World War II reenactment
Encyclopedia
World War II Reenactment is the historical reenactment
of World War II
military.
, for example, was filmed on location in Arnhem
using veterans of the battle) and for military purposes (the last days in Adolf Hitler
's bunker were recreated by the actual participants at the insistence of their Soviet captors), the reenactment of World War II as a hobby traces its roots to the Historical Reenactment Society (HRS).
Not long after the first HRS event in 1975 — an offshoot of American Civil War reenactment
— World War II reenactors began to form permanent groups, each adopting the designation of a specific military unit that had served during the war. Some of the earlier of these organizations were 1st SS Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler reenactment group in Missouri
and 352nd Infanterie Division 916th Grenadier Regiment II Bataillon 5 Kompanie reenactment group in New England
. Since that time hundreds of units have formed worldwide, representing nearly every nationality
involved in the conflict. World War II reenactments also began in Canada
around the same time, they evolving independently of their American
counterparts.
Centered on specific types of historical interpretation, participation within the hobby has usually focused on one of two different aspects of the lives and appearances of the soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen that were involved in that conflict.
The first, known as living history
, sometimes called a "barracks impression", emphasises the garrison life of the average serviceman. Within this impression various types of gear are displayed in a static manner in a 1940s or war period setting.
The other form of reenactment, tactical event
s, involve simulated combat operations within predesignated urban or rural areas. These tactical events are usually held on large tracts of private land, although events are sometimes held on military bases.
Participating units often bring restored original or reproduction World War II-era vehicles and heavy weapons to these events. These vehicles and weapons include German
manufactured Hetzer
self-propelled assault gun
, Sdkfz 251
armoured personal carrier, PaK 40
anti-tank guns, as well as many others from various countries. These vehicles and equipment can be costly to operate and maintain, and represent a significant investment for the organizations that use them. Initial costs for uniforms and personal gear are usually around US$1000 per person, and much higher depending on the nationality that is being portrayed.
Private Tactical Battles – These battles are large scale events, usually held on national guard bases, boy scout camps, or private land. A smaller event will average 45 to 70 participants, and the mega battles will average 250 to 300 participants. The mega battles involve full armor, which includes both Allied and German tanks, halftracks, trucks, jeeps, motorcycles, and artillery pieces.
Public Living History Events – These events are put on by community organizations or individual reenacting units. These events typically find the units, putting up a tent and creating some sort of encampment. The objective of these events is to interact with the public and educate them on the many facets of World War II. These events may also involve a public display reenactment which is staged.
Community Events – These events included Air Shows, Parades, Public Service events, and Gun show displays. In the case of Parades, they typically only have Allied units attending.
WWII Major Events Map – USA
Historical reenactment
Historical reenactment is an educational activity in which participants attempt torecreate some aspects of a historical event or period. This may be as narrow as a specific moment from a battle, such as the reenactment of Pickett's Charge at the Great Reunion of 1913, or as broad as an entire...
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
military.
Background
While some dramatic recreations of wartime events had been staged for theatrical purposes (the movie Theirs is the GloryTheirs is the Glory
Theirs Is the Glory , a Rank production, is a 1946 British film about the British Airborne element of the World War II Operation Market Garden, and specifically the Battle of Arnhem. It was the first film to be made about this battle, and the biggest grossing war movie for nearly a decade...
, for example, was filmed on location in Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
using veterans of the battle) and for military purposes (the last days in Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's bunker were recreated by the actual participants at the insistence of their Soviet captors), the reenactment of World War II as a hobby traces its roots to the Historical Reenactment Society (HRS).
Not long after the first HRS event in 1975 — an offshoot of American Civil War reenactment
American Civil War reenactment
American Civil War reenactment is an effort to recreate the appearance of a particular battle or other event associated with the American Civil War by hobbyists known as Civil War reenactors or Civil War recreationists...
— World War II reenactors began to form permanent groups, each adopting the designation of a specific military unit that had served during the war. Some of the earlier of these organizations were 1st SS Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler reenactment group in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and 352nd Infanterie Division 916th Grenadier Regiment II Bataillon 5 Kompanie reenactment group in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. Since that time hundreds of units have formed worldwide, representing nearly every nationality
Nationality
Nationality is membership of a nation or sovereign state, usually determined by their citizenship, but sometimes by ethnicity or place of residence, or based on their sense of national identity....
involved in the conflict. World War II reenactments also began in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
around the same time, they evolving independently of their American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
counterparts.
Centered on specific types of historical interpretation, participation within the hobby has usually focused on one of two different aspects of the lives and appearances of the soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen that were involved in that conflict.
The first, known as living history
Living history
Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools, activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time. Although it does not necessarily seek to reenact a specific event in history, living history is...
, sometimes called a "barracks impression", emphasises the garrison life of the average serviceman. Within this impression various types of gear are displayed in a static manner in a 1940s or war period setting.
The other form of reenactment, tactical event
Tactical event
A tactical event is a type of historical reenactment, not usually open to the public, which is fought like a real battle with each side devising strategies and tactics to defeat their opponent...
s, involve simulated combat operations within predesignated urban or rural areas. These tactical events are usually held on large tracts of private land, although events are sometimes held on military bases.
Participating units often bring restored original or reproduction World War II-era vehicles and heavy weapons to these events. These vehicles and weapons include German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
manufactured Hetzer
Hetzer
The Jagdpanzer 38 , later known as Hetzer , was a German light tank destroyer of the Second World War based on a modified Czechoslovakian Panzer 38 chassis. The project was inspired by the Romanian "Mareşal" tank destroyer.The name Hetzer was at the time not commonly used for this vehicle...
self-propelled assault gun
Assault gun
An assault gun is a gun or howitzer mounted on a motor vehicle or armored chassis, designed for use in the direct fire role in support of infantry when attacking other infantry or fortified positions....
, Sdkfz 251
SdKfz 251
The Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track was an armored fighting vehicle designed and first built by Hanomag company during World War II. The largest and best armored of the wartime half-tracks, the Sd.Kfz. 251 was designed to transport the panzergrenadiers of the German mechanized infantry corps into battle....
armoured personal carrier, PaK 40
PaK 40
The 7.5 cm PaK 40 was a German 7.5 centimetre anti-tank gun developed in 1939-1941 by Rheinmetall and used during the Second World War...
anti-tank guns, as well as many others from various countries. These vehicles and equipment can be costly to operate and maintain, and represent a significant investment for the organizations that use them. Initial costs for uniforms and personal gear are usually around US$1000 per person, and much higher depending on the nationality that is being portrayed.
WWII Events
In World War II reenacting there are three basic types of events; these are Private Tactical Battles, Public Living History Events, and Community Events. Many units only attend Private Tactical Battles. Others favor Living History Events. And finally there are also Air Shows.Private Tactical Battles – These battles are large scale events, usually held on national guard bases, boy scout camps, or private land. A smaller event will average 45 to 70 participants, and the mega battles will average 250 to 300 participants. The mega battles involve full armor, which includes both Allied and German tanks, halftracks, trucks, jeeps, motorcycles, and artillery pieces.
Public Living History Events – These events are put on by community organizations or individual reenacting units. These events typically find the units, putting up a tent and creating some sort of encampment. The objective of these events is to interact with the public and educate them on the many facets of World War II. These events may also involve a public display reenactment which is staged.
Community Events – These events included Air Shows, Parades, Public Service events, and Gun show displays. In the case of Parades, they typically only have Allied units attending.
WWII Major Events Map – USA
See also
- Rich IottRich IottRichard Bradley "Rich" Iott was the 2010 Republican nominee for United States Representative for Ohio's 9th District...
– a US candidate for Congress whose war reenactment activities caused controversy