Sturm European Military Surplus · Teesar Inc.
Your worldwide connection for military surplus and MIL-TEC® gear.
Family-owned wholesale distribution since 1971. Importing authentic European military surplus and MIL-TEC® tactical & outdoor products to dealers across North America since 1983.
“Toothpicks to Tanks. We sell just about everything in between.”
Who We Are
A wholesale distributor built on five decades of European surplus expertise.
Sturm European Military Surplus Teesar Inc. is the exclusive United States and North American wholesale dealer for Sturm Handels GmbH of Rottenburg am Neckar, Germany. From our headquarters in Cartersville, Georgia, we supply approximately 3,000 dealers worldwide with authentic European military surplus, MIL-TEC® tactical and outdoor gear, Teesar® reproduction apparel, and historical military reproductions for the reenactment, film, and collector markets.
Sturm is family-owned in Germany and family-operated in the United States, with a catalog of roughly 10,000 SKUs and over one million square feet of warehouse space spanning two countries. We are debt-free and own all of our buildings, equipment, and merchandise outright — built to be here for our customers today and for the next decade and beyond.
Our Story
From a regional surplus dealer to a wholesale-industry kingpin.
Founded in 1971 in Rottenburg am Neckar, Germany
Sturm Handels GmbH was founded by Mr. Sturm in 1971 as a specialist in the utilization and distribution of authentic military surplus from armies around the world. From a single location in southern Germany, the company built a reputation for sourcing, processing, and distributing surplus inventory that other wholesalers couldn’t reach.
The Berlin Wall fell. Sturm bought the East German Army.
When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 and Germany reunified, Mr. Sturm made the move that defined the next generation of the European military surplus industry: he acquired the entire stock of the East German Army — everything except the weapons and vehicles. The acquisition catapulted Sturm from regional dealer to wholesale-industry kingpin and reshaped what authentic Cold War surplus would look like in the global market for the next thirty years.
A border guard depot becomes a logistics hub.
To house the inventory, Sturm acquired an old East German border guard depot in Tangermünde, Germany — complete with a train depot running through the middle of the facility. East German surplus arrived by the trainload at the very depot that had once served the border troops who issued it. Tangermünde remains one of Sturm’s primary logistics hubs to this day.
1995 — the MIL-TEC® brand is born.
As authentic surplus from active militaries became harder to source consistently in the mid-1990s, Sturm launched MIL-TEC® in 1995 — producing tactical, outdoor, and military-inspired gear designed in-house and manufactured to military specifications. MIL-TEC® has since grown into one of the most recognizable tactical gear brands in Europe and a flagship line distributed throughout North America by Sturm USA.
United States operations — since 1983.
Sturm USA opened in 1983 in Virginia, relocated to Kennesaw, Georgia, and finally settled into our own buildings in Cartersville, Georgia, where we operate today. As the exclusive U.S./North American wholesale dealer for Sturm Germany, we serve dealers and retailers across the United States, Canada, and South America with authentic European surplus and MIL-TEC® tactical gear that other importers can’t match on selection or price.
Milestones
More than 50 years of building the European surplus market.
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1971
Sturm Handels GmbH founded in Rottenburg am Neckar, Germany. Initial focus: military surplus utilization and distribution.
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1983
U.S. branch established — originally in Virginia, later relocated to Kennesaw, Georgia, and ultimately to our owned buildings in Cartersville, Georgia.
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1989–1990
Acquisition of the entire East German Army inventory following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Tangermünde border guard depot acquired and converted into a primary logistics hub.
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1995
Launch of the MIL-TEC® brand — in-house production of tactical, outdoor, and military-inspired gear.
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Today
Approximately 150 employees globally. Roughly 10,000 SKUs across surplus, MIL-TEC®, Teesar®, and historical reproductions. About 3,000 dealers served worldwide. Debt-free and growing.
Sturm by the Numbers
The scale of a global wholesaler. The responsiveness of a family business.
50+
Years in the industry
40+
Years in the U.S.
~3,000
Dealers worldwide
~10,000
Product SKUs
~150
Employees globally
1M+
Sq. ft. of warehouse space
Debt-free. We own all of our buildings, equipment, and merchandise outright. No leverage, no creditors, no compromises — just a stable wholesale partner you can count on for the long haul.
Family Owned, Family Operated
Two countries. One family business.
Sturm is family-owned in Germany and family-operated in the United States. You get the resource depth of a major global distributor with the responsiveness of a family business that remembers your name on the next call.
Our Brands
In-house brands engineered for the dealer market.
Since 1995
MIL-TEC®
Our flagship tactical and outdoor brand. Apparel, packs and bags, camping equipment, boots, holsters, plate carriers, MOLLE-compatible accessories, and historical reproductions — engineered for military-inspired functionality at accessible price points. Distributed throughout Europe and North America.
Reproduction apparel
Teesar®
Reproduction military apparel and U.S.-style military clothing. The brand carries the Sturm USA company name (Sturm European Military Surplus Teesar Inc.) onto garment tags across the historical reproduction line. Boonie hats, field caps, T-shirts, and core surplus-style apparel.
Specialty lines
MA1® · Arid® · HexTac® · CIV-TEC®
Specialty product lines covering tactical apparel, desert and arid-environment gear, MOLLE-compatible carriers, and civilian-tactical crossover items — expanding the Sturm catalog beyond core MIL-TEC® into targeted niches for specialty dealers.
Distribution partners
Phantomleaf · Swiss Eye & more
Beyond our in-house brands, we distribute select third-party tactical brands including Phantomleaf® WASP fractal camouflage, Swiss Eye ballistic tactical eyewear, and other specialty manufacturers our dealers depend on.
What We Carry
Toothpicks to tanks — spanning surplus, tactical, and historical.
Military Surplus
Authentic surplus from 25+ countries — German, British, French, Belgian, Czech, East German DDR, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Swiss, US GI and more.
Tactical Gear
Plate carriers, chest rigs, holsters, mag pouches, harness sets, MOLLE accessories.
Apparel & Uniforms
Field jackets, combat shirts, tactical pants, headwear, base layers, gloves, sweaters, rainwear.
Bags & Packs
Rucksacks, assault packs, MOLLE pouches, duffels, dry bags, map cases, hydration carriers.
Camping & Field Gear
Sleeping bags, bivy covers, mess kits, canteens, tents, blankets, multi-tools, ammo cans.
Footwear
Combat boots, mountain boots, jungle boots, Canadian mukluks, boot socks and care.
Knives & Tools
Combat knives, bayonet reproductions, multi-tools, machetes, entrenching tools, flashlights.
NBC / CBRN Gear
Gas masks, NATO 40mm filters, NBC suits, chemical protective equipment from multiple militaries.
Reenactment & Reproduction
WWII U.S., German, British, and Russian reproductions for living history, film, and theatrical use.
Who We Serve
Built for the dealers who built this industry.
Sturm USA is a wholesale-only distributor. We don’t compete with our customers — we equip them. Our dealer network includes:
Military surplus dealers — independent retailers and surplus-focused storefronts
Tactical retailers — gun shops, range stores, and tactical specialty dealers
Outdoor retailers — bushcraft, camping, hunting, and outdoor-sports stores
Reenactment & living history groups — WWII, Cold War, and historical military reenactors
Film & theatrical productions — period-correct uniforms, gear, and costume support
Collectors & militaria specialists — serious collectors of authentic military artifacts
Why Sturm
Other wholesalers measure customer relationships in dollars. We measure them in decades.
Exclusive U.S. wholesale dealer for Sturm Germany
Our direct relationship with Sturm Handels GmbH gives our customers the best pricing on European military surplus and MIL-TEC® tactical and outdoor products that no other importer in North America can match.
Surplus arrives more frequently than anywhere else in North America
Authentic surplus inventory arrives at our Cartersville warehouse more often than at any other surplus wholesaler in North America. That cadence translates directly into fresher stock and broader selection for our dealers.
Decades of experience sorting, sizing, and processing surplus
Authentic military surplus arrives unsorted, in mixed condition, and in non-retail packaging. We bring more than fifty years of expertise in inspecting, grading, sizing, and processing it for the dealer market — so what arrives at your store is ready to sell.
Debt-free, family-owned, and built to last
We own all of our buildings, equipment, and merchandise. We aren’t beholden to investors, creditors, or quarterly numbers — we’re built to serve our dealer network today and for the next decade and beyond.
Customer relationships measured in decades
Many of our dealer relationships are more than 30 years strong. A few date back to the day we opened our U.S. doors in 1983. We stand behind our products, and we treat the people who buy from us the same way we’d want to be treated. It’s how we’ve always done business.
Get in Touch
Ready to become a Sturm dealer?
We’d be glad to talk about your business and how Sturm USA can support it. Reach out by phone or contact us through the dealer application page to get started.