# Where To Find WWI and WWII era uniforms **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 29, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420 "2010-09-29T01:38:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/1 "2010-09-29T01:38:45Z")
For Halloween I’d like to be an Imperial German Army officer from World War I or a Red Army/Polish Army/Wehrmacht officer from World War II. Do you know where to get such costumes at a REASONABLE PRICE (under a 100 bucks). AND NO I DO NOT HAVE ANY INTEREST IN BEING A NAZI ONLY A WEHRMACHT SOLDIER A LA ROMMEL. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/2 "2010-09-29T02:29:23Z")
Bad idea, **Curtis**. German uniforms go over like turds in punch bowls. ---
**Author:** ![Umbriel2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/4af34b/32.png) [@Umbriel2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbriel2)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/3 "2010-09-29T02:35:47Z")
Trusting that one knows one’s audience, my recommendation is to sniff around the relevent sub-forums and lists of [Reenactor.net](http://www.reenactor.net/forums/index.php?PHPSESSID=67f42ec8dc433d293ee22901d9ce178b&) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/4 "2010-09-29T02:37:44Z")
How authentic are you talking? For a halloween party you can probably get away with a gray uniform, a German army cap, some goggles (for the Rommel effect), and an Iron Cross. I’d call around to some local military surplus stores and see what they’ve got. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/5 "2010-09-29T09:31:39Z")
Anything real from that era is gonna be expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/6 "2010-09-29T12:20:37Z")
So you want to wear wool in a hot, crowded room? ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/7 "2010-09-29T15:00:56Z")
Did you even give google a shot? Found with “Replica uniforms ww2”: > **[International Military Antiques | Military Collectibles | Antique Guns](https://www.ima-usa.com/)** > > International Military Antiques offers military collectibles, antique guns, and military artifacts for sale. With 60 years of experience, IMA is the largest militaria retailer in the world with thousands of rare military antiques for sale. We also... $225 for this Afrika Korps cap, tunic, and trousers. Didn’t see any boots… ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/8 "2010-09-29T16:27:52Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > For Halloween I’d like to be an Imperial German Army officer from World War I or a Red Army/Polish Army/Wehrmacht officer from World War II. Do you know where to get such costumes at a REASONABLE PRICE (under a 100 bucks). AND NO I DO NOT HAVE ANY INTEREST IN BEING A NAZI ONLY A WEHRMACHT SOLDIER A LA ROMMEL. **Curtis** – the [Wehrmacht](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wehrmacht) were INDEED Nazis. Either way, you’d be INCREDIBLY insensitive. WTF are you thinking! You’re better off going as the [Red Baron](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_Baron). (Dude wasn’t bad looking, either) But you should probably make your own costume – you’re never going to get something authentic for under $100. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/9 "2010-09-29T16:41:27Z")
I’d love one of these [Canadian Militia](http://www.reenactor.net/forums/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=517) outfits. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/10 "2010-09-29T17:23:36Z")
Here’s Soviet uniforms: [Soviet reproduction uniforms from 1917 to 1945,Soviet world war 2 reproduction uniforms](http://www.tridentmilitary.com/Reproduction-uniforms/Soviet-uniforms.html) The home page ( [http://www.tridentmilitary.com](http://www.tridentmilitary.com) ) has other nations too. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/11 "2010-09-29T17:31:24Z")
Hmmm…if you want to generate laughs, you could go as Mata Hari. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/12 "2010-09-29T17:33:05Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > I’d love one of these [Canadian Militia](http://www.reenactor.net/forums/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=517) outfits. Well, heck, knowing the general apathy to historical knowledge in the US, he could go as a [US Civil War Union Sharpshooter](http://www.berdansharpshooters.com/art.html) with a dark green uniform, and confuse almost every one at the party - “Are you supposed to be from the North or the South?” “The East.” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/13 "2010-09-29T17:37:56Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > **Curtis** – the [Wehrmacht](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wehrmacht) were INDEED Nazis. Well, they were Nazis in the sense that every German under the Nazi regime was a Nazi. But not everyone in the Wehrmacht was a member of the Nazi party, Rommel being a famous example. Regardless, it is ill-advised to wear a WWII Wehrmacht uniform. In the best case you will have to spend a lot of time explaining “no, I’m not actually a Nazi…” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/14 "2010-09-29T17:38:27Z")
I agree that going as a WWII German soldier, even if you have no interest in “being a Nazi”, just isn’t a great idea. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/15 "2010-09-29T17:39:16Z")
The Soviet NKVD uniform looks kinda snappy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/16 "2010-09-29T21:31:57Z")
> [@awldune](#): > > > [@Guinastasia](#): > > > > **Curtis** – the [Wehrmacht](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wehrmacht) were INDEED Nazis. > > Well, they were Nazis in the sense that every German under the Nazi regime was a Nazi. But not everyone in the Wehrmacht was a member of the Nazi party, Rommel being a famous example. > > Regardless, it is ill-advised to wear a WWII Wehrmacht uniform. In the best case you will have to spend a lot of time explaining “no, I’m not actually a Nazi…” Well, I stand corrected. :smack: (And we do know that Rommel wasn’t such a horrid individual, and that he did oppose Hitler in many ways). Still, I agree with you and stand by what I said – it’s absolutely a terrible idea. I like my idea of the Red Baron. And if you want to make your costume more, I don’t know, “recognizable”, you could carry around a plush Snoopy dressed in his pilot outfit? HEY!!! Why not go as Curtis LeMay himself! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/17 "2010-09-29T21:45:54Z")
What about a German WW1 uniform? With spiked helmet? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/18 "2010-09-29T21:54:33Z")
I am not one to promote Nazi uniforms at dress-up parties, but hey, it was [good enough for Prince Harry](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4170083.stm)! ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/19 "2010-09-29T22:01:08Z")
You’re probably right about the Wehrmacht uniforms… > [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > I am not one to promote Nazi uniforms at dress-up parties, but hey, it was [good enough for Prince Harry](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4170083.stm)! Pretty simple actually-just a Nazi armband around a shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420/20 "2010-09-29T22:04:10Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > What about a German WW1 uniform? > > With spiked helmet? I suggested that in the OP too. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-find-wwi-and-wwii-era-uniforms/555420.md?page=2)