Boots get polished!

N 1
2014
The Volunteer Magazine is the official club magazine of Ausreenact, World War Two Re
-enactment Club of Australia. We are proudly affiliated to the Australian Living History
The Volunteer magazine has made a comeback.
It has been long time but the club magazine
needed to be back and now is the right time.
Since the last issue there has been a lot of growth
in our club. Some members have departed and
many others have joined ranks.
Some events have become a yearly feature on
our calendar such as Ironfest and the various
Schule des Soldat.
The Magazine seeks not to replace the webring
as conduit for information but more so a tool for
us to feel more connected and for members to
have a greater sense that they belong to something
special, such as our club Ausreenact.
Page 2- Imax.
Page 3- Classic Film Review
Page 4- Springfield 1903
Page 5- Sepp’s Travels.
Page 6– Book corner.
Page 7– Lotta Svard
Page 8– For Sale
Page 9– Prasident’s Report
Boots
get
polished!
1

Above pictured are American soldiers representing Ausreenact at IMAX in Darling Harbour.
The PR company requested a group of authentically kitted out reenactors to deliver the print of
D-DAY NORMANDY 1944. All the necessary permits were obtained and Ausreenact soldiers
were able to participate in a fun day. Special commendation goes to Cenda who managed
to drive his original weapons carrier right into the heart of Sydney City, well done Cenda!!
Some of us were lucky enough to go and see the
movie courtesy of Sony Pictures Australia. Herr
President did a great job in liaising with the film
company. I for one thought the movie was not too
bad. It is an American movie really made for
American audiences
The Best
Job I’ve ever
had!!
This was one of the sayings from
the movie. The DVD is due for
release in early 2015. Enjoy.
2

Gerhard Lamprecht's "Irgendwo in Berlin"
(Somewhere in Berlin) is a simple tale, set in
the immediate post-war period. It is one of the
"Trümmerfilm" - "rubblefilms" - shot on location amid
shattered cityscapes, inhabited by transitory, spectral
figures. Because of its focus on the lives of children,
Irgendwo shares more in common with Rossellini's
"Germany Year Zero" than, say Staudte's "The Murderers
Are Among Us". It is ultimately however much
more uplifting than either and its final scene hints at
a promise of redemption and fulfilment via the dignity
o f r e c o n s t r u c t i o n .
For Gustav, his friend Willi and a host of other children,
the ruins provide a playground. For those like
petty thief Waldemar Hunke, they provide opportunity:
he has just stolen a purse with a considerable
sum and in a bid to evade arrest, has conveniently
hidden it behind a photograph in Gustav's house.
There too is the old artist, the black marketeer and
the shell-shocked young veteran who stands silent
sentinel, gazing across the ruins from his mother's
apartment at the comings and goings below.
And then a ragged stranger, knowing.
Paul, Gustav's father, the returning POW.
Now surely, the family garage will rise again, but neither
Paul nor Germany are what they once were. His
thanks for stumbling across the hidden wallet
Review by Sepp Volker
3

and returning it to its owner? Two cheap cigars and a pointed reminder from Waldemar
of just how grateful a nation can be. The new order is each for himself.
Honour though resides among the children. Willi, orphaned, Artful Dodger to blackmarketeer
Birke's Fagin, turns the tables on his once mentor. He is no coward either,
and to prove it, scales the crumbling shell of a building in defiance and to the horror of a
swelling crowd.
The sentinel: "A hero! A hero!" The fall. Young Edmund from "Germany Year Zero".
Willi's glorious death as metaphor for a people's loss of innocence.
But from the ashes, something is about to rise. "Willi promised not to let me down." And
as in some Pieter Bruegel landscape, so the children mass.
This is a fine film, yet without the characteristically darker edges of others in the genre.
Keep an eye out for landmarks too, such as the damaged Oberbaumbrücke.
Of special note is the appearance of veteran silent-film villain Fritz Rasp, as Waldemar
Hunke. He featured in such classics as Fritz Lang's "Metropolis", GW Pabst's "Diary of
a Lost Girl" and Lamprecht's 1931 film, "Emile and the Detectives".
"Irgendwo in Berlin" has recently been released with English subtitles by the DEFA Film
Library.
Review by Sepp Volker
The Springfield 1903 Rifle - A Brief History.
It was officially adopted as a United States military bolt-action rifle on June 19, 1903, and
saw service in WW1. It was officially replaced as the standard infantry rifle by the fasterfiring
Semi Automatic 8 round M1 Garand rifle starting in 1937. However, the M1903
Springfield remained in service as a standard issue infantry rifle during WW2, since the U.S.
entered the war without sufficient M1 rifles to arm all troops. It also remained in
service as a Sniper rifle during World War II, the Korean War and even in the early stages of
the Vietnam War. It remains popular as a civilian firearm, historical collector's piece, and as
a military drill rifle.
Specifications:
1903 Springfield
• Cartridge: .30-03 & .30-06 Springfield
• Capacity: 5 round stripper clip
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,800 ft./sec.
• Effective Range: 2,500 yds.
• Weight: approx. 8.7 lbs.
• Length: 44.9 in.
• Barrel Length: 24 in.
• Sights: Leaf rear sight, barleycorn-type front sight
• Action: Bolt-action
4

Höhenmärken
These iron survey markers can still be found on buildings of historical
significance eg churches, cathedrals across Germany.
Many are from before the period of the Third Reich, but markers
from '33-'45 are still around if you look hard enough. They have a
diameter of about 13cm. This one is on the Rezidenz in Würzburg.
(Bottom right of the main photo).
Volker
ABANDONED BERLIN
www. abandonedberlin.com
This is a website I bumped onto by chance, it was a good find as it has pictures of
many old buildings from the Third Reich era. These are mainly building that time has
forgotten, some of which were used by the Soviets after the war. The site goes into
some good detail and also history of the buildings, it tells you how to get to some and
what to bring. The comments and details are certainly more colourful and
adventurous than your usual trip advisor review. Explore the site, then save money
and explore Berlin, Der Haupstadt.
5

MEMBERS BOOK REVIEWS
KRAIT
The Fishing Boat that went to War.
Review by Nathan Dalton
With most of the clubs members from the Sydney area, I thought this little book
might be of interest. Why? well the Krait now lives at Darling Harbour. What makes
this small vessel so unique and special? She was the vessel that took Z special force
commandos to Singapore on operation Jaywick, to sink Japanese shipping in
Singapore Harbour in 1943 with great success. The book covers the life and history of
the Krait from her beginnings as a Japanese fishing vessel called the Kofuku Maru,
through to her service with the Royal Australian Navy as HMAS Krait and beyond.
Band of Brothers
E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne
from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest.
By Stephen E Ambrose.
Ok ok, I know most of us have seen the HBO mini series of the
same name at least once or twice. So there’s not much I can tell
you about the subject matter that you don't already know. However
before Hollywood got their hands on the script for what I
believe is an outstanding show, Stephen Ambrose had written a
book on the men of Easy Company.
While Hanks & Spielberg followed the book quite well in their
screen adaptation, the book in my opinion is a great read on in
its own right.
The book covers things from Easy Co. inception through the
mens post war carriers, and not just the main players that were
covered in the mini series.
6

Lotta Svärd
Lotta Svärd was a Finnish voluntary auxiliary paramilitary organisation for women.
Formed originally in 1918, it had a large membership undertaking volunteer social work
in the 1920s and 1930s. During the Second World War, it mobilized to replace men conscripted
into the army. It served in hospitals, at air raid warning positions, and other auxiliary
tasks in close cooperation with the army. The women were officially unarmed except
for an antiaircraft battery in 1944. AilaVirtanen, a Finnish scholar, argues that, their
"accountability to the nation took a masculine and military form in public, but had a private,
feminine side to it including features like caring, helping and loving. The organisation
was suppressed by the government after the war.
During the Winter War some 100,000 men whose jobs were taken over by "Lottas" were
freed for military service. The Lottas worked in hospitals, at air-raid warning posts and
other auxiliary tasks in conjunction with the armed forces. The Lottas, however, were
officially unarmed. The only exception was a voluntary anti-aircraft battery in Helsinki in
the summer of 1944, composed of Lotta Svärd members. The battery operated the AA
search-lights. The unit was issued rifles for self-protection, thus being the only armed
female military unit of the Finnish Defence Forces history .
Dead Funny
Some jokes from Rudolph Herzog’s, Dead Funny. Humour in Hitler's
Germany. Melville House, 2011
Since Hitler openly complained about the perversions which have taken
hold within the SA, people now understand what Chief of Staff Röhm
really meant when he said "Inside every Hitler Youth, there is an SA
leader."
A man who is digging in a cemetery is asked if he's recruiting for the Volkssturm.
Who would be saved if Hitler, Göring and Himmler fell overboard from a boat? Germany
7

For Sale !
This section will be open to members to sell any original or reproduction WW2
items. We do not accept responsibilities for items not paid or not delivered.
Current Items:
German M36 Greatcoat, early Sturm. Fits size 42/44. Great quality, correct
length = $180
German Schirmmutze Size 60, White piping for Infantry = $100
For pics contact waffen _su@yahoo.com.au
January Club meeting 10/01/15
February Schule Des Soldat 07/02/15
Training
March Corowa 14/03/15
April Training event 04/04/15 Ironfest 18-19/04/15
May Adelaide 01-03/05/15 Battle of France, Tarago
NSW
June D-Day Western event 13-
14/06/15
July
Model show Clarendon
05/07/15
August Barbarossa Winter event 01-
02/08/15 Tarago, NSW
AGM 18/07/15
September Linwood 05/09/15 Battle of Prague/Western
Front 12-13/09/15, Tarago,
NSW
October
2015 Calendar of Events
Battle of Berlin, Tarago,
NSW
November Family bbq 01/11/15 Battle of Ardennes, Tarago,
NSW
8
December
Stalingrad, Tarago, NSW

Prasident’s Report
Kameraden,
With this on-line club magazine which Erich has produced – the first we hope of many
more - containing as it does members’ personal contributions, the year is once more ending
on a high. Add to this too the 2015 calendar which has been posted for discussion, and
you can see we are all ready and organised.
Among the many events and opportunities presented to members in 2014, I feel that three
stood out: IronFest was our biggest and best ever; US forces participated in the IMAX
premier screening at Darling Harbour, bringing great credit to us all, and the Hurtgen Forest
overnighter at Tarago took our planning and implementation to a new level of sophistication.
Members were introduced to the opportunities presented by the Joadja site, engaged in
several Tarago tacticals and working bees, and contributed to whole-group meetings and
socials at suburban venues.
Significant innovations have been, and continue to be implemented, such as the new attendance
booklets. Wide-ranging discussion took place regarding the future direction of the
club with regard to fees and membership criteria, both of which have been refined by the
club’s senior membership for implementation in the new year.
We have seen new members enlist and some older members leave us, and while the latter
is always a disappointment, it is simply the way of the world as people make their own
choices about their re-enacting future.
The challenge which will face us all once more in 2015 is to be active participants in reenacting
– a hobby, an interest, and indeed to some extent, a life style which we have all
chosen. Members together, through their involvement both on the ground and via on-line
discussions can help ensure that we flourish and grow, maintaining our pre-eminent position
as the state’s most recognised and trusted WW2 reenacting group.
To all members, thank you for your support this year, in whatever capacity you were able;
for your participation, your contributions and your professionalism.
My best wishes for a safe Christmas and the opening up of new fronts in 2015.
Volker
9

10
The volunteer is a club magazine put together by club members for
club members. You are welcome to make suggestions and provide
contributions, please write to us at waffen_su@yahoo.com.au.
This issue could not have been published without the assistance of
Zarah Moeller, Sepp Volker and Klaus Hoffmann.