five other UK people, and the teams whose knowledge of their own nation's slang is better will win prizes. So if you don't have the book "FUBAR", and you want to compete, you might want to pick up a copy. Copies sell for one cent, yes, one single penny, plus shipping on Amazon. Here's the link:
The below map is the map of the reenactment site in Van, Texas. It has been edited in scale so that you can use a standard 1:25,000 protractor to determine 6 and 8 digit grid locations using the grid squares. The grid squares themselves are 500' x 500' on the actual ground. The terrain is rolling gentle hills with open fields, meadows, woods, tree-lines and streams. It is very vehicle friendly, and there are farm-trails linking the meadows and fields. There are some field fortifications already dug on-site, including trenches and weapons pits. The maneuver area is bounded on the west side by the hard-surfaced road in red, on the south by the hard-surfaced road in red, and on the east and north sides by thick hedge-rows that can be seen on this map as broken black lines shaded in green. Feel free to copy and print this map for use at the event, as only a limited number of maps will be issued to unit leaders.
General authenticity rules for ALL PARTICIPANTS:
NO cigarettes with filters
NO cell phones. If you can't live without the thing, put it on vibrate, and if you must use it, go out in the woods like you are going out to wipe your ass with a rabbit, meaning MAKE SURE YOU CAN'T BE SEEN BY ANYONE.
NO modern music.
NO modern containers, wrist watches, jewelry, ear buds, blue tooths, or eyewear. Either wear period correct glasses, or wear contacts.
NO modern camp gear visible. All modern coolers, stoves, lanterns, or any other modern stuff must be concealed in tents WITH FLAPS CLOSED AT ALL TIMES. A modern igloo cooler painted camouflage with an eagle and swastika on it DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AUTHENTIC CAMP GEAR.
NO MODERN VEHICLES in the camp areas. IF you are allowed to unload your modern vehicle because you have an exceptionally impressive amount of period camp gear for your display, then you will unload the gear and IMMEDIATELY move your modern vehicle out of the camp area. Come back to set it up AFTER you have removed your vehicle.
Facial hair MUST BE JUSTIFIED BY THE PARTICIPANT WITH DOCUMENTATION AND PHOTOS. If you don't provide it, either shave, or leave.
NO cigarettes with filters
NO cell phones. If you can't live without the thing, put it on vibrate, and if you must use it, go out in the woods like you are going out to wipe your ass with a rabbit, meaning MAKE SURE YOU CAN'T BE SEEN BY ANYONE.
NO modern music.
NO modern containers, wrist watches, jewelry, ear buds, blue tooths, or eyewear. Either wear period correct glasses, or wear contacts.
NO modern camp gear visible. All modern coolers, stoves, lanterns, or any other modern stuff must be concealed in tents WITH FLAPS CLOSED AT ALL TIMES. A modern igloo cooler painted camouflage with an eagle and swastika on it DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AUTHENTIC CAMP GEAR.
NO MODERN VEHICLES in the camp areas. IF you are allowed to unload your modern vehicle because you have an exceptionally impressive amount of period camp gear for your display, then you will unload the gear and IMMEDIATELY move your modern vehicle out of the camp area. Come back to set it up AFTER you have removed your vehicle.
Facial hair MUST BE JUSTIFIED BY THE PARTICIPANT WITH DOCUMENTATION AND PHOTOS. If you don't provide it, either shave, or leave.
