During World War Two the average age of soldiers serving in the German Army was around 25 years old. Reenactors, however, come in all ages from those who are still in their teens to some who are still actively involved in living history well into their 60s and 70s....

In this episode our guest host Rudi Lange talks with Josef Brandt, a fellow member of 7kp GD, who has been reenacting since 1983. He shares his memories of the early days of German Reenacting and explains why he thinks that advancing years should not be a reason to give up the hobby......

As ever, a very big thank you to everyone that supports the Podcast via Patreon - we really couldn't do this without you ! Why not sign up and become one of our growing band of supporters with access to all of our Patreon exclusive content for as little as $5 a month.

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World War Two has long been the backdrop for many Hollywood films - meaning that reenactors can sometimes offer their servives to film makers and be employed as extras. In this episode Chris recounts his experiences portraying a German soldier in the 2010 movie Shutter Island - alongside several other members of his reenactment group and Leonardo DiCaprio.................

This January marks eight years since the last Fort Indiantown Gap....

For many reenactors who attended over the years it's been hard to find another event that compares - whilst for some of those who didn't attend, the annual reenactment in Pennsylvania has achieved almost mythical status.

By the time the event closed in 2018 Chris had been taking part for almost 20 years and in this episode he shares his memories of what made Gap so special - and how it changed over the years.......

As ever, a very big thank you to everyone that supports the Podcast via Patreon - we really couldn't do this without you ! Why not sign up and become one of our growing band of supporters with access to all of our Patreon exclusive content for as little as $5 a month.

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Join Chris and podcast regulars Rudi Lange and Ludwig Topf as they look back at WW2 German reenacting in 2025 and share their predictions for what the New Year has in store for the world of living history...

As ever, a very big thank you to everyone that supports the Podcast via Patreon - we really couldn't do this without you ! Why not sign up and become one of our growing band of supporters with access to all of our Patreon exclusive content for as little as $5 a month.

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In this episode Chris talks to Bruno, the founder of Project Edelweiss - a truly unique reenactment event that recreates the life of WW2 German Gebirgsjager Mountain Infantry high in the European Alps.

For more information on Project Edelweiss please check the group out on Facebook - you will find plenty of information there plus some truly amazing photos of past events.

https://m.facebook.com/projectedelweissofficial/

As ever, a very big thank you to all our Patrons for their support - we really couldn't do this without you ! Why not sign up and become one of our growing band of supporters.

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Thanks to Mike (Rhett Roman) for editing this podcast.

www.soldatenforum.com

Two years since he first appeared on the podcast Bruno from Project Edelweiss is back to talk to Chris about their next expeditions high in the Swiss Alps, recreating the life of WW2 German Gebirgsjager. The climbs are due to take place in 2024 and 2025 and if you are interested in maybe signing up then please use the link below to contact Bruno.

https://www.facebook.com/projectedelweissofficial

Also thanks to everyone who supports the podcast via Patreon - we appreciate every donation, no matter how big or small, and your regular contributions really do keep the show on the air. You can sign up for as little as $5 a month to unlock regular exclusive content! Thank you.

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It is estimated that over 18 milion identity discs (Erkennungsmarken) were stamped and issued by the German Armed Forces in World War Two. It's unique design, with a perforated centre and identitical details on each half, carried no name but instead a unit designation and numbers that would identity the soldier when cross-referenced with official records.

In this epsiode Chris goes on a deep dive into the world of Erkennungsmarken from both a reenacting and collecting perspective and explains why he doesn't deal in battlefield relic identity discs......

As ever, a very big thank you to everyone that supports the Podcast via Patreon - we really couldn't do this without you ! Why not sign up and become one of our growing band of supporters with access to all of our Patreon exclusive content for as little as $5 a month.

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The ability to source both original and reproduction items from overseas is an important part of the hobby for many reenactors - however recent changes in the United States mean that buying from Europe , or any other part of the world , has become more problematic....and expensive.

At the end of August 2025 the Trump Administration removed the long-standing "de minimus" arrangement whereby non-commercial imports under the value of $800 usually had all duties and tariffs waived.

This move sent shock waves not only through many in the reenacting community in America but also amongst overseas vendors and suppliers who regularly sell to US-based customers.

In this episode Chris talks to Adrian from Epic Militaria in the UK about the impact that the changes have had on their business and how they are helping US-based customers navigate the situation.....

As ever, a very big thank you to everyone that supports the Podcast via Patreon - we really couldn't do this without you ! Why not sign up and become one of our growing band of supporters with access to all of our Patreon exclusive content for as little as $5 a month.

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For many reenactors using a vintage camera loaded with film is the best way to capture images at an event - they provide a more authentic and tangible record than their digital counterpart and having only 12 or 36 shots available per roll of film really focuses the mind when it comes to subject matter and composition .

In this episode Chris talks to Vijay, a WW2 reenactor from Chicago who has combined his passions for both vintage photography and living history and, as a result, is making a well deserved name for himself within the hobby thanks to the quality of his images.

You can view many of Vijay's stunning photographs by checking him out on Instagram...

@escshift01

As ever, a very big thank you to everyone that supports the Podcast via Patreon - we really couldn't do this without you ! Why not sign up and become one of our growing band of supporters with access to all of our Patreon exclusive content for as little as $5 a month.

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Ever since our first Halloween Special way back in 2019 every year we've brought you a selection of our listeners spookiest stories . From late night encounters with spectoral sentries or enemy combatants to original items in your collections that maintain a malevolent aura long after World War Two.

This year the story submissions were more spine-chilling than ever - so sit back, lock the doors and prepare to be spooked..............

As ever, a very big thank you to everyone that supports the Podcast via Patreon - we really couldn't do this without you ! Why not sign up and become one of our growing band of supporters with access to all of our Patreon exclusive content for as little as $5 a month. Thank you again everyone.

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