Prejudice Towards German Reenactors.

To all you German reenactors,
With it coming close ot the day that I to will be starting German reenacting, I was wondering have you ever faced any prejudice beacuse of what you do? I must admit I got hardly any when it became public knowledge what I was going to do.

 

At a couple of Air Shows held at Ellington Field TX they had some German re-enactors appear. They were well recieved by the crowd, although we did appauld the US ones a little better as they were the 'home team'.

 

There was a guy running for public office last year. His campaign tanked when the news ran a story that he was a Nazi glorifier (well, they made it SEEM that way.........).

tom

 

The last "big" show I went to-which was in Houston, they had about 20 guys there as Germans. Several were Waffen SS, and I thought it rather funny-to see a few of them riding in a Kubelwagon and a Motorcycle with side car-and mounted MG-34-zipping through Houston traffic going where-ever they were going?

 

Probably could have gone almost anywhere they dang well pleased..........

tom

 

Well Carl we may have been in the same crowd!

 

Any "prejudice" or other negative reception will have alot to do with what impression you choose to portray. I have seen an exceptional feldlazarett (German field hospital) with a surgeon and a nurse complete with just about everything you can think of as far as bed, linens, medical implements, equipment, etc. that absolutely fascinates the regular public. The same can be said for Luftwaffe pilots and ground personnel in uniform at airshows (especially when they have aircraft). There are many regular army German units that have great impressions and very knowledgable people involved also. The bottom of the barrel from what I have seen are the Waffen SS units and they generally are the least well recieved and least knowledgable man for man.

 

I've never known any reenactors that have been prejudiced by acting a "part" in any kind of battle however, I've seen reenactors purchase authentic German jackets/clothing worn by actual officers which has made me "cringe" (in more than one way). If there is proper advertisement about an reenactment, then there should never be an issue about any prejudice.

 

We recently had some UK re enactors, well more dressed Military Vehicle Group owners actually, at a memorial unveiling in Scotland and had no issues, but I'm guessing that if we'd had any Axis uniforms we would have had complaints. Maybe attitudes over here differ given the losses sustained by Scottish Regiments, and the fact that there were very few families who didn't lose someone during both wars.
I think that as long as both 'sides' are portrayed in a non agressive manner and are there to commemorate the stupidity of agression and the gratitude to those who died fighting then we should accept that either side is entitled to honour the dead by wearing the uniform respectfully.

Personally, I'd still draw the line at any overtly NAZI, SS or Gestapo kit; soldiers doing their duty is another thing.

 

Heh heh, that reminds me of something that happened to me--well two things really.

1) I was riding around in my Thunderbird on Halloween 1998, just cruising around minding my own business------and wearing a WWII German Artillery Officers peaked visor. I was spotted by a cop who turned his car around, threw on his lights, I stopped in a parking lot wondering what the heck I did wrong? I pull out my ID and Insurance cards-thinking the worse-and also forgot that I had the cap on, when the policeman came up to the car. I started to give my info to him and he waved that he didnt want it. It then dawned on my what it was and I took the cap off-placing it on the dashboard-slightly embarassed. He blurted out: "Is that cap real?" I said, "Yup".

He goes: "Can I look at it?" I said: "Yup". Then he started asking all-kinds of questions about it to which I answered as best as I could. Some final ones included him wanting to know if I would part with it, how much as he had his checkbook handy, and I said I wasnt selling it but that I would let him know a local guy who had about 100 Officers visors at the time-whom also was sorta my militaria mentor. The officer asked what my intentions were for the cap, and I said that I was putting a uniform together (which still is incomplete) and that I intended getting a manniquin to have the full deal on display.

He said, have a nice evening out and i said I sure will ;-))

2) I was off on a weekend and had driven to Corpus Christi with my then Girlfriend Sherry, from Beeville-where I lived at the time. I had heard a Gun show was coming to town fairly soon and I needed to get an exact date for it so I could "call in sick" and go to it. I went to the Convention Center, found a guard on duty, asked about the date for the upcoming show, was told it was the next weekend (which turned out to NOT be true) and I thanked him and left.

Next Sat, I called in "sick" and left to go to the show. I got there before hardly any cars were in the parking lot--and something made the hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention. I noticed a serious lack of any kind of vehicle that SHOULD have been there (dealers vehicles) something that could transport dozens of weapons and such. I came "armed" as it were. I had my M-35 DD Luftwaffe Helmet, a mint 1913 Swedish Mauser Rifle, and some other mish-mash. I also noticed that as I was pulling the stuff from the trunk of my car, that there were quite a few people VERY well dressed, also starting to go into the convention Center. Not unusual for the place to have more than one kind of event going on sooooooooooooo, I grabbed the rifle, slapped the German lid on mein kopf, freeing up my hands for carrying two German Officers Dovehead swords and a few other things. I got on the same elevator with a group of about 10 others--all who were going into THEIR event.

I got off the elevator 1st floor and looked around to see what hall the gun show was in as I didnt see the tables set in place where they should have been. I walked around feeling wierd when I finally found another guard, I asked, where was the show held? Was it on the 2nd floor???? I was told by a laughing guard that it was next week. I said I had come and asked a guard last weekend and he said it was today. Turned out that guard was fired for more than just being incompetent. I felt wierd---being amidst several thousand--Jehovahs Witnessess. They must have thought I was somekind of cad, or something. Anyway, I left and came back the next weekend.

 

Hi Bel, could have been indeed. This was in Feb 2003 and I was there with two friends with similar interests ;-))

 

I knew I'd seen you somewhere before

 

I suppose it depends which country you are in..if you were occupied or not..To my yank cousins id say..it may not seem that much of a deal to you..its accepred in uk too which i put down to our comedy ridiculing over the years..grstapo and all.. Good stuff as renacctors..but i wouldnt try walking down any high street or using it as casuals even in uk.. france well skips the man to ask..crete...malta..who knows..but would my yank cousins be surprised by the outrage if they turned up in israel...would that answer some of the question?

 

Location, location, location! How about a certain royal prince who had a wardrobe malfunction?

 

exactly belasar and youll note he paid a big price for it with ex foces orgs and vets..he went on to do simalar with his language on fellow brit asian trooper..again he suffered publically and a rehab fight has been fought by his advisors ever since.as i initially said...my cousins in usa may see no harm...folk here did with him. took a major media campaign to rehab him to some...personally i see no probs..stefan our own hero on here did it for years..my own mum might have laid into him though...whats your view or thoughts on them performing in say lidice...or japanese renactors flying fighters and bombers over pearl in formation droping dummy bombs as your vets look on..cool to me but im a brit..

 

Heh heh, wrong helmet, Sgt. Schultz's looks like an M-42 ;-))

 

I believe in Force 10 from Navaronne Yugoslave troops dressed as Germans to reenact battle secnes for the movie, was it a job? how did they feel? I wonder?

 

Blimey...Ihad a German action man as a kid..ive had a german ss striper gift for my birtday..doesnt offend me...as to yugoslavia...id look into the various factions of ww2..some didnt mind wearing the original uniform in the first place..No your getting this out of order a bit..to tony tiger id say..go for it..you cant renact a battle without an enemy..and we dont go around throwing paint over german tanks in museums do we..stefans pics of him in full regalia are great by the way..search em out..but location does matter. Again would you think israelis would stand for it in jerusalem..no.just be aware not everyone takes kindly to it and if you do it understand the reason why they may not..and move away..blimey. we had a thread here not long ago showing a german in ww2dress in germany being marched away by police...if germany has problems with it what makes you think others wouldnt..

 

And still sort of on topic..On exercise in Denmark providing taccoms to paras for air cover..Agerman leopard mbt crossed our front..some radio small talk before danish referee came back from tank commander and asked para milan anti tank post if he really meant to fire at the german.as registered a shot..yes they said..put it down to friendly fire..tank commander was fuming..well says red bereted para..its a german tank init..tough..ti....s..

 

I know here in Charlotte, the local reenactors don't go anywhere in public while in uniform. They change when they get to their destination. I have to admit I'd want to drive to the site dressed up, but I think they've got a strict rule that says no.