To be held at Rensselaer, IN

(Last updated: 12/11/01)

We would like you to come out and participate at perhaps the greatest new battle site in the Midwest.  Located in Rensselaer, IN (80 miles south of Chicago and about 100 miles north of Indianapolis off of I-65), this site is over 800 acres of mostly flat farmland, sectioned off by large drainage ditches, solid dirt roads, and several wooded areas, ponds, and grassy clearings... perfect for Northern Europe!  We also have the opportunity to construct permanent earthworks (trenches and bunkers) away from the farmed areas.  As it stands, we have a few fighting positions in place, as well as two concrete pillboxes, a real Russian BA-10 armored car turret used as a pillbox, and a complete reproduction reinforced concrete bunker.  If you were there for the "Southern France" event in 2001, you probably saw these.

This will be a special 3-day event open to all Red Army and German reenactors.  We are striving for everyone to participate in setting up authentic, period camps, realistic tactical simulations, open terrain combat maneuver combat for both infantry and mechanized forces. Since the site consists of mainly flat, open terrain, we highly encourage you to bring vehicles of any type; this is ideal terrain (Please let us know what types of Eastern-front vehicles you will bring).

We would like to encourage any owners of appropriate US or British WW II period vehicles, particularly halftracks and tanks, to attend as Russian.   If you do attend, and do not have proper Soviet uniform or vehicle markings, please contact us for assistance... we want you all to look the part.  For vehicle crews that will be visible, we need you to have a close Russian uniform, and if you have highly-visible western Allied markings, please be prepared to camouflage them somehow (sandbags, camo net, etc).

All unit commanders will be expected to bring a full report on compliment and capability to each respective unit commanders' meeting on Saturday morning.  The scenario will be run from provided maps of the site.  Also, unit commanders will be required to follow ALL commands given during the tactical, and special missions such as recon, mine laying/clearing, guard, or transport by capable units will be given out.

In keeping with better reenacting, we will be holding a complete authenticity (and safety) inspection prior to the battle.  All participants are expected to have proper grooming (and facially-shaved for Germans) and the uniform must be in line with the scenario.  Violators will be informed and corrected upon check-in.

Stay tuned to this site for more updates...

Battle Scenario:

For this battle, we will start the Russians off in one side, Germans on the other.  Exact scenario details will not be discussed until the day of battle, so as to keep it interesting for all.

Each side will be given a timed position objective to attain per scenario.  The outcome of course will be left up to the men (and Russian women).  Points will be given as per the Graef System if the objective is met.

Click here to see a map of the site, drawn from aerial photos.

German Authenticity Guidelines

Allowed:
-All HBT uniforms including the SS 1944 Dot camouflage uniform
-Heer "Tan-water" camouflage
-Luftwaffe ground camo combat jackets & jumpsmocks for appropriate units
-All camouflage reversible parkas and fur anoraks (and fur caps)
-Web/"tropical" Y-straps, canteens, and bayonet frogs
-All other period-type fieldgear only

NOT Allowed:
-Heer, SS, or Luftwaffe tropical uniforms
-NEATLY-TRIMMED FACIAL HAIR (i.e.. moustaches). Participants can feel free to come with several days' stubble, but no long beards or otherwise trimmed facial hair.  Participants will NOT be allowed past the inspection otherwise!
-Post-war camouflage of any kind (i.e. BGS "Tan-water")
-Obvious post-war field & camp gear (gas mask canisters, bayonets, French or Swiss shelters, modern coolers, backpacks, Y-straps, etc). You will be asked to remove any non-period items from view if seen.

Russian Authenticity Guidelines

General Guidelines:

All regular Soviet Red Army late-war impressions or Polish People's Army; NO PARTISANS.  The basic impression we are looking for is the typical soldier of the Red Army, not a specialist impression.  In regards to this we ask that there be a 20:1 ratio in officers to men and no rank higher than Sr. Lieutenant.  NCO ratio should be 10:1 with no rank higher than Sr. Sergeant.

Engineers, NKVD troops, and other specialists should be prepared to fight as infantry if directed.

• We will hold real night-time scenarios, so bring your rubber weapons!
• Night-time battle will be with any BLANK-ADAPTED pistols, subguns, semi-auto rifles, and rubber weapons ONLY;  NO OPEN-BORE rifles, mobile MG's, etc.  All weapons will be shot straight up in the air, NOT leveled as this causes a dangerous situation in the dark!  Wire and other obstacles MUST BE APPROVED before setting up!!!
• Meals are NOT provided this time; bring your own period-wrapped food for the field.
• Facilities: Primitive camping (modern or period, with period highly-encouraged; those of you with modern tents will be "punished" and forced to set up far away from the period camps!), portable toilets, and water.  Hotels are located off of I-65 on the State Road 114 exit.
• BATTLE FEE:  $30 at gate; $20 for pre-registration.  All pre-registrations are to be postmarked NO LATER THAN APRIL 1, 2002.  Click here for the pre-registration form.
• Participants must be a current member of a recognized reenacting society; i.e. ETO, 20th CTSG, WW II HRS, TMHS, Federation, CHG, etc. Cards will be checked!
• All HRS safety rules apply; insurance provided by the National Rifle Association.
  Other rules/regulations:
  • Pyrotechnics will be in accord to WW II HRS safety rules.
  • All blank ammunition will be checked before the battle.
  • NO grenade or artillery simulators.
  • NO consumption of alchohol during the battle.
• All NFA rules apply to appropriate weapons; paperwork will be checked!  NFA address is (do NOT mail in pre-registrations to this address please!):

• Anyone bringing vehicles will also have their battle fee waived; please contact Phil Kellar if you are.  All period, Russian-front vehicles are encouraged to attend (this of course extends to US and some British "Lend-lease" vehicles, like Shermans, jeeps, Stuarts, M3 Halftracks, Churchills, Bell Supercobras...).  ALL armor is highly-encouraged!

Click here to see a map of the site, drawn from aerial photos.

Click here for map, how to get to the Haskell Farm, and local lodging.

The Battle Coordinators:
Phil Kellar (German coordinator/CO) at keller@fjr6.com
Tim Emmenegger (Russian Coordinator/CO) at tpatcher@peoplepc.com

TO UNIT COMMANDS:  PLEASE contact us about attending; this will give us a better idea on who is showing up and we will be able to better plan the battle!

Last updated: 12/11/01