Re-enactors: Pro or Con? (1 Viewer)

[Scott]

The last couple of weeks have been a bonanza of reenactment from Waterloo to the Battle of the Nation, Gettysburg, Monmouth, and even the Battle of Königgrätz from the Seven Weeks War. It's easy to look online for photos of these events. I tend to side with the reenactors while still being aware of their faults from my 30 years in "the Hobby".

 

[TomB]

I've always appreciated the re-enactor, what they bring to the public, and what they go through to bring it to the public. The 'hobby' has always intrigued me, regardless of time period represented. I'm sure some units are better, more accurate, than others but it is hard to fault someone who loves to do it, spends their own time and money in an attempt to bring history alive, and then give their efforts over to public viewing. I'm a definite pro for them. -- Al

Agree....I.d rather see the whatever battle re-enacted by people who spend their time,money and no doubt a lot of effort into the re-enactment rather than watch the same thing on a movie screen.....personally I would be delighted to watch any re-enactment of any ACW battle and stroll though the area and see the uniforms and weapons...horse's etc....but...I live in Aussie land and I aint gonna see any large scale re-enactment of any battles here...not in Perth ...not even a wee shoot out between the copper's and a few Bushrangers in some old dry creek bed.....cheers TomB

 

[Ragnar]

.I live in Aussieland and I aint gonna see any large scale re-enactment of any battles here...not in Perth ...not even a wee shoot out between the copper's and a few Bushrangers in some old dry creek bed.....cheers TomB

Hey Tom they used to have that re-enactment every weekend at Australiana village back in 70's/80's great to se back then as a kid.
Village was closed thru out the 90's and 2000's but re-opened just a few years back thanks to some dedicated locals who wanted to preserve some Aussieland history.
There was a good re-enactment not far from were I live a few years back for the 1804 "Battle of Vinegar hill" about 25 redcoats and some Irish convicts.
Nothing like what they have overseas offcourse but still pretty darn good!

 

[Fubar]

Pro, usually. like anything else, you'll find the good the bad. I'll make one point about some of our favorite movies in the last 20 years or so. They could not have been done without them.
Glory, Gettysburg, Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers , The Pacific to name a few.

Aside from the ACW re enactments, I participated for a few events with a WW2 group here in the NW. 11th Panzer Grenadiers. We stored their halftrack at the farm for several years and since we had a complete metal shop we did the conversions required.
At a Memorial day event at Fort Stevens { mouth of the Columbia} we did a small battle reenactment. Maybe 100 troops between both sides, several US and German halftracks, an M20 AC . Complete with pyrotechnic explosions, smoke grenades for effect. The heavy weapons , M2 50 cals, the Mg42 were all GAS guns , Hollywood style. The small arms,M1, Thompsons, MP 40's Bren guns etc, all real, blank firing of course. Many an FFL license holders there.
We{ the Germans } attacked a group of US and British dug in , drove them back , captured some positions, and were counterattacked by the US armor and our halftrack knocked out by a Bazooka ala Saving Private Ryan.
Our last two troops in a captured trench were firing their mg42, { one guy was propping up dummies just where no one could see them in the trench} and at an appropriate time and signal they stuck there heads down, crawled around the corner in the slit trench, and when the American Bazooka fired it;s blank flash bang round, they hit a toggle switch setting off a charge blowing the dummies about 8 feet in the air.
So, of course we lost. We were supposed too. The Crowd loved it.
Back AT THE FORT the crowds gathered to inspect the vehicles, uniforms, guns of course and for about 2 hours we talked to the public about WW2 History.
My friend and I were cleaning out the track { lots of reloadable brass to salvage + dirt and soot} and a Man and his family were not happy with us. WHY are you Nazi's?!!! In this day and age, Whats the matter with you?!~!!!
We just laughed, friend we're not Nazi's, we're just portraying German soldiers. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT??? Because , somebody has to be the bad guys to put on an event, that doesn't mean were ARE bad guys.{sm3}
FubAr

 

[Napoleon1er]

Fubar- I have met historians and reenactors who are Neo-Nazis/Fascist, but none of them have been WWII German reenactors. Thanks fr being willing to play the bad guys!

 

[Scott]

Fubar- I have met historians and reenactors who are Neo-Nazis/Fascist, but none of them have been WWII German reenactors. Thanks fr being willing to play the bad guys!

The few 3rd Reich reenactors I've talked to seem to more about the gear. I tried WW II but I didn't enjoy it. I did like visiting the German camp. They seemed have more gear, better camp life , and fun girlfriends and wives. It was kind of like reenacting Rev-War British.

 

[Terp152]

I used to do WWII reenacting and living history displays with my two sons. Our unit had a retired USAF flight surgeon, who spent untold $ recreating a WWII surgical unit. It was complete with a large tent (that took hrs to erect, seemed like hrs anyway). He had huge amounts of equipment, authentic surgical instruments, operating tables, cots, etc. We acted as medics and he was the surgeon of course. He rebuilt two WWII ambulances which he took to the events. Hundreds of people, families, etc would tour each day and he gave quite informative talks on what would transpire in caring for the wounded. Everyone seemed genuinely appreciative. I saw similar setups in ACW bivouacs. Someone had collected and displayed civil war era surgeon equipment and was giving talks on what the medical practices of the day were. Again, quite informative.

There was a battle each yr at Ft Knox, former home to the USA armor museum, and open to the public. A couple of hundred reenactors participated on both sides. There were privately owned M8s, many jeeps, ATs and even 4 M5s involved. The museum provided a couple of Shermans, halftracks and a Hetzer, all in operating condition. A P51 opened the battle with "straffing" runs over the field. Grandstands were setup for the viewing families and it was well attended.

I like to think some of the kids got a thrill and some idea of what occurred in WWII, much as I did watching reenactments at Bull Run and Antietam at their age.
Chris

 

[OzDigger]

I have spoken to a number of re-enactors over the years, like any hobby you have some nutters, but no more than any other hobby.

 

[Desertkiwi]

Completely Pro.......harmless fun.

Cheers!

 

[RPZ]

Re-enacting is only really a step up from toy soldiering. It brings history alive. Educational, fun. Nothing wrong with it.