early war impression
The period of 1939 - 1941 can be described as early war. The main action which was seen by IR208 in this timeline was the fight for France in 1940. To match this we have decided to base our appearance of an early-war infantryman on this action during May 1940. This list is also the basic equipment guide for new recuits for this impression.
| Essential Items | Preference | Accepted |
| Tunic (feldbluse) | M36 (with internal suspenders and tunic hooks; early war breast eagle, litzen and bottle green shoulder boards with white waffenfarben) | - |
| Trousers (hosen) | M36 - Stone grey (steingrau) | - |
| Under-Shirt (hemd) | Collarless White | Mouse Grey Service Shirt with Collar. With or without pockets |
| Boots (stieffel) | Marching Boots (marschstieffel) | - |
| Field Cap (feldmütze) | M34 Side-Cap | - |
| Steel Helmet (stahlhelm) | M35 (apple green with double decals) | M40 (with double decals) |
| Belt and Buckle (koppel mit schloß) | Black leather with correct 'Gott Mit Uns' buckle | - |
| Socks (socken) | Grey woollen with correct white sizing bands | Grey woollen |
| Bread-bag (brotbeutel) | M31 (either green or tan in colour) | - |
| Mess-tins (Kochgeschirr) | Original early war type | Original later war issue |
| Canteen (feldflasche) | Original 1 litre type | - |
| Entrenchment Tool and carrier (spaten mit tasche) | Original straight type | Folding type |
| Bayonet and frog (seitengewehr / scheide ) | Original and blued with repro frog | - |
| K98k Ammunition pouches (patronentasche) | Original | Black top reproductions |
| Gas Mask Cannister (tragebüchse) | Original with gas mask | Original without gas mask |
| Next Items | Preference | Accepted |
| Gas-bag | Original - rubberised or canvas with gas cape or padded out | - |
| Shelter Half (zeltbahn) | Original with correct triangular shape and splinter pattern | Top reproductions |
| ID Disc (erkennungsmarke) | Aluminium with correct stampings for IR208 | Aluminium with other unit markings |
| Pay book (soldbuch) | Heer (army) soldbuch filled in correctly | With just first page completed for identification purposes |
| Knife, Fork Spoon set | Aluminium clip together type | Steel version |
| K98k Carbine | Original pre 1941 | Original pre 1945 |
| K98k Cleaning kit | Original including all brushes, tool, oil container and pull through | - |
| Greatcoat (mantel) | M36 type with green collar | - |
| Y-Straps (koppeltraggestell) | Original or top reproducton in leather | - |
| Optional Items | Preference | Accepted |
| Butter dish | Original | Reproduction |
| Housewife | Original with spare thread, buttons and needles | Bundeswehr version |
| Assault Frame with bag | No tropical versions | - |
| Blanket | Recognised Heer type | Grey Woollen |
| Gloves | Grey woollen with correct white sizing bands | Grey Woollen |
| Esbit Cooker | Top Reproductions | - |
| Tornister | Original | - |
NOTE: NCO's would have used the K98k and the Machine Gunner would have used the MG34 for this impression.