I don't. I shoot at them for all of my impressions.
#DixieForever
#GottSchützeDenKönig
#WehrmachtBitchesAt
There are easy ways to sleep outside, even without a tent. A tent is optimal to protect from any possible rain. All you really need is insulation and that's very easily done with dry vegetation (straw works fucking amazing) and making sure your feet are very well insulated since they are pretty much your only extremeties that are the most difficult to warm up. Wear a cap (a night cap I suppose for you NW folk) to keep the head warm. Layers work wonders. If all else fails, snuggle up to your comrade. No homo.
My typical sleeping situation involves 1 blanket, 1 greatcoat, and my jacket. I wear all the other parts of my uniform including my boots WITH THE EXCEPTION if it will be under freezing temperatures. Sweaty feet in boots turns into freezing feet in boots. I'll usually lay on my greatcoat, have my jacket lay over my chest/neck/head, and then have the blanket on top of all of that. Pretty comfortable as far as sleeping on the ground goes. Bring spare socks/footwraps, long underwear, and a good attitude. Sometimes sleeping in a hole is more comfortable than the flat ground because I can allow myself to get snuggled into the ground. A little dig here, a little dig there, and you've got a customized bed.
Gum blankets in Europe? Not at that time, no.
Anyway, I found some nice pics. Wish I was there.
Do they not teach you how to make a fire in yurop? Should've made a pretty good clearing around that firepit. Straw catches quicker than anything. That's pretty lazy. A meter or so would've been fine.
EDIT: I'd like to note that sleeping outside when it's under freezing - it's one of those things you need to prepare for. You can't just sleep outside like the rest of the year. More planning needs to go into your shelter and PLENTY of insulation should be kept at hand. A fire only does so much, especially when it burns out halfway through the night. You have to remember that the guys who did it for real a few hundred years ago built winter quarters in varying quality. You aught to do the same.