A Civil Discourse About Reenacting

[Smithy]

I'm not at all keen on the SS stuff either. I visited a small military collection in Mosjøen in Norway which had a lot of authentic SS uniforms on display and I just couldn't stand looking at them. The death's heads on the caps just for me represents so much evil. In Bodø where we were living, the house which was the local Gestapo HQ was not far from us and we used to often walk past it when going for a stroll, and I didn't really like walking past the place. Obviously it's awhile ago now but it's still not terribly long and for many people it's still a fresh and painful recollection.

 

[Story]

OK - I might be able to do Rommel or Von Rundstedt then. Or fat boy Herman. lol

Actually, you're at a point in life to portray a WWI R.A.F. pilot dragooned back into service as a Flying Instructor. It's a good excuse for lugging around a pair of model planes on sticks, ya know? And you'd be tons more authentic than the 17 year old Colonels I've seen peacocking around places like Reading.

 

[Fletch]

Yes, 17 year old colonels are only right for the USAAF.

 

[Spitfire]

Yes, 17 year old colonels are only right for the USAAF.

lol lol lol

 

[reetpleat]

I'm not at all keen on the SS stuff either. I visited a small military collection in Mosjøen in Norway which had a lot of authentic SS uniforms on display and I just couldn't stand looking at them. The death's heads on the caps just for me represents so much evil. In Bodø where we were living, the house which was the local Gestapo HQ was not far from us and we used to often walk past it when going for a stroll, and I didn't really like walking past the place. Obviously it's awhile ago now but it's still not terribly long and for many people it's still a fresh and painful recollection.

EDITED: THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION ABOUT WAR.

Speaking of which, If I showed up at a reeneacting event in a superman suit and tried to arrest nazis, would I be authentic?

 

[reetpleat]

Being from a country that was occupied by the nazis. Having a father who fought them in the resistance movement and just survived, I find it very hard to undertand and to accept reenactors strutting around in SS uniforms.

Even saw a small group in Normandy at the 60th aniversary for D-day. Imagin that!

I find it just as strang as if a group of BinLaden/Mujahedin reenactors walked around the streets of Manhattan. Distastefull.

I wonder if 100 years from now people will reenact the gulf war or maybe the war on terror.

If you are going to reenact a battle, you will definitely need the other side. Do people look donw on the southerners in civil war reenacting as racists, or do they just figure they are proud southerners.

I guess if you ga back far enough, right and wrong is not so clearly drawn. It is really just two disagreeing sides sending their young men out to shoot at each other.

In a way, our glorification of war is kind of sick. BUt I used to do military models and still have a soft spot in my heart for uniforms and military equipment. SO I am not immune.

 

[Trotsky]

This debate comes up every so often. I do not tell people, generally, that I reenact. Only later, after they know me do I talk about it, because so many people have a distorted view. I enjoy living history, I enjoy setting up displays and trying to give folks, especially kids, a taste of the WWII soldier. I know somethings and love passing them on. It is a hobby for me, my primary one.
I do portray those guys who were behind the lines, my RAF impression is that of a Meteorology Officer. I wear wings, sure, half wings with a huge "M". It's fun talking about one of the more important ground jobs, that of predicting the weather.
I portray a British Sub-Lt., hostilities only, and I do happen to "do" SAS, which draws fire from other reenactors. It's damn fun to show a kid how the Bren team worked, how to work the bolt and switch the magazines.
I have other impressions, all with the same philosophy behind them.
The issue of SS, NKVD, and other controversial units always comes up. You have to remember the bad sometimes too, history is not all rose and chocolates. The guys doing SS do sometimes take it too far, and I do not like it, at all, nor do my mates.
Anyway, reenactment will always have the good along with the bad. I do my best to do a good impression.

 

[Smithy]

EDITED: QUOTE BY REETPLEAT REMOVED.

There is a difference with the SS. That uniform is an embodiment of all those political ideals and beliefs of National Socialsim. To a lesser degree one could argue the same for the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe or Kreigsmarine, but there is an important difference. The SS was a highly politicised organisational system and a direct representative of the principles inherent in Nazism. This is very different from units from Western democracies.

 

[Spitfire]

Thanks, Smithy. My thoughts exactly.
Another thing, as my father says:
"Nazi's voluntered for the SS. Germans were drafted into the army, airforce or navy. That makes a big difference."

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

If I were to try WWII re-enacting, I might use my father and grandfather as inspiration. The British Home Guard included a lot of older and not so fit fellows:

 

[Smithy]

The Home Guard's a perfect choice for the older and bigger gentlemen, and also as Story says an old hand from WWI in RAF service. To really make a point here wear "your old RFC wings on the khaki background" on the WWII blue RAF uniform. Quite a few did this and it garnered respect from the sprog pilots to see a "chap who'd been in the last big show"!

 

[Spitfire]

I guesse if I ever got into reenacting, I would choose the part of an old airplane mechanic drinking tea with some beautifull, charming redcross girls at the doughnotvan.

 

[Miss Sis]

Spitfire, surely you mean the Tea Van? Much more British!

 

[Spitfire]

Sorry Miss Sis. Absolutely - the tea van!:eusa_doh: Your tea van, that is.

 

[Smithy]

Sis is right, it's the NAAFI van where you'll get a nice cuppa and a chelsea bun!

 

[Spitfire]

Another reason why I am not into reenacting. I don't even know where the best tea and buns are served.

 

[jph712]

My Grandfather, Great-Grandfather and G-G-Grandfather

I've considered reenacting/living history impressions from time to time based upon 3 generations of grandfathers who served. My Grandfather was 4th Infantry Division @ Utah Beach. My Great Grandfather was an officer in the 1st Alabama during the Spanish American War. And my Great Grandfather was a Private in the 22nd Alabama in the Confederate Army. Plus, my Great-Great-Great Grandfather was an enlistedman in the Connecticut Militia during the American Revolution.

My problem is money and which one to interperet. Each of their units are very interesting to read about and research, and each can pull you into varying directions.

JPH712

 

[Miss Sis]

This one's for you, Spitfire:

Myrtle the Teavan at Biggin Hill airfield. You'll always get a hot cuppa when I'm in charge!

We're YMCA, by the way.

 

[Twitch]

Whatever floats their boats. They weren't hurting anybody so let 'em go.

 

[missjo]

I need a tea van!
Look it attrackts flyboys like moths to a flame... mwoaahaha the perfect trap to land me a officer!