KM-KA repro uniform

[Götterdämmerung]

Hello folks

I`m one of the volunteers for restoring a german WWII coastal artillery battery on the Baltic coast. The battery was originally built as a coastal battery facing the west in 1939, but in 1944 it was converted into an anti-aircraft battery for defending the city of Memel against invaders coming from the east. According to all the information and artifacts that we collect, the bunkers belonged to the Kriegsmarine, (KM-KA to be more precise) and also hellpers from the Hitler-jugend and/or Volkssturm served there.

So, one of our many goals is to reenact the personell of the battery. I have been doing research and it lead me to this forum, I see there are some good KM-KA specialists and reenactors here, so I`m hoping that you people could help me

The first uniform that I want to collect is a standard KM-küstenartillerie enlisted mans uniform and by doing so I hope to inspire the other local volunteers to chose the correct reenactment path.

So, is it possible to find a repro KA tunic? It seems to be very rare and unique, I have been looking everywhere, but all that I find are originals, or photos of reenactors, can anyone help me with that? maybe someone is selling one?

Also, what about the caps? are they M40, or also somewhat different from the M40?

The pants? are they M40? I fail to see any difference from it.

Did the KA personell wear standard WH knobelbecher boots?

I think that`s enough questions for now,


Thank you in advance,
Aivaras

[von_Remörter]

Hi Götterdämmerung,

I have been reenacting Marineartillerie/-Infanterie for some time now, You may have seen my pictures already, if not, here is the link http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=553731

Getting a complete uniform together is a bit of a struggle, since nobody makes these uniforms.

I have used a M40-Feldbluse and removed the two lower pockets so you just have the pocket flaps remaining. You get a uniform that is 95% correct on the outside this way ( the only mistake are the belthook holes on the front, which the KM uniforms didn't have). On the inside you dont get the complete lining, but if you wear the tunic, nobody will notice.

Insignia you can find quite easily, buttons not so easy. Yoy have to use original buttons, but beware, these are also special, not the big golden ones for the blue uniform!

The cap is similar tot the M40 cap most vendors sell as an SS model.
Trousers are also M40. And footwear, they wore the standard Knobelbecher at the start of the war, later on, you would see more Schnurshuhe with Gamaschen, so both are acceptable for your reenactment use, depending on the timeframe yo wish to portray!

Good luck and hopefully you will be able to get everything going.
I had a bit of problems starting my imperssion, but it is almost perfect now after two years

[amiklic1]

Just to note that original buttons can be found on eStand occasionally (to note that these are not mine, just posting for a reference):
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...hlight=buttons


.

[Dimitri D]

Just to note that original buttons can be found on eStand occasionally (to note that these are not mine, just posting for a reference):
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...hlight=buttons


.

For information, these grey buttons are for KM leather tunic, not for KM coastal artillery tunic which are green.

[Götterdämmerung]

Thank you for the reply, von_Remörter and others

Yes, I have seen pictures of you, but not these ones, great work

That`s exactly what I planned to do with the M40 set, thank you for the advice on that, and what about the shoulder boards? do you know which online store is the best one to buy them in Europe? I understand there are two types of them, the darker ones are better for 1944?

I have found some original uniform knobs and my friends are willing to give/sell me theirs, but that`s still not enough, need to search the internet for them... I also have two knobs that are a bit smaller, are they from shoulder boards maybe? or were all knobs the same size?

also, what about the belt buckle? did all KM-KA personell had the golden ones? or are the feldgrau ones ok too? did you buy your buckle from epicmilitaria.com, or did you just paint a simple steel one?

and the equipment? did they carry all the standard WH equipment? or were some of the items not neccesary (the field shovel for example)? I see you are carrying only the ammo pouches, gasmask canisters and bayonettes, but maybe there were some exclusive KM-KA items that are essential to all personel, like binoculars or communication equipment for instance?

French Lebel and italian Carcano ammo is very common among the findings at our place, which leads me to believe these weapons were widespread among the personell, does anyone have any info on this? also WW1 or Czech bayonettes are being found here.

I think that is all I wanted to ask for now

Thank you in advance,

Aivaras

[von_Remörter]

Hi Götterdämmerung,

Shoulderboard can be bought here:
They had the both Feldgraue and the dark green ones, for a 1944 impression Feldgrau would be more appropriate, but dark green ones would still be widely spread and used.
http://www.re-enactmentshop.com/webs...d-reich/marine

Buttons can be found on ebay (see link below). I've bought buttons from this guy, they were brand new originals. The normal buttons for the uniform and pockets are 19-20mm in diameter, the smaller ones are indeed for the shoulder boards.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-German-...item35b5ce3f95

Belt buckles can be golden and Feldgrau, but the golden ones are more an early war thing, later in the war the Feldgrau ones became more widespread, especially for the newer troops. I've bought mine on a Militaria fair, but I think the ones from Epic Militaria are good ones, though I haven't seen one in person.

The equipment for the soldiers is a light version, mostly ammo pouches, gasmask canister, bayonet and lightweight Y-straps for troops on sentry duty and so on. For troops manning the guns, gasmask canister, maybe bayonet. For a Befehlsübermittler just communication equipment, binoculars occured some times, but mostly for Uffz. and Offiziere.

Foreign weapons were sometimes used by occupationtroops and second line troops (for instance Küstenartillerie...) so it is not completely a surprise to find these.

I hope this helps,

Regards!

[Götterdämmerung]

Hello,

I have ordered the dark green shoulder boards, because I thought they were the later ones... but it`s good to know that they are still useable for 1944.

Thank you for the link on the buttons, also I have two of those mentioned smaller shoulder board buttons, but both of their loops are broken, maybe will fix them somehow...

Good to know that the feldgrau buckle is ok, as I personally prefer it more.

What about MP40`s or STG44`s? is it ok to use them? as I still don`t have a K98 yet.

Thank you,

Aivaras