Death Korps Guardsman

A Death Korps Guardsman is one of the standard troopers of the Death Korps of Krieg Imperial Guard regiments that hail from the post-nuclear Death World of Krieg in the Segmentum Tempestus. Each Death Korps soldier is fully trained to the standards expected for combat-readiness set down by the Departmento Munitorum, with particular emphasis placed on hazardous-environment survival and endurance, and physical and mental resilience. Proficient in the use of all basic Imperial Guard weaponry types as well as the use of grenades and explosives, a Death Korps soldier is also proficient in rapid and skilled construction of trench works and defences. They are also exemplary hand-to-hand combatants, with bayonet-drill being practiced from childhood. Accuracy is secondary in Death Korps weapons training to fire discipline, with the ability to maintain continuous fire en masse as part of an infantry formation considered to be of paramount importance. Death Korps Guardsmen have a tendency to be highly insular, unemotional and often taciturn to the point of silence outside of their duties. They also display a high degree of fatalism and an unusual morbidity of habit, such as carrying relics, ossuaries of bone or other memento-mori about their persons as a form of religious observance to honour those who have fallen in the service of the God-Emperor.

Recruit Selection & Training
Recruitment for members of the regiments of the Death Korps of Krieg is similar to many other Imperial worlds throughout the Imperium and conscription depends on varying circumstances. Though their harsh training methods, combat doctrines and regimental organisation are not in themselves unique amongst the units of the Imperial Guard, the Death Korps regiments are both unorthodox and extreme in their application. Tested, selected and relentlessly trained almost from birth for their appointed role as Imperial Guardsmen, the rates of fatality and injury during training are high amongst Death Korps recruits. To ensure that only the toughest and best make it into the new regiment, training is brutal and quickly weeds out the weak and unworthy, for fear and weakness are not tolerated. The minds and characters of the young prospective Guardsmen are purposefully broken and remade stronger, just as their bodies are trained to withstand hardship and endure suffering that would kill other men -- a task already begun by the mere fact of living a life on blighted Krieg.

Amongst the wreckage of the old radiation-blasted battlefields the training regiments march, dig trenches, clear minefields and fight mock battles against other cadets. Only those that endure are judged fit enough to take their place as members of the Death Korps. For this reason the regiment is able to maintain its famous standard of discipline and selflessness in combat. Gas masks are conventionally viewed as a second skin, as soldiers are trained to permanently operate with them if required. Fear of failing the Imperium and one's comrades, and a ceaseless devotion to duty, honour and the Emperor are instilled in new recruits to make certain that they will stand their ground in combat under any situation. Mental conditioning is the key part of their training so Death Korps troops are prepared for the myriad horrors to be found on the Imperial battlefield and beyond.

Uniform
All Krieg guardsmen wears the standard uniform common to the regiments raised on Krieg. Their most distinctive feature is the heavy greatcoat which is manufacture on Krieg from a hardwearing thick cloth and produced in a variety of colours. The great coat provides limited protection, but is also heavily chemically impregnated against chemical and biological attack - an unfortunate side effect of this being the pungent smell emitted. The greatcoat is completely waterproof and very warm, useful when deployed to colder climates. The great coat is double breasted and includes brass buttons, a pair of which allows the coat's front to be turned back, to allow for greater mobility in combat. Uniform cut and design is almost consistent throughout the entire Death Korps but colours can vary from regiment to regiment and the officer ranks tend to have slightly more ornate uniforms than the rank and file.

Krieg guardsmen also wear the standard issue Mark IX helmet made of Plasteel, which has an adjustable cradle for fit around the head, flaring to allow a good fit for the gasmask and is ventilated via the top spine. This ventilation has an internal filter to keep out chemical or biological agents. There are many variants of the the standard mark IX helmet issued to specialists and officers. The shoulder pads are plasteel construction and buckle to the greatcoat. Watchmaster' shoulder pads are embossed with rank insignia. When fully equipped, a Krieg guardsman is completely sealed against a contaminated environment by the layers of his uniform and his respirator unit.

Weapons
The Death Korps Guardsman main weapon is their Lucius-pattern, no.98 Lasgun. This weapon is standard issue to Krieg regiments, and stockpiled in vast numbers in Krieg's armouries. The lasgun also includes a bayonet lug which can be fitted with the standard issued 45cm long sword-bayonet. This heavy bladed, razor-sharp knife is the Watchmasters' only close combat weapon, at which Krieg guardsmen seemed to be more effective at using to drive the enemy away from their positions than all their artillery and heavy weapons platoons. Watchmasters, like all Krieg guardsmen, are also equipped with a single, standard issue no.38 fragmentation grenade, but additional grenades will be issued to squads before an attack.

Additional Equipment
All Krieg guardsmen are issued with their distinctive respirator units. The entire regulator unit can be carried inside a leather satchel, which buckles onto the webbing's shoulder straps. Krieg guardsmen are also issued leather webbing which includes carrying straps for the backpack, respirator filter unit and regulator, four ammunition pouches for lasgun powerpacks, additional pouches for carrying other kit, such as weapons and respirator maintenance kits, replacement filters and antidote vials. They are also issued a leather backpack which buckles to the webbing shoulder straps. It has additional straps to attach a bedroll, which also doubles as a waterproof shelter-half, and a dry-tin canister for storing perishable materials sealing them against the environment. Finally, as all Krieg guardsmen are expected to dig, they are also issued a small entrenching tool. As trench warfare is their preferred method of fighting, they must constantly dig new trenches, or repair and improve their current position in the line. Each guardsmen carries an entrenching tool in a carrying case which is worn on the belt and also has loops for carrying the bayonet when not attached to the lasgun. Larger tools such as mattocks and shovels will be issued when needed for heavier work.