2023 Breakout: WWII Reenactment in Chesterfield, MI (July 8-9)

Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society and Chesterfield Historical Society

10th Annual Breakout! WWII July 8-9, 2023
The Michigan Military Technical and Historical Society and the Chesterfield Historical

Chesterfield Historical Village

10th Annual Breakout! WWII July 8-9, 2023The Michigan Military Technical and Historical Society and the Chesterfield Historical Society are proud to once again present Breakout! WWII. The event will continue to showcase military units and tactics from around the world during the Second World War. There will be two skirmishes each morning and afternoon, featuring American, British, German, Japanese and Russian forces. As always, the encampment welcomes any impressions and displays dealing with the Second World War.Please be sure to read through the following event rules. By registering to participate in this event, you are agreeing to follow them. Ticket InformationThis ticket system through Eventbrite is for the reenactors and military vehicle displays only. The general public does not need to register or purchase advance tickets. Reenactors must register in order to participate. Please only register once and each individual in a unit must register for themselves. Minors age 16 or 17 may participate in the battles with signed parental permission. Minors between the ages of 13 and 15 must have signed parental permission and may not handle firearms. The parental permission form will need to be signed during check in at the event.Event ScheduleFriday, July 71300 Setup BeginsDO NOT BEGIN SETUP PRIOR TO 1300 ON FRIDAY, JULY 7Saturday, July 80900 Safety and Authenticity inspections and battle briefing conducted in camps.1000 Encampment open to public.1045 Take positions for first skirmish.1100 Skirmishes begin followed by demo of uniforms and weapons while the next skirmish is setup.1200 Field kitchen dinner.1345 Take positions for first skirmish.1400 Skirmishes begin followed by demo of uniforms and weapons while the next skirmish is setup.1600 Closed to public.Sunday, July 91000 Encampment open to public. Sunday service conducted by Chaplain Schwartz.1045 Take positions for first skirmish.1100 Skirmishes begin followed by demo of uniforms and weapons while the next skirmish is setup.1200 Field kitchen dinner.1345 Take positions for first skirmish.1400 Skirmishes begin followed by demo of uniforms and weapons while the next skirmish is setup.1500 Closed to public.Camping GuidelinesReenactors and military vehicle owners/crew will be allowed to stay overnight in the encampment. You may begin setting up campsite at 1300 on Friday, July 7, but no sooner. Please check with the event staff BEFORE beginning camp setup, they will direct you to the appropriate camp area for your faction. Please be sure to return the site as close to the condition you found it in prior to setting up as possible.Clean drinking water and rest facilities will be provided for participants. Small cooking fires, solid fuel, propane and white gas grills are allowed, but no charcoal grills please. Please be sure to keep a fire extinguisher or bucket of water on hand.During the hours that the event is open to the public, we ask that you keep all modern items not dating to 1943 or earlier hidden from view. We also ask that there is no consumption of alcohol during public hours.After hours, please be responsible. Underage drinking or operating of motor vehicles while under the influence will not be tolerated.Once again, fox holes will be permitted in the "front line" area. Please retain the grass as best as possible for when you refill the hole after the event.Authenticity GuidelinesAny authentic impression and display dating to the Second World War is permitted in the encampment area of the event. While in the encampment area, we ask that all military reenactors maintain a proper military bearing during public hours. This includes such details as wearing the uniform correctly (shirts buttoned and tucked in, correct headwear, etc.) and observance of military courtesy. Period haircuts are required for all participants in uniforms. If corrective eyewear is required, please make every effort that it is of a period design. Please keep ALL modern items hidden during public hours.Reenactors may also spend the day (and night) on the front lines in fox holes they've dug. While "manning the line" we ask that soldiers keep their helmets on and their weapons within arm's reach at all times. Frontline participants must also follow the battle uniform guidelines.Reenactors wishing to participate in the battles must undergo a safety and authenticity inspection prior to participation and adhere to the following uniform guidelines. Efforts will be made to give time, likely 10-15 minutes, between skirmishes to allow reenactors wishing to participate in multiple battles to change kits.Eastern Front Battle, Kuban Bridgehead, July 1943Red Army InfantryHeadwear: Pilotka side hat or optional (but encouraged) M40 helmet. Uniform: M43 standing collar summer cotton tunic with shoulder boards and breeches.Footwear: Jackboots or low-boots (can be lend-lease British ammo boots or GI rough outs) with puttees.Gear: Leather or canvas belt with roller-buckle, leather ammo pouches (no post-war kirza pouches), .7 liter canteen (post-war is fine), gas mask bag, entrenching tool.Weapon: 91/30 Nagant Rifle, m38 or m44 Nagant carbine, SVT-40 rifle, PPSH 41 or 43 SMG, captured German weapons allowed.German Army InfantryHeadwear: M40 or M43 caps, crusher caps for officers and N.C.O.s only. M35/40/42 helmet with or without brach appropriate cover.Uniform: Mid/late war wools or camouflage appropriate to branch of service.Footwear: Jackboots or low boots with gamashen. Gear: Belt with appropriate buckle, ammunition pouches appropriate to weapon, bread bag, canteen, bayonet or sidearm appropriate for rank, gas mask can and intrenching tool.Weapon: K98k, G43, MP44, MG34, MG42. MP40s for troop leaders. Pistols for M.G. crews, Sani and troop leaders. Captured PPSh 41 acceptable for this battle only.ETO Battle: Operation Husky, Sicily, July 1943U.S. Army InfantryHeadwear: M-1 helmet.Uniform: O.D. (wool "M1937") service uniform or light shade ("H.B.T.") fatigue uniform ("1st" or "2nd" pattern). O.D. ("M1941") field jacket optional. No dark shade or camouflage fatigues, khaki service, or M43 uniforms.Footwear: Service shoes ("Type II") with leggings are preferred. Reverse upper ("rough out") field shoes with leggings are acceptable. No combat ("double buckle") boots.Field Gear: Belt appropriate to weapon, aid kit, canteen. If an intrenching tool is carried, it must be an M1910 pattern; NO M1943 folding shovels. Only 16" M1905 (or the "1942" variant) bayonets are correct to this period, no 10" M1 bayonets. You are encouraged to leave packs in camp or your fox hole during the battle. If packs are worn, they must have some form of filler in them.Weapon: M1 rifle preferred. B.A.R., M1919, M1903, M1 carbine, or Thompson as appropriate to your impression. Please limit side arms to heavy weapon gunners and assistants.British Army Infantry/Parachute InfantryUniform &amp; Headgear: Infantry or para uniform as appropriate for Italy in the summer of 1943.Field Gear: As appropriate to your weapon and role. You are encouraged to leave packs in camp or your fox hole during the battle. If packs are worn, they must have some form of filler in them.Weapon: Enfiled No. 4 Rifle, Bren or other Commonwealth issued weapon appropriate to your role. Please limit side arms to weapon crews and officers.German Army InfantryHeadwear: M40 or M43 caps, crusher caps for officers and N.C.O.s only. M35/40/42 helmet with or without brach appropriate cover.Uniform: Mid/late war wools or camouflage appropriate to branch of service.Footwear: Jackboots or low boots with gamashen. Gear: Belt with appropriate buckle, ammunition pouches appropriate to weapon, bread bag, canteen, bayonet or sidearm appropriate for rank, gas mask can and intrenching tool.Weapon: K98k, G43, MP44, MG34, MG42. MP40s for troop leaders. Pistols for M.G. crews, Sani and troop leaders.Italian Army InfantryHeadwear: Adrian helmet, M33 , m40 bustina, M41 field cap, Black FezUniform: M40, M41, or M41 tropical tunic with grey-green, brown or black service shirt, M40, M41, M40 tropical trousers or shorts.Footwear: M1912 boots with grey-green putties.Gear: belt, 1891 bayonet, MVSN dagger, carcano ammo pouches, mab ammo pouches, neck strapWeapon: Carcano rifle or Breda light machine gunPTO Battle, Operation Cartwheel, Bougainville, November 1943U.S. Army InfantryHeadwear: M-1 helmet.Uniform: Light shade ("H.B.T.") fatigue uniform ("1st" or "2nd" pattern). No dark shade or camouflage fatigues, khaki service, or M43 uniforms.Footwear: Service shoes ("Type II") with leggings are preferred. Reverse upper ("rough out") field shoes with leggings are acceptable. No combat ("double buckle") boots.Field Gear: Belt appropriate to weapon, aid kit, canteen. If an intrenching tool is carried, it must be an M1910 pattern; NO M1943 folding shovels. Only 16" M1905 (or the "1942" variant) bayonets are correct to this period, no 10" M1 bayonets. You are encouraged to leave packs in camp or your fox hole during the battle. If packs are worn, they must have some form of filler in them.Weapon: M1 rifle preferred. B.A.R., M1919, M1903, M1 carbine, or Thompson as appropriate to your impression. Please limit side arms to heavy weapon gunners and assistants.U.S. Marine Corps InfantryHeadwear: M1 helmet with camouflage cover (green side out).Uniform: P41 utilities , P42 utilities, or mix of the two acceptable. Please, no summer khaki uniforms or P44 uniforms.Footwear: "Boondockers" field shoes, with or without U.S.M.C. pattern leggings.Field Gear: Belt appropriate to weapon, aid kit, two canteens If an intrenching tool is carried, it must be an M1910 pattern; NO M1943 folding shovels. Only 16" M1905 (or the "1942" variant) bayonets are correct to this period, no 10" M1 bayonets. You are encouraged to leave packs in camp or your fox hole during the battle. If packs are worn, they must have some form of filler in them.Weapon: M1 rifle preferred. B.A.R., M1919, M1903, M1 carbine, or Thompson, as appropriate to your impression. Please limit side arms to weapon crews, Corpsmen and officers.Imperial Japanese Army InfantryUniform: Type 98 khaki cotton uniform with wool collar tabs. 2/3 length underclothing (wooden or bakelite buttons) with tie trouser belt.Headgear: Type 92 Helmet, preferrably with cover and/or net. Wool field cap, preferably with no havlock.Footwear: Leather low boots or jika tabi with light brown, knee length, wool puttees.Field Gear: Leather waist belt with dual leather pouches, rear reserve pouch w/oiler, cloth haversack, type 5 1 liter or type 98 2 liter canteen, type 30 bayonet with scabbard/frog. Tube or octopus pack is optional, must have filler.Weapon: Type 38 or Type 99 Arisaka rifle.Please note that these regulations are ONLY for the battles. Any authentic display and impression dating to the Second World War from any branch of service, nation and theater of war is welcome in the encampment area.The event staff reserves the right to reject anyone from participating in the event who fails to comply with these guidelines.Safety GuidelinesDuring the battle reenactments, please keep safety in mind. We want everyone to have fun, but we also want you to be able to go back home on Monday, not to the Emergency Room.Weapons used in the battle are to be in serviceable, well maintained condition. Blank adapters, when needed, are to be properly adjusted and tightened to the weapon. Absolutely NO live ammunition is to be brought to this event. Dummy ammunition is permissible in displays as long as it is clear that it is deactivated (ie: holes drilled in the case, no primer, crimped training rounds, etc.).During the battles, be aware of where your muzzle is. Do not fire your weapon directly at people who are at close range. Blanks can cause hearing loss as well as serious injury.Hand to hand combat is only permitted if planned prior to the battle with the coordinators approval.Please keep in mind that the venue is in a residential neighborhood. We ask that there be no weapons fire outside of the pre-planned battle/demonstration times. If you need to "dial in" a blank adapter, please let the coordinators know and we will try to set aside a time prior to the battle for everyone to do so.FAQAre there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?Please bring your Driver License or State ID. Minors age 16 or 17 may participate in the battles with parental permission and have signed consent form. Minors between the ages of 13 and 15 must have parental permission and may not handle firearms. The parental permission form will need to be signed during check in at the event.Why do I have to register for the event?Registration for the event greatly helps our small staff plan for the event. For example, this means making sure the camp layout allows for units and spectators to move with ease, battles can be scripted to make use of everyone. To help our staff, make sure to register so we can get an accurate head count of those wishing to attend. We understand that life can change plans. If you are registered, but unable to attend, please make the changes in Eventbrite or email one of the coordinators. Walk ons are not guaranteed to be allowed to participate.What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?Parking is very close to the encampment. Friday and Saturday morning will allow for reenactors and vehicle owners to drive their personal vehicle into the camp to transport or drop off suppliers. At least 20 minutes before the events starts, ALL personal vehicles MUST be removed from the encampment. Violators will be towed at the owner's expense without warning.What can/can't I bring to the event?For the most part, anything that you need in order to camp overnight is welcome. If it is not an original or accurately reproduced item dating to or before 1943, it should be kept out of sight during the public hours. Absolutely no live ammunition is to be brought to the event. If you are worried about an item, contact one the organizers and we will let you know if it is appropriate for the event. Can I update my registration information or make changes?You can update information until Sunday, June 24. If anything comes up after that, please email event staff. More event info and current details are available at:https://www.facebook.com/BreakoutChesterfieldhttp://www.mimths.org/reneact.html

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

2023 Breakout: WWII Reenactment in Chesterfield, MI (July 8-9)

More events from Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society and Chesterfield Historical Society

Discover more events from Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society and Chesterfield Historical Society, from Family & Education to other experiences you might love.

2023 Breakout: WWII Reenactment in Chesterfield, MI (July 8-9)

More events from Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society and Chesterfield Historical Society

Discover more events from Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society and Chesterfield Historical Society, from Family & Education to other experiences you might love.

More Family & Education events

Browse more Family & Education events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.