20th GMB Authenticity Requirements and Authorized Vendor List:

Unfortunately, the RKKA is a very misunderstood entity in the West. There is a common
misconception in the reenacting community that putting together an RKKA impression is a cheap
and simple task. This is simply not true; In fact, the same rules that apply to German, American,
British, and all other impressions apply to the RKKA. You will get out what you put into it and if you
are willing to put research, time, and money you will end up with a good impression. We are not
trying to be the KOMSTITCH (aka. Stitch Nazis), we are simply trying to ensure that our group
provides a high quality impression of the RKKA; The men and women who fought in the Great
Patriotic War deserve no less. Similar to other groups, we ask our members to obtain their gear
based on a tiered structure. You should complete one tier before moving into the next. All new
members of the 20th GMB are required to adhere to the regulations that are laid out in this
document. All veterans are expected to eventually adhere to the regulations based on a timetable
set forth by the unit commander. Please note that these regulations are written for a late war soviet
impression, an early war vendor guide will also be created

Tier 1: You must complete this tier within six months of becoming a prospective member
1. Mosin M91/30 OR M91 Dragoon
a. NOTE: Bayonets are not required because they cannot be carried in the fixed position
in the field and scabbards were rarely issued. The most correct way to deal with this is
to carry the bayonet reversed on the muzzle of the rifle, this was a very common
practice.
b. You should also have a cleaning kit for your rifle, most refurbished Mosins sold in the
USA will come with this
2. Obr. 43 Gymnastierka Tunic
a. Acceptable sources for the tunic
i. Schuster Obr. 43 Pocketless Tunic
ii. Trident 2nd Pattern Obr. 43 Pocketless Tunic: (These are out of production)
iii. Original Soviet Early Post-War Obr. 43 Tunic: (These are most commonly
found on eBay)
b. NOTE: Pocketless preferred for enlisted men, pockets are allowed for NCOs
c. NOTE: Trident 2nd pattern tunics are acceptable for use in this unit, but we would
highly recommend either a Schuster or an Early Post-War original Soviet, if for
nothing else than comfort. This is because the trident tunics are cut straight through
the torso area and have arms that are too small. The skirt of the tunic is also too short.
Where this really becomes a problem is if you are a larger person because the tunics do
not fit right.
d. NOTE: Tunics must have the proper infantry shoulderboards, 18mm Brass or painted
shoulderboard buttons, and a collar liner.
e. NOTE: Transitional Obr. 35 tunics are accepted but not encouraged to be the norm

3. Obr. 35 or Obr. 44 Breeches

a. Acceptable sources for Breeches
i. Schuster Obr. 35 Breeches
ii. Schuster Obr. 44 Breeches
iii. Trident 2nd Pattern Obr. 35 Breeches (These are sold on eBay)
iv. Original Soviet Early Postwar Breeches (eBay)
b. NOTE: The same logic applies to the breeches that applies to the tunics in terms of
purchasing from Trident. Their breeches are cut far too slim and there is not much
guarantee that they will fit correctly.
4. Soviet Long Underwear
a. Acceptable sources for Long Underwear
i. Soviet Army Stuff
ii. Schuster
5. Boots (Either the tall Kirza Sapogi Jackboots or the Low boots w/ puttees)
a. Acceptable sources for boots
i. Postwar (or wartime) Soviet Kirza Sapogi Boots (Ebay): Tractor tread style
soles are acceptable as a matter of practicality.
ii. Schuster Full Leather Sapogi
iii. Mattimore Harness Early War (or) Late War RKKA Low Boots
iv. Voenspec RKKA Low Boots
v. Schuster Puttees
vi. Voenspec Puttees
b. NOTE: Most Soviet Infantrymen preferred the Sapogi jackboots because they were
considered proper soldiers boots. The low boots were seen more of as a workers boot.
c. NOTE: Soviet soldiers often wore an aluminum or wooden spoon tucked handle-down into
the top of their boots. It makes your impression much more authentic to follow this
practice.
6. SSH 40 Steel helmet; Three pad liner, w/canvas web or early cotton chinstrap
a. Sources for the SSh 40 Helmet
i. Schuster
ii. eBay
b. NOTE: These are most commonly found on eBay and come in three sizes: 1 , 2, and 3
c. Do not mistake the Czech or Hungarian Cold-War era helmets with the SSh40. These
always have a different liner and rivet placement, and oftentimes have a leather
chinstrap.
d. NOTE: Czech M52 helmets are not acceptable unless properly converted into SSH 39
pattern (which is more expensive than buying an SSH 40)
7. Pilotka side cap w/ star
a. Acceptable sources for the Pilotka
i. Schuster Obr. 35 Pilotka

ii. Early postwar original Soviet Pilotka (Trident and Ebay have these)
b. NOTE: If you use a postwar Pilotka, make sure that you do not purchase the later
(1970s-on) variant. This version has an incorrect sheen to the fabric and is not
acceptable.
c. NOTE: Oftentimes the Pilotka will not come with a cap star, you will need to purchase
either a red enamel or subdued green 18mm star. These can be found at
www.collectrussia.com as well as Schuster.
8. Belt (Either brown leather w/roller buckle or webbed canvas w/ leather reinforcements)
a. Acceptable sources for the equipment belt
i. Schuster Canvas or Leather EM equipment belt
ii. Trident Military canvas belt w/ leather reinforcement (eBay)
iii. Original or Early Postwar canvas belt (eBay)
9. (1) 2 Cell Mosin Ammunition Pouch (No postwar rubberized pouches)
a. Acceptable Sources for the Mosin Pouches
i. Early Postwar DDR Reparations Pouches (Kalinka Optics has these)
ii. Schuster Obr. 37 Mosin Pouches
iii. Red Guard Militaria Pigskin Obr. 37 Pouches (contact him)
iv. Original Obr. 37 Mosin Pouches (eBay)
b. NOTE: Postwar rubberized (kirza) pouches are NOT allowed for wartime use
c. NOTE: Tsarist style M1907 Box pouches are not allowed except for pre-war and earlywar events.
10. Canteen w/ Cover
a. Acceptable sources for the canteen and cover.
i. Soviet Early postwar canteen is preferred (These can be found on eBay but
are hard to find) Oftentimes these are not painted and the metal is left in
the white although painted examples can also be found. The correct color
for the canteen is Moss Green similar to what is found on the Early-war
SSh40 helmets
ii. East German Reparations Canteen (These are found on eBay and are very
similar to wartime soviet canteens) These come painted or bare aluminum
iii. Soviet Later Style Postwar Canteen (This version has more coarse threads
and a less pronounced knurling at the top of the bottle cap. This is the
version that you are likely to encounter. Typically these bottles are also
painted, but in the wrong color.)
iv. Soviet wartime glass canteen: These can be found on eBay but should not be
carried during tactical reenactments for fear of breakage
11. Gasmask Bag (Either BN or Simplified Model)
a. Acceptable Sources for the Gas Mask Bag
i. Schuster BN Bag
ii. Red Guard Militaria late war style bag (eBay)
iii. Early postwar SM-1 style gas mask bag (eBay)

b. NOTE: You are not required to carry a gas mask because they were often thrown away
during the late war period. More often than not the bag was used as a carryall for food
and ammunition.

Tier 2: You must complete this tier within one year of becoming a member. This is the final
required tier for EM impressions.
1. Obr. 41 Shinel Overcoat or Telogreika Padded Uniform Set
a. Acceptable sources for the Shinel
i. Properly Converted Postwar Obr.41 Pattern Shinel (Check eBay)
ii. Schuster Obr. 41 Pattern Shinel
b. Acceptable sources for the Telogreika
i. Original Postwar or Wartime Soviet Telogreika (check eBay or Russian surplus
sites)
ii. Schuster Obr. 41 Telogreika
iii. Trident Obr. 32 Telogreika (sold on eBay)
iv. Trident Obr. 41 Telogreika (sold on eBay)
v. Trident Telogreika Pants (sold on eBay, his sizing descriptions are incorrect
though, beware!)
vi. NOTE: There are two types of Telogreika jacket available, the standing collar
Obr.32 and the fall collar Obr.41. The Obr.32 tends to be the more common of
the two and was produced in the Soviet Union until the 1970s. This is the
version that you are more likely to encounter.
vii. NOTE: Original Soviet Telogreikas are sized 1-6, as with all Soviet uniforms,
the larger the size that you need the rarer it becomes. For larger people, the
Trident or Schuster reproduction Telogreika may be the only option.
2. Plash Palatka Shelter half
a. Sources for Plash Palatka
i. Schuster (Seems to come with the guy rope as well)
ii. Soviet Army Stuff
iii. Trident Military (Sold on eBay, I would check with other sources first, as his is
over double what they usually sell for.)
b. NOTE: Only leather ringed or fabric ringed Plashes are acceptable. Postwar pieces
with brass or steel rings are not correct!
c. NOTE: The tent pole bag and poles are not necessary for a late war impression.
3. Obr. 1869 Veshmeshok Rucksack
a. Acceptable sources for the Meshok
i. Original or Early Postwar Meshok (check eBay)
ii. Schuster Reproduction Meshok
iii. Trident Wartime-style Reproduction Meshok (eBay)
iv. NOTE: There are many other sources for the Meshok, the main thing to
remember is that there should be no external pockets or straps. Check with the
unit authenticity office if you have further questions.)

b. NOTE: The later postwar Meshok with external pouches and straps to fit the plash are
not acceptable for use.
4. Grenade Pouch
a. Acceptable Sources for the grenade pouch
i. Schuster RGD-33 Pouch Repro
ii. Original or Early Postwar RGD-33 Pouch (check eBay)
iii. Original or Early Postwar F-1 3-cell Grenade Pouch (check eBay)
iv. Voenspec F-1 Grenade Pouches (Toggle or Buckle Closure)
b. NOTE: There is a good deal of evidence to suggest that the three cell grenade pouches
were not common among the infantry during the war. They rarely show up in photos
and are thought to be more of a tanker issue item. The 2-cell RGD-33 grenade pouch is
a better choice for an impression. If you do decide to go with an F-1 pouch, they can be
purchased from eBay for around $5.00
5. Entrenching Tool and Carrier
a. Sources for the shovel carrier
i. Schuster.ru
ii. Red Guard Militaria (check eBay)
iii. Trident Militaria (eBay)
b. There are two versions of the E-Tool, square blade and pointed blade. The square
blade version is more associated with the early war period.
6. Obr. 36 Mess Kit (Kotelok) or Obr.24 Cook Pot w/ period eating utensils
a. Sources for the Obr.24 Cook Pot
i. Original or Early Postwar (Check eBay)
ii. Voenspec
b. Sources for the Obr.36 Mess Kit
i. eBay (Hopefully you get lucky and find and original!)
ii. Voenspec (Postwar Kit)
iii. Schuster (Postwar Kit)
c. NOTE: For the sake of practicality, we are accepting the later version Obr.36 Mess Kit.
The biggest differences between a wartime and early postwar issue kit and the late kit
is that the handle hooks are rounded with internal rivets instead of squared with
external rivets and the color is totally different. Like the canteen, wartime issue kits
were painted in Moss Green, not the shiny light green of 1959-on.
d. NOTE: The Obr.24 Cook Pot seems to be the more prevalent item during the war. They
are much harder to find than the Obr. 36 mess kit but add more authenticity to your
impression. These were made into the 1950s and postwar are identical to wartime
issue.
7. Enamel Drinking Cup
a. Sources for the Drinking Cup
i. Schuster

ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

Soviet Army Stuff

Etsy Search Soviet Cup
eBay Same search as above
Most Soviet Surplus sites

b. NOTE: The color of the enamel drinking cup does not really matter Purchase the one
that you like the best.
8. Ushanka Fish Fur Cap w/ Star
a. Sources for the Ushanka
i. Schuster
ii. Trident Military (check eBay)