Safety and Authenticity rules are controlled and enforced by members appointed by the Vice-President/Chairperson to the Safety and Authenticity Committees. These rules may be changed at any time by a majority vote of that committee. One (1) general safety/authenticity inspection of both Allied and Axis participants WILL BE CONDUCTED AT THE SAME DESIGNATED TIME AND LOCATION at any WWII H.R.S., Inc. sponsored event, so that all participants can observe that it

was conducted.

The safety/authenticity inspection formation will be conducted as follows: For example, American, British/Commonwealth and German participants will form three (3) separate box formations facing each other. Vehicles/heavy equipment will be separated by nationality and parked hub to hub so as to be inspected properly. No INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS OR UNITS will retire to the field before the general inspection takes place.

Exception to above:

Event planning staff members who need to enter field, when an unforeseen incident, accident or emergency requires their immediate attention that would interfere with the smooth running of the event, if not attended to. It will still be the responsibility of said members to be inspected prior to entering the field as a participant or participants.

Violators of safety and/or authenticity rules can be brought before the Board of Directors for disposition. It is the responsibility of each individual member registered at an event to be inspected by an appointed Safety/Authenticity officer at the mandatory event inspection. Willful avoidance of the inspections shall be grounds for removal of the offender from the event. Repeated offenses shall be grounds for removal from the WWII H.R.S., Inc.

1. We are here to portray the normal look of the WWII soldier, not the exception.

2. Re-enactment unit rank structure for all battle scenarios will reflect the actual size and structure of the unit being portrayed. This will be based on the type of unit, the time period being portrayed, and a twenty-five (25) percent loss in unit strength can be figured in due to combat loss. The starting point will be the smallest element and working up. Event sponsors will be responsible for assigning the field commanders for their event. Re-enactment unit rank structure for displays should be fitting to the type of display the unit has set up at the event and the needs and wants of the event sponsors.

3. Medals or decorations that were not created pre-June 1945 may not be worn. Appropriate awards, badges, campaign, and citation ribbons may be worn if they reflect the credits of the unit being portrayed. US medals of valor may not be worn by anyone who did not earn them in actual military service, to include medals awarded for both valor and service.

4. Hair must be cut (trimmed) in a 1940's style. It must be tapered and trimmed to the nape of the neck and around the ears so as not to touch the ears or collar. Blocked haircuts are not permitted. Sideburns can be no longer than mid-ear. Mustaches must be trimmed to 1940's military style (British troops exempt). All mustaches must be trimmed above the upper lip line. It cannot extend past the edge of the mouth more that 1/4 inched and cannot drop down around the corners of the mouth. A beard shall be defined as any facial hair, other that approved mustaches, which is no longer than a two (2) day growth (about 1/8 inches) and are not permitted except under the two (2) circumstances listed below:

a. Persons doing any partisan impressions at events.

i. Partisans are allowed to wear any type of beard. NOTE: Partisans are NOT allowed at WWII H.R.S., Inc. events unless an announcement is published in THE POINT or THE EDGE inviting them.

 

ii. Partisans must use the type of clothing and equipment normally worn in that country portrayed.

 

iii. Equipment to be used by partisans will be limited to German, Russian, Italian, French and British where appropriate.

 

iv. Partisan re-enactors must be able to provide documentation of their appearance and equipment for that particular country portrayed, if a question of authenticity arises. In that situation, Authenticity rule #12 will apply.

b. Beards no longer than two (2) centimeters are allowed in existing chartered Gebirgsjäger units (amends 10/92).

5. Modern non-prescription sunglasses are not allowed.

6. Weapons must be of pre-June 1945 military type used by the unit portrayed or an acceptable replica. NO air (BB) or CO2 guns are allowed. The authenticity committee may ban the use of pre-1945 weapons in cases where their use is not authentic. Weapons manufactures after 1945 may be used if they duplicate a WWII weapon.

7. Uniforms, equipment, insignia, and emblems must be of a type, style, and material in use by the unit portrayed during WWII.

8. WWII Italian camouflage may be used by Italian and German units (but must be sewn on the proper pattern for German units). Austrian and West German camouflage are NOT allowed.

9. To serve as a member of the Authenticity Committee a person must be a member of the WWII H.R.S., Inc. for at least two (2) years, and send a letter to the chairman of the Authenticity Committee. A committee member serves until either he resigns or is dismissed. Members of the

Authenticity Committee should be selected, whenever possible, from units showing the highest levels of authenticity.

10. A member of the Authenticity Committee must be willing and able to attend events and make on-the-spot judgments about authenticity matters.

11. Members of the Authenticity Committee may be removed from office for the failure to enforce the WWII H.R.S., Inc. authenticity rules or failure to renew their WWII H.R.S., Inc. membership on time. Any members of the WWII H.R.S., Inc. may challenge a committeeman's position on the committee. The challenge must be voted on by the other members of the Authenticity Committee. Removal is by a majority vote.

12. Appeals on matters of authenticity may be made by the submission to the chairman of the authenticity committee in writing with six (6) photographs; three (3) of the items used by the re-enactor and three (3) photographs taken during the WWII period. These pictures must be proven

original and/or copies from a published source and must show the disputed item in use by troops of the same unit, type, and rank as the re-enactor. A majority vote by the members of the authenticity committee shall decide the issue.

13. The Authenticity Committee shall have the power to recommend to the Board of Directors the removal from the WWII H.R.S., Inc. of any person or unit that is flagrant or repeated violator of authenticity rules. The Board of Directors must then pass judgment on the recommendation.

14. All members, units, or chapters of the WWII H.R.S., Inc. sponsoring a WWII H.R.S., Inc. event must maintain minimum authenticity standards.

15. In the enforcement of the authenticity rules, the committee will make allowances for the extreme cold and/or wet conditions, where the safety and health of the members may be threatened.

16. Any and all members and/or dealers of the WWII H.R.S., Inc. who manufacture reproduction uniforms and equipment for sale to other WWII H.R.S., Inc. members for the use at WWII H.R.S., Inc. events must provide a money-back guarantee (upon buyer's request) that the item (s) will pass authenticity inspection. Persons not honoring this guarantee, either written or otherwise, are subject to disciplinary action by the Board of Directors and/or removal from the event or from the WWII H.R.S., Inc.

17. The Authenticity Committee may rule that certain modern items, which have been allowed for use due to lack of available reproductions, may be banned when authentic reproductions or that item itself becomes widely available at reasonable prices.

18. All vehicles will be judged on a case-by-case basis and must be manufactured before 1946 or must represent a type used by Allied or Axis powers during the 1939-1945 period. All post 1945 vehicles must be altered to duplicate a pre-1945 vehicle and be properly painted. Photographs of

all altered manufactured vehicles must be submitted to the Authenticity Committee along with authentic photos or photocopies of original photos of the same type vehicle. If judgment is in favor of the rebuilt vehicle, a permit will be issued by the chairman of the Authenticity Committee.

Questions