Mission Statement of the GR914 Regiment
Purpose
Our mission is to recreate the life and experiences of the average German
Grenadier in World War II. To this end we seek to honor and portray the German
soldier who was doing his patriotic duty to his fatherland. We avoid political
overtones and do not seek to glorify any Nazi ideals or actions.
Our Unit Role
Our official impression is the 4th Company of the 914th Grenadier
Regiment of the 352nd Infantry Division.
As a Heavy Weapons Company, we operate
outside of the normal tactics at re-enactments. Our role is to support the
Riffle Companies in the Regiment.
In our unit we have a Headquarters Section. This consists of a Command Section,
a Communication Section and a Medical Section. With a Headquarters element we
need runners, clerks, radio operators and similar personnel. Since these are
non-combatant roles, we can employ younger (16+) members of the re-enacting
community. This way, there is an actually useful role that tag along kids can
fulfill.
Aside from our Headquarter section we have the Heavy Weapon Company. These two
Platoons were made up of a Heavy Machine Gun Platoon and a Mortar Platoon.
Life as a 914th Grenadier
Our field impression is primarily a late war look, reflecting the uniforms and
equipment that would have been issued to Grenadier unit from 1943 until the end
of the war. As a unit we hold regular training event to properly portray the
German Grenadier of WWII.
As part of the Living History Association’s WWII Committee we also take part in
pubic displays to educate the public on the uniform, gear, weapons, manners and
lifestyle of the typical German soldier of WWII.
Why the 352nd Division, 914th Regiment?
Our choice of the 352nd Infantry Division, 914th Regiment
is a result of many year of research.
First; The 352nd Division was a D-Day division. It was probably the
first German division to make contact with the Allies on D-Day. This makes it a
historically significant unit. Since many WWII re-enactments center around the
D-Day invasion, portrayal of this division will add an authentic element that
has been lacking.
Second; The 352nd Division was formed primarily from veterans from
the Russian Front sent back to the west to be re-fitted. These men were
considered valuable because of their existing combat experience.
Third; The 352nd Infantry Division, 914th
Regiment is largely comprised of members from the