Why do we re-enact

Actually I got alot of looks from the ladies when I broke out my sport shorts for a d day event last summer. I'm still not sure if the looks were good ones.

 

Ahhh you see, you weren't wearing the sexy Wehrmacht shorts ... you would have got better looks if you were wearing the period stuff, check out this pic from my "German BBQ collection" :



BTW, They guys are preparing a roast, its not some bizarre sacrificial ritual.

[ 18. November 2003, 02:24 AM: Message edited by: BratwurstDimSum ]

 

I much prefer the stockings and suspenders with little embroidered Swasticas on them, Helga style.

 

So will this be your next impression Stefan?

 

Actually, Bratwurst, he was wearing reproduction Wehrmacht sport shorts. It looked like an ape in childrens clothing!

Langemann

 

What's sad, is he's just a hairy young, big kid! Saskqvatch!

We love you, Obergrenadier!

 

Hmm, sorry, do I see any suspenders or stockings there? Oh, sorry see what you mean...

Actually I was thinking more along the lines of this:


Or this:


Or this:


Or even this:


The funny thing is a little while ago I was wondering why people think SS re-enactors are so strange...

 

Yes Herr Flick!!! I zee vot you mean

 

Have heard that WWII re-inactment does NOT go over well in France, Germany or the low countries.....And that they try to shun such things to the point of not allowing it. Is this true???

 

The squashing out of history to some extent in Europe is true. From the German standpoint at least. There is a fairly decent group in Germany, judging by their website, who does a US 90th ID impression.

Seems like just about anything to do with Germany in the war is a no-no. Ebay is a good example-nothing bearing a Swastika may be shown, and none sent to France, Germany, or Austria.

I even know of a guy from Holland who collected firearms at one time. He was raided on I think 6 seperate occasions, each time being hauled off by people who wouldn't tell him who they were, why he was being taken and questioned, or where they were. The 6th time he was jailed. Because he had German weapons. Not just firearms in general, but GERMAN weapons.

Some places are better then others, so I've heard, but yes, WWII, especially from the German perspective, is looked down upon in many European countries.

Shame really, changing your countries history by covering up the bad stuff.

Wm.T.

 

Its good to know I have friends here. I'd like to see some one else that is diehard enough to do the "beach outing" impression that i have. I have no regrets it was hot out and I was glad that I wasn't wearing my wools the whole time, plus atleast I'm in shape. I long for the day I can break the shorts out again.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I think re-enactment is reasonably healthy in France, Belgium and Holland - certainly when associated with the military vehicle 'movement'....?

 

Martin, I believe you are correct sir. Especially when it comes to the vehicles. At least the Allied ones.

I was just sort of trying to get the point across that the German side is looked down upon.

I remember an old issue of Militaria Magazine (when it was still published in English) had a 50th Anniversary advertisement of the meeting of US and Red forces at Torgau. Reenactors and vehicles were all welcome. Except German impressions. Those aren't the exact words, but same meaning.

But yes, Allied reenacting and vehicle collecting is very strong in Europe. There is a very good group who has a very solid impression, and does a lot of nice reproduction work. Last time I checked this link for them worked:
http://users.skynet.be/jeeper/page2.html

 

Come to think of it, William, you've got a point. Most of the photos of Continental re-enactor groups that I've seen are US or Allied units, often Airborne.

Feelings about Germany can still be difficult in the Low Countries, a fact we tend to overlook in Britain.

 

Actually there are seceral German groups operating in europe, including a French SS unit, LAH and a falshirmjager unit. They just dont get much press and try to keep their heads down. Actually recently they took a trip through the Ardennes along the route of KG Pieper in full kit.

 

I'll bet they had to be discreet in Stavelot where many civilians were shot in controversial circumstances.

The plaque on the bridge there still refers bluntly to '... von Rundstedt's Nazi hordes...'

( BTW I like the bit about keeping their heads down ! )

 

Have to disagree with you on that point mate, All my stuff comes from Germany via ebay and there are tons of the stuff. Go to Ebay.de and go to the 1918-1945 section, you'll be surprised what they sell and what people (from UK anyhow) can buy.
I have sent money there for at least 15 auctions and had NO problems whatsoever.

Funny then it seems ebay.com and ebay.uk are big censors of the swastika. I tried to sell a Iron cross on there and it was banned!

 

From my understanding, you can sell the items, you just have to disacknowledge the existance of some controversial markings or edit the markings out of the photograph.

That's how I've seen it done, at least.

 

G'day

Re-enacting in Holland is growing, and so is WWII re-enacting. I just joined a few years ago after having my heads in the books all that time. I joined to let people see me and remember the men I try to re-enact and let them see liberty came at a cost of men and they should remember them, to never let this happen again. German re-enacting is a very big issue here. Many people will be very upset and that is a bit shortsighted to me. The German army is also a part of that WWII history. They are trying to have Heeres Gruppen on re-enactment shows with very strict rules of conduct. Not like a few years ago some when (real) drunk "German" re-enactors shouting "Sieg Heil" and "Heil Hitler" while waving their right arm in a political gesture, really offending the public. The SS is a big NoNo to me. Too much blood on their hands that is to me not worthy of too much honour. But in the UK and USA people wil think very differently of this
I'm sure.

Popski

 

The points you folks made about selling German items on ebay is what I was trying to get across. Sometimes the idea coming from my brain gets derailed by the time it gets to my fingers. I wasn't trying to say you couldn't sell German items, but you have to censor out the Swastika. And at one time there was a notice (this being as seen from here in Indiana) that items bearing the Swastika couldn't be sent to France, Germany, or Austria from the US. Maybe that has been changed???

Stefan's group is a wonderful example of German reenacting in Europe. And yes, there are some others over there. But for the most part they are US or Allied (and Martin hit the nail on the head-most seem to be Airborne -Thanks a lot Saving Private Ryan/Band of Brothers).

Interesting discussion. If anyone has any links to other, non Allied groups in Europe, would you mind posting them? I'd like to check them out.

Wm.T.