I visited a show last weekend where the organisers had said on their website that SS etc. were not welcome, low and behold there was an entire SS section camped in the re-enactors field. Swastika proudly flying, and SS flag hanging on the washing line. One guy was so old, he may genuinely have been in the SS.
As I may have said before. I’m baffled why anyone would dress up in an SS uniform or frankly a uniform from the Luftwaffe or the Heer. The work of Victoria Taylor, Philip Blood, and Waitman Beorn has exposed the cleanliness myth of both.
Why anyone would want to "re-enact" being a member of the SS escapes me. Dress up as an SS officer, what do you "re-enact"? I've attended some excellent living history events over the years (mainly connected with my favourite military history period, the Napoleonic Wars) and learned a lot from the re-enactors. A very nice man from a Guards re-enactment group showed me how to make/fill cartridges for a Brown Bess in their camp in the garden of Hougoumont as they were preping for the 2005 re-enactment of Waterloo. I've had a go at throwing an axe with some Vikings. Eaten Anglo-Saxon porridge. And fired a matchlock musket (as well as the afore mentioned Brown Bess). All fun for me. But just sitting listening or talking to re-enactors about their kit, how they actually do "rough it" under canvas, and explaining the production and use of everything from their headgear to their cooking arrangements is fascinating. One of my best friends was a very active re-enactor of the US Civil War when younger. And the amount of time he spent making his kit was amazing. He gave it up for wife, kids and mortgage. But, and here there is a direct connect with the SS question, he started to feel uncomfortable marching about dressed as a Confederate private. And this was long, long before the controversy over Confederate statues etc. I do recall asking him why Confederate rather than Union. He was starry eyed about the "elan" of the ANV. We had a rather heated conversation (after a good dinner) as to why he, whose politics were/are on the left, and who served as a union rep alongside me, should spend time and money celebrating the defence of chattel slavery. He couldn't answer. I don't say I changed his mind (and he still has all his kit) but I may have helped him along. So, what do SS re-enactors do? Here is a demonstration of a "special action" conducted in a Ukrainian forest in 1942? Next performance of raising the Warsaw Ghetto at 3pm. Get there early so the kids get a good view? Try our cattle truck simulator with a REAL selection process at the end. Will you make the cut? Of course, I'm being ridiculous, but no more than those who dress as the men (and women) of the SS. And as for other German/Axis uniforms? Well, their hands weren't clean either. So, a total ban? Or would that be too far? A few years back we had the perennial calls to boycott Hugo Boss clothing and other products because he "designed" the SS uniform. Another friend of mine was much in favour. Thing is, he has driven volkswagens for as long as I have known him, and one of his prize possessions is a very flash coffee maker made by Krupp. When I pointed this out, he didn't get it. But, to get back to the subject in hand, there really is no place for SS uniforms at living history events, but we must ensure that the weak in the head who think there is, don't win a victory via the back door by expunging the evil acts of that organisation from such events.
I think German uniforms in general, and SS uniforms in particular, are banned at that event. This is increasingly common. The Tank Museum has also banned Nazi re-enactors from their site after the tasteless spectacle of wannabe Wittmans trying to get photographed with Tiger 131.
Dressing up as a German soldier, or worse an SS soldier, is just bizarre. As not only are they paying tribute to the bad guys, but the very worst of their number. Why would you do that?
'On reflection, perhaps a museum might also be a good place for Phil’s shirt. Either there, or landfill, along with so many thankfully redundant replica Nazi uniforms.'
I have always felt this way, even when undertaking WW2 re-enactment/living-history/historical interpretation (hopefully the Home Guard aren't offensive). I feel the same way about Russian re-enactment right now too to be honest.
You clearly had a horrendous time with the judging of the shirts. Next time you should get an up and coming printing textile student with an interest in history to design a shirt for these awards. Bring in a new generation of historians and textile designers/artists! Would have loved to have visited the festival and heard the talks, but was really happy to hear that there were no SS uniforms. We need as much positive vibes as we can at the moment.
On the wrongness of dressing up in an SS uniform
I visited a show last weekend where the organisers had said on their website that SS etc. were not welcome, low and behold there was an entire SS section camped in the re-enactors field. Swastika proudly flying, and SS flag hanging on the washing line. One guy was so old, he may genuinely have been in the SS.
As I may have said before. I’m baffled why anyone would dress up in an SS uniform or frankly a uniform from the Luftwaffe or the Heer. The work of Victoria Taylor, Philip Blood, and Waitman Beorn has exposed the cleanliness myth of both.
Why anyone would want to "re-enact" being a member of the SS escapes me. Dress up as an SS officer, what do you "re-enact"? I've attended some excellent living history events over the years (mainly connected with my favourite military history period, the Napoleonic Wars) and learned a lot from the re-enactors. A very nice man from a Guards re-enactment group showed me how to make/fill cartridges for a Brown Bess in their camp in the garden of Hougoumont as they were preping for the 2005 re-enactment of Waterloo. I've had a go at throwing an axe with some Vikings. Eaten Anglo-Saxon porridge. And fired a matchlock musket (as well as the afore mentioned Brown Bess). All fun for me. But just sitting listening or talking to re-enactors about their kit, how they actually do "rough it" under canvas, and explaining the production and use of everything from their headgear to their cooking arrangements is fascinating. One of my best friends was a very active re-enactor of the US Civil War when younger. And the amount of time he spent making his kit was amazing. He gave it up for wife, kids and mortgage. But, and here there is a direct connect with the SS question, he started to feel uncomfortable marching about dressed as a Confederate private. And this was long, long before the controversy over Confederate statues etc. I do recall asking him why Confederate rather than Union. He was starry eyed about the "elan" of the ANV. We had a rather heated conversation (after a good dinner) as to why he, whose politics were/are on the left, and who served as a union rep alongside me, should spend time and money celebrating the defence of chattel slavery. He couldn't answer. I don't say I changed his mind (and he still has all his kit) but I may have helped him along. So, what do SS re-enactors do? Here is a demonstration of a "special action" conducted in a Ukrainian forest in 1942? Next performance of raising the Warsaw Ghetto at 3pm. Get there early so the kids get a good view? Try our cattle truck simulator with a REAL selection process at the end. Will you make the cut? Of course, I'm being ridiculous, but no more than those who dress as the men (and women) of the SS. And as for other German/Axis uniforms? Well, their hands weren't clean either. So, a total ban? Or would that be too far? A few years back we had the perennial calls to boycott Hugo Boss clothing and other products because he "designed" the SS uniform. Another friend of mine was much in favour. Thing is, he has driven volkswagens for as long as I have known him, and one of his prize possessions is a very flash coffee maker made by Krupp. When I pointed this out, he didn't get it. But, to get back to the subject in hand, there really is no place for SS uniforms at living history events, but we must ensure that the weak in the head who think there is, don't win a victory via the back door by expunging the evil acts of that organisation from such events.
I think German uniforms in general, and SS uniforms in particular, are banned at that event. This is increasingly common. The Tank Museum has also banned Nazi re-enactors from their site after the tasteless spectacle of wannabe Wittmans trying to get photographed with Tiger 131.
Dressing up as a German soldier, or worse an SS soldier, is just bizarre. As not only are they paying tribute to the bad guys, but the very worst of their number. Why would you do that?
'On reflection, perhaps a museum might also be a good place for Phil’s shirt. Either there, or landfill, along with so many thankfully redundant replica Nazi uniforms.'
For this, Walt, you win the Internets today.
I have always felt this way, even when undertaking WW2 re-enactment/living-history/historical interpretation (hopefully the Home Guard aren't offensive). I feel the same way about Russian re-enactment right now too to be honest.
You clearly had a horrendous time with the judging of the shirts. Next time you should get an up and coming printing textile student with an interest in history to design a shirt for these awards. Bring in a new generation of historians and textile designers/artists! Would have loved to have visited the festival and heard the talks, but was really happy to hear that there were no SS uniforms. We need as much positive vibes as we can at the moment.