Are there any Romanian WWII reenactment societies?

Wings of wreath,

In the Romanian army, especially during the first years of WW2, only squad and platoon leaders were equipped with sub-machineguns. The greatest part of the rank and file carried rifles. So to create a credible WW2 romanian soldier you have to fit your weapon with your rank. Do you intend to join the 6th Dorobanti group or you’ll intend to create your own group? In the first case you have to respect the rules of the group and start your career as a rifleman recruit and in the second case you have to decide what unit would you reenact, the rules (regulation) of the group and what will be your position within the group. As you probably know, to be a re-enactor means to have a good knowledge of drill, training, etc. The members of the 6th Dorobanti group have already reached a good level of training for any of the three wars (1877-78, 1916-18, 1941-45) and they could perform a wide range of movements according the respective regulations. They are training now for the Museum “Open Gates”, according the 1876 infantry regulation.

If you intend to create a new group which will deal with the WW2, this is a great idea. You have to find other two or three enthousiasts and start organize the new unit. Professor Serbanescu of the Military Museum, who was also the initiator of the 6th Dorobanti group could be a good source of information and could advice you on this matter. More Romanian reenacting groups means more possibilities to develop different living history projects in Romania. The Military Museum is willing to support this kind of activities.

Concerning your question I think that colour Nr. 4 is too green. Maybe Dragos finally would find the appropriate colour, closer to the samples Nr. 2 or Nr.3. It’s up to you to decide how soon do you need the uniform.

Interesting piece of news concerning the laced boots. The foot gear is always a problem. I’ll post some photos of the Romanian M.1939 laced boots.

I wonder if the shoe maker could also make a pair of jack boots?

Kepi:Joining the 6th Dorobanti group would be the best option. Starting from the bottom up and making actual drills is more realistic and far better than just dressing up as as soldier. Plus, I don't think I've got enough logistics to start my own reenactment group, not to mention volunteers.
I will talk to Mr Serbanescu tomorrow, and see if I can join the group.

Apparently, in the matter of the uniform, the only viable option would be to wait for now. The repro on display at the MMN shop is indeed the right colour, and that type of wool is bound to re-apear someday.

As for the shoes, I will print out the pictures and drawing, and see if that guy I talked to earlier is still up to the job. If not, I can always look for another shop, preferably with an older shoemaker.

Mihnea: there's no need to weld the buckle- my plan was from the beginning to fill out the holes with epoxi resin, smooth it out with fine sandpaper and then repaint it. Hopefully, my experience as a modeler will come in handy.

I have this uniform from a military unit, can it be used as a ww2 reenactor uniform? It only has some comunist buttons, the rest are brown.

This tunic was adopted at the end of 1950s, when Romanian communist authorities have decided to abandon the M.1952 Soviet style uniform (with “rubashka”) as a symbol of pseudo-independence from Moscow. They have selected the M. 1924 model.
This pattern of tunic was also carried during WW2, especially by second line or reserve troops. The greatest part of Romanian soldiers carried M.1939 tunics and uniforms.
You could use this tunic for reenacting a WW2 romanian private but you have to replace the RSR metallic buttons with plain metallic ones, blackened or painted khaki, and eliminate (sew) the rear slit which didn’t exist that time.
The cuffs should be pointed not round, but this is too difficult to transform.
During the Museum “open gates” of last year, the squad that make demonstrations of drill and shooting, composed of soldiers of the 30th Guard Regiment, wore this kind of tunics.

If the tunic is useable for reenacting, where would be a good source to find one?

Found this place for a source of wool. Which one do you think would be the best color to match WWII?

http://www.woolrichfabrics.com/mysql/civil.asp

Unfortunately, none.

The communist era other ranks uniforms still might be a solution, but these are very rare. I learned that from time to time, Romtehnica ( http://www.romtehnica.com.ro/ ), the official and unique Romanian Army seller, auctions old stocks of this kind of uniforms still existing in some army depots. The last auction was in December 2005.

Just for my curiosity I would like to know if the problem of the quarreled replica WW2 uniform was solved. I wonder if Calarasi got his money back and if he returned the uniform and equipment to Dragos.
This elucidation is most necessary if we have to deal with honest people.

Link to militaria sources worldwide
http://www.milweb.net/dealers/categories/clothing.html

Has anyone heard if Dragos has correct colored wool for the uniforms? Leving in 8 days for Iasi and will have about 3 or 4 in Bucharest when I first get there.

I don’t know, but a mannequin dressed in a ww2 replica uniform is still on display in the Military Museum souvenirs shop. I think you should ask him on dragosdd@yahoo.com

Kepi,

Will try to get a response but Darius also emailed about a wool sample and never received it after being told it was mailed. I have found that it is best to go in person (a professor from University of Iasi is meeting us at the airport) and do business that way.

I think you should inform him when you’ll go at the Museum, in order to find him there. Usually his father is the vendor behind the desk but he knows nothing about uniforms & equipment and … he doesn’t speak english. Maybe is better if your friend from the University of Iasi, could call him and arrange a meeting at the Museum shop.