3rd Panzergrenadier Division
A Living History Group
CURRENT COMPONENTS OF OUR ORGANIZATION
WHO WE ARE
Our unit portrayal depicts various elements of the German 3. Panzergrenadier Division, a Heer
unit rich in Prussian military history and tradition. This formation served in most major
campaigns during WWII from the 1936 annexation of the Sudetenland to surrender in the Ruhr
pocket in 1945. Through our depiction of the men of this division we can likewise create
countless vignettes that occurred on varied fronts and rear areas throughout the war.
Our living history unit also has rich history. Originally formed in 1996 our organization
has undergone a series of transitions that has seen an evolution in our approach to reenacting
which often differs from many of our colleagues. It is our sincere belief that the trivial
tasks of daily life of a soldier can be re-created to higher degree than the typically
inaccuracy of battle simulations. These mock battles thankfully, fail to properly mimic
the horrific nature of real warfare forced upon soldiers. Whereas, in 3PGD, we feel a
better way to truly, "touch” history is by attempting to recreate the small, even mundane
experiences that the soldiers of WWII endured countless times though a process we call
immersion. Rather than focus exclusively on tactical prowess and gamesmanship of battle,
we also aim to create accurate vignettes of daily life whenever possible. We seek to
cultivate a deeper appreciation for the experiences of the individual serving in the
WW2 German military. By definition this is a very cerebral experience. It is often
achieved without a single blank fired, or a single enemy ever in sight.
Cleaning and mending ones equipment, writing/reading a letter from home, shaving
period correct in the field. These are experiences common to every man serving in World War2.
This is not to say our unit does not participate in combat style events. We always have,
and always will. Young folks entering the hobby in particular are understandably drawn
to experiencing the combat life of the German soldier and we likewise provide this
opportunity as an entry point for many new members. Those interested in a combat-based
impressions have a home in 3PGD learning German squad tactics, using the weapons and
equipment of the infantry soldier, practicing the drill and commands common to all
German military personnel, and living life as a frontline soldier. But this is but
one small facet of the overall WW2 experience and our Units overall vision and
approach to the hobby. Over 20 years of experience as an organization has taught
us how essential it is, that a unit be able to adapt to the ever-developing needs
of it's membership and provide a range of experiences that keeps pace with the hobbyist.
Such is the lifecycle of the hobby. To this end, alongside more typical combat-based
reenactment clubs, 3PGD embraces varied impressions within the divisional context of
our unit. A myriad of rear-area support roles existed that allowed German combat
divisions to function. A long-held statistic is, that for every man at the front,
there are 3 who support him and provide what he needs to fight. We believe it is
time this ratio come back into proper balance. Unfortunately, reenactors interested
in these support type roles often do not have a place to practice their craft in the
narrow construct of the predominately tactically-based infantry platoon oriented
reenacting community. They do however have a home in our unit. Both roles were
integral to the German Army and both are integral to our success as a club. Whether
this is the minutia of paperwork, or recreating the cat and mouse aspects of a combat patrol.
OUR PHILOSOPHY OF REENACTING
In life people have different tastes and interests. This also holds true in reenacting.
We emphasize having fun and building upon what the Germans called the spirit of "Kameradschaft,
" or soldierly camaraderie. We encourage our members to pursue what interests them about
the time period provided it falls within historical relevancy to our unit impression. Likewise,
different styled events will appeal to different individuals. Therefore, we permit our members
to attend whichever events they wish (tacticals, immersion, public displays, unit trainings, etc.
For every event we attend, we appoint an individual to function as the “Event Coordinator.” This
person(s) is the liason for coordinating the details of that event through what we call an
"Event Primer." This primer, describes the anticipated activities, appropriate uniform, and
historical vignette for each club outing.
Our goal is to recreate a historical activity, place, and time as precisely as is possible;
To present an appearance so convincing that it creates the illusion that one has traveled
back in time. This requires substantial historical study of every aspect of Wehrmacht life.
In addition, it also requires a step outside modern comfort zones, and a willingness to try
new things as we continually refine our recreation efforts. A photograph snapped at one of
our events should be representative of any that could have been taken during the war years.
Observable modern items have no place in our encampments. As such, no modern or anachronistic
items are generally permitted. This requires constant diligence and creativity but is part of
living life as a German soldier. We seek members who are dedicated, hard-working and passionate
about representing history through an authentic portrayal of a WWII German soldier. Further, we
seek members who are committed to enhance our collective experiences, and bring new heights of
realism through immersive, first-person role-playing adaptations.