26th Infantry Division Home Page

26th Infantry Division

“YANKEE DIVISION”

WWII Historical Re-enactment Group


Company B at the Orange Mass event

Company B at the Orange Mass event


Proud to Support the YDVA

Yankee Division Veterans Association


Proud to be affiliated with The CMP


Welcome to the 26th Yankee Division Historic Reenactment Group’s Official Website.

This Website is dedicated to the education of all those who have a keen interest in the common soldier, the US Army GI, and the 26th Infantry Division during World War Two.

The Second World War was the greatest armed conflict ever witnessed by mankind. Hundreds of thousands of young Americans would find themselves in far-flung battlefields around the world. It was these individuals, the American GI, who made the ultimate sacrifice to rid the world of tyranny.

We are a 100% volunteer organization, and we consist of reenactors and living historians throughout American’s North-East, and we take pride in being the Region’s largest and most active US Army Infantry WW2 reenactment Unit in the area.

What sets us apart from other club-type ran Units, is we function as a WW2 US Army Infantry Company as best we can, and of course within reason. We offer our troops quality realistic pre-1945 training, ranging from basic soldier knowledge and skills from the recruit level, through to effective leadership roles, earned through in-depth training, attendance, dedication, and experience.

We like to say that other Units may offer your friendship, but with us, through excellent training, and through working in a regimented team-themed environment instilling pride and professionalism, we create a ‘brotherhood’ and a level of camaraderie and a bond that is second to none within the overall WW2 reenactment community.

Through our reputation as professional WW2 US Army Infantry reenactors, we are often called up for special community duties such as color-guards at ceremonies, parades, and other special events through out the year in the New England Region. When it comes to the art of fieldcraft and period Infantry training and tactics, we also train to a very high standard, with safety always paramount in what we do. Our troops are trained to use period small arms and related material confidently and safely. We regularly participate in numerous static displays, and detailed authentic battlefield reenactment events during the annual reenactment season, and travel as far south as Pennsylvania, and as far west as Ohio.

As reenactors, our members are dedicated in preserving the history of the WW2 US soldier’s way of life, our proud Unit history, all period Infantry equipment, along the customs and traditions of the US Army that were experienced during WW2.

If you want to give back by educating history to your community in a way that few can, and in the unique spirit of that ‘greatest generation’, do it through us in the present day.

THANK YOU AND JOIN US IN LIVING HISTORY


26th Infantry Division Nickname
The 26th Infantry Division, the “Yankee” division, was so nicknamed to recognize the six New England states from whose National Guard units the division was raised during World War I.



 

About US

ABOUT THE 26 YANKEE DIVISION


Greetings!

The 26th Yankee Infantry Division World War Two Historic Reenactor Group is an organization commemorating the US Army Infantryman during the Second World War from 1941 to 1945. We are just average every day citizens with the enthusiasm of preserving their history during this period of time in the important history of the United States of America.

Just like the citizens of the time, we are a slice of the general US population, with a host of personnel from a variety of employment backgrounds including students, cooks, law-enforcement, teachers, and professors, restaurant employees, city workers, bank employees, and veterans and non-veterans alike. Those who sign on with us do for many reasons, whether with respect for their father’s or grandfather’s who served, or to continue to enjoy the camaraderie by those with previous military service, or those interested in our great nation’s military history. Also, many sign-on for the sake of honoring those that have served before us.

We are New England based, and our members primarily come from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, up-state New York, and Rhode Island. By participating in living history displays, period USO dances, and accurate Infantry tactics of the day, our Unit ‘keeps the memory alive’, and educates the general public in WWII history, activities, military bearing, equipment, weapons, and uniforms of the soldiers we proudly portray.

Through a professional dedicated Instructor Cadre, we utilize numerous wartime manuals, Unit history books, and a variety of internet searches to accurately portray the soldiers of the ‘greatest generation’, that we proudly represent. When you serve with us, you are taken back into time, and get the opportunity to live and function similar to how they did, hence one is literally ‘living history’.

If you have an interest in World War Two living history, contact us, and if you meet our enlistment criteria, we’d gratefully welcome you into our reenacting/living history world, for it’s more than a hobby, it is a way of giving back, and serving your own communities.

We are often asked ‘where do you find all the gear and equipment’? Well, it takes a good eye, better research, and knowledge gained through the assistance of other Unit members to source period correct uniforms, weapons, equipment, vintage military vehicles, all to preserve the history of the ‘greatest generation’.

Contact 26 Yankee Division

CONTACT THE 26 YANKEE DIVISION


Recruit Info

26 YANKEE DIVISION RECRUIT INFORMATION


26 YD New Membership Form 2024

2024 Child Release Form Download

Uniform’s of the WWII Yankee Division

Obtaining a complete kit will take some time. We recommended that you start with a M1937 wool uniform, captoe or roughout boots, leggings and m41 jacket.

Re-enacting with the 26th Infantry “YANKEE” Division is about the camaraderie of unit cohesion, commemoration of a great generation and the enjoyment of the WW2 reenacting hobby.

With the Yankee Division,  Living History , you will get out of it  what you put into it.

Good friends, good times, good memories


This is standard of the uniform worn by the Yankee Division after August of 1944, when Deployed to Europe:

M1943 Jacket, M1943 Buckle Boots, M43 Shovel, M1923 Cartrige Belt, Canteen, Bayonet, Bandoleer, M1 Garand Rifle, M1 Steele Pot and M1928 Haversack.

CLOTHING (accurate representation of the WWII GI is our Goal)

M-41 Field jacket – An original or approved repro. Buttons should be the correct brown or olive color.

M1937 OD Wool Shirt -Original or approved reproductions
(I.E. w/shoulder straps) examples allowed.

M1937 OD Wool Trousers – Original or approved repro. Only mustard shade examples accepted.

Wool “Jeep” Cap – Original or approved repro in correct shade of OD (not green) wool.

Wool Overcoat – Original. Examples should have brass rather than plastic buttons.

Overseas Cap – Original or approved repro in correct OD wool.
Light blue piping or no piping, allowed.

EM Dismounted Raincoat – Original, approved repro, or postwar (same pattern) Preferred to the poncho.

5 Button High Neck Sweater – Original, approved repro, or modern GI with correct WW2 buttons.

Leather Palm Wool Gloves – Original, approved repro, or postwar French Army. The only type glove
allowed.

HBT Fatigues – Original or approved repro. 1st or 2nd pattern jacket and trousers with 13 star metal
buttons. Worn only for pacific war and select ETO events (per authenticity officers approval).

3/4 Roughout or Cap Toe Service Shoes – Original or approved repro.

Wool Scarf – Original or approved repro. Red Cross or cut from blanket style.

Wool Service Tunic – Original or approved repro. All unit insignia and awards are worn on this uniform.


26YD deployment
This is standard of the uniform worn by the Yankee Division after August of 1944, when Deployed to Europe: M1943 Jacket, M1943 Buckle Boots, M43 Shovel, M1923 Cartrige Belt, Canteen, Bayonet, Bandoleer, M1 Garand Rifle, M1 Steele Pot and M1928 Haversack.

Schedule 2024

26 YANKEE DIVISION EVENT SCHEDULE – 2024


17 Feb 24
Pelham, MA, M1 Garand Instruction

7 Mar 24
M1 Garand Instruction.  Online Meeting Cadre

15 – 17 Mar 24
Ft Devens, Unit Training

13 -14 Apr 24
Sturbridge, MA, OSV Patriot’s Weekend Timeline

13 Apr 24
Salem, MA, First Muster

24 Apr 24
Westfield MA, Apremont YD Unit Commissioning Ceremony

19 May 24
Wellesley MA, Veterans Parade

21 – 23 Jun 24
Jaffery, NH, Field Training/Tactical