Historical - World War II

World War II

While some dramatic recreations of wartime events had been staged for theatrical purposes (the movie Theirs is the Glory, 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.

One of the first of these organizations was a 1st SS Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler reenactment group in Missouri. 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 events, 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.

WWII Reenacting

Most of the individuals that gravitate to this hobby do so out of a personal fascination with history. They may consider themselves a "history buff" and are generally very well informed on the details of their particular period of interest. These individuals often are, or at least have been, participants of other period reenactments and are fluent on the different logistical aspects of embarking into historical interpretations.

Many others come motivated by the romanticized nostalgic idea of having had an ancestor or acquittance that participated in the conflict. However, a great majority of the new recruits come just out of simple curiosity after watching one of the many films about the era, accepting an invitation offered by another established reenactor, or just signing in as a volunteer at one of the several "recruitment" stations opened at many events.

In general, all these individuals involved in World War II reenactment as a hobby, have in common several special attributes that involve a desire or sense for the camaraderie that only a unit or a team can provide:

  • a passion for history in all its forms and a deep respect for the military;
  • mechanical skills;
  • access to weapons and basic knowledge about them;
  • experience with crafts such a sewing, leather and metal works, and restoration;
  • and finally, access to expendable money.

Even when it seems that this hobby may require a vast background of knowledge, a great number of recent participants consists of people just interested in an adventurous outdoors activity.

Once the decision of participating has been made, the next step in the process is to decide which side of the conflict is going to be reenacted. Aside from deciding to join, this step is probably the most important and decisive of all, as it will determine the group of people that the applicant will be associating with, and the level of involvement and comfort that would increase the chances for a long and rewarding career as a WWII reenactor.

The world of World War II reenactment is divided between Axis and Allies, and each of these are subsequently branched as the specific countries or nationalities that participated. The number of these groups is wide and offers plenty of rich opportunities for selection. For instance, the Allies include groups that range from nations with limited involvement such as Brazil, to major participants like the United States, the Soviet Union, and Great Britain.

Even within a major participant nation wearing standard uniforms, where the only item to designate differences between most units is just a small patch, anyone can select to reenact something specifically colorful and unique if desired. A good example of this are the American Samoan Marines. More...