Second thoughts by Confederate reenactors?

[James B White]

This is why in my posting above I excluded reenacting the Waffen SS, and also why, although I have a nice militaria collection, I refuse to have NAZI stuff in it. Collecting and reenacting are ways of keeping alive a memory that deserves to be kept alive. In a sense we honor these people when we recreate them. I don't mean we should forget Hitler and Stalin, far from it, but let's not give them an honor of remembrance they do not deserve. I understand that reenacting a historical event requires somebody to be the other side but can we not do WW II with regular Wehrmacht troops, most of whom were draftees, not ideological supermen bent on genocide? Would anyone doing Civil War reenactment really want to recreate Major Wirz and Andersonville? There are some things better left undone.

In practice, you're right. The typical reenactment isn't the place for that kind of realism or depths of emotion or accuracy. It's where visitors go to take the kids, have fun, buy some souvenirs, see the show, go home happy--and that's pretty much what it is for a lot of reenactors too.

Unfortunately, by definition that gives a sanitized view of what happened, showing the "good" parts, making the "bad" parts seem as easy to take as the violence in a pirate movie.

I think a lot of people do see remembering as the equivalent of honoring, in reenacting, but I don't get it. That's not true elsewhere, except maybe in erecting memorial statues--and the reason people want to see statues come down.

Surely someone can write a book on Major Wirz or a member of the Waffen SS without honoring him. I wish the same could be done at more reenactments, as AndrewJacksonMiller said, to show what the "good guys" were facing. And that goes for whoever one defines as the good guys. If it's the Confederates, I'd like to see pro-Confederate reenactors own the real world they're endorsing, same as pro-Union reenactors.

 

[Waterloo50]

I have only just discovered that the UK has the American Civil War Society, and guess what they are reenactors. I have decided to contact them and give it a try. Here is a picture of the British reenactors in action.

 

[kevikens]

In practice, you're right. The typical reenactment isn't the place for that kind of realism or depths of emotion or accuracy. It's where visitors go to take the kids, have fun, buy some souvenirs, see the show, go home happy--and that's pretty much what it is for a lot of reenactors too.

Unfortunately, by definition that gives a sanitized view of what happened, showing the "good" parts, making the "bad" parts seem as easy to take as the violence in a pirate movie.

I think a lot of people do see remembering as the equivalent of honoring, in reenacting, but I don't get it. That's not true elsewhere, except maybe in erecting memorial statues--and the reason people want to see statues come down.

Surely someone can write a book on Major Wirz or a member of the Waffen SS without honoring him. I wish the same could be done at more reenactments, as AndrewJacksonMiller said, to show what the "good guys" were facing. And that goes for whoever one defines as the good guys. If it's the Confederates, I'd like to see pro-Confederate reenactors own the real world they're endorsing, same as pro-Union reenactors.

Fair enough. I speak only as a personal matter here. When I collect or reenact I want to have a physical tie to the people whose material I have on my wall or in my hands. Reading a book about Hitler is not the same, for me, as owning one of his swastika decorated daggers. I don't want to have a physical contact with evil, pure, unadulterated evil, and unfortunately there are some people, some regimes, some things that are, or have been, just plain evil. I am certain that others have their own reasons for why they collect or reenact but for me having an Enfield p-53 on my wall is just fine, or a 12 pounder Napoleon case shot on a shelf seems ok, but not a guillotine. Again, no aspersions on others. That's just who I am.

 

[Chattahooch33]

If a reenacting unit dabbles in modern politics\social issues then they are not a very focused unit IMO. They should be out to interpret history as it was and leave it at that and not inject personal feelings, modern politics, or anything like that into a representation.

I will not even come close to thinking about the modern hoopla and absurdity going on when it comes to reenacting and it saddens me that I see people on here thinking about it.

 

[James B White]

Fair enough. I speak only as a personal matter here. When I collect or reenact I want to have a physical tie to the people whose material I have on my wall or in my hands. Reading a book about Hitler is not the same, for me, as owning one of his swastika decorated daggers. I don't want to have a physical contact with evil, pure, unadulterated evil, and unfortunately there are some people, some regimes, some things that are, or have been, just plain evil. I am certain that others have their own reasons for why they collect or reenact but for me having an Enfield p-53 on my wall is just fine, or a 12 pounder Napoleon case shot on a shelf seems ok, but not a guillotine. Again, no aspersions on others. That's just who I am.

And I can't speak as a collector. It just never did anything for me, but I can understand the difference between reenacting something for a weekend once a month or so, and having an artifact sit on display in view every day. The artifact is a more constant reminder, and it always is what it is, while a reenactor could portray SS one weekend and GI the next.

 

[Waterloo50]

I have only just discovered that the UK has the American Civil War Society, and guess, what they are reenactors. I have decided to contact them and give it a try. Here is a picture of the British reenactors in action.

The nice thing is, these guys re-enact history, they don't try to change it.

 

[shanniereb]

If a reenacting unit dabbles in modern politics\social issues then they are not a very focused unit IMO. They should be out to interpret history as it was and leave it at that and not inject personal feelings, modern politics, or anything like that into a representation.

I will not even come close to thinking about the modern hoopla and absurdity going on when it comes to reenacting and it saddens me that I see people on here thinking about it.

Unfortunately it has been thrust on us. Like the NPS banning CS flags at reenactments. (Gettysburg for example).

 

[James B White]

Unfortunately it has been thrust on us. Like the NPS banning CS flags at reenactments. (Gettysburg for example).

1) More information, please? All I've heard about is a ban on sales of stand-alone flags in NPS stores.

2) If CS flags were banned at reenactments where no opposing fire (no battles) are allowed anyway, surely history can be depicted just as accurately. Few non-battle events have enough participants on each side to justify the portrayal of an entire regiment requiring a headquarters with flags. One can choose to portray a time and place where the flag wasn't present--one or two companies, for example, but not the color-bearing company.

 

[Waterloo50]

A re-enactment of a battle should portray the battle as it happened, if there were members of the SS involved in a particular battle then they should be portrayed, it isn't difficult to explain to a large audience that attend the re-enactments for education and entertainment exactly what the Waffen SS were about. These men were evil no doubt about it but lets not remove them from history. If the paying public want to see history of warfare recreated then show them, don't hide things away just because they may offend. Removing the truth from any battle re-enactment would be like going to a museum and finding all the Nazi artefacts have been hidden away. When I go to a re-enactment I want an historically accurate portrayal not some sanitized politically correct version of what you think I need to see. If families want entertainment then maybe we owe it to them to make a re-enactment with an age rating, either make the display a G or NC-17 at least then people would know if they are seeing the Politically correct version or a historically accurate one. (Just a thought)

With respect

Waterloo

 

[AndrewJacksonMiller]

The original poster asked a very good question and a good discussion on various types of re-enacting ensued. Now for those who wouldn't touch an SS item because they find it offensive, then you have to ask yourselves why would you then portray a Confederate without thinking about those who still may be offended by Confederate items?
For most re-enactors I think that there is no intention to offend people only a desire to understand the circumstances of the historic conflicts. You as a re-enactor have no control over who gets offended, so do what you do and if someone confronts you for your impression, then try to educate them and make sure you are in the right to do so. Just my two cents on this, and if I was a Confederate re-enactor I would not stop but would be a little more sensitive to the issue.

 

[Waterloo50]

Waterloo500, I've got mates over in UK, they go ALL out in making sure their impressions are 'spot on'. I've sent a lot of Nam M56 gear over there!!! LOL

I'm learning a lot on the forum, I had no idea that there were Vietnam War Re-enactors, I did go and see an Easy Coy re-enactment group at an abandoned airfield, the exact one where Dick Winters and his men launched their D.Day invasion from. The group were brilliant, as you can imagine they were spot on with their uniforms, they even got the swagger walk and the Gum chewing down to a fine art. One of them was handing out Hershey bars to the kids. In fact, I think Dick Winters was there. Just as a foot note, If anyone would like to see some pictures of the old airfield and abandoned buildings, I would be happy to take some pictures and upload them in the General Forum if that is permissible.

Kind Regards

Waterloo

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Albert is one of the most level-headed members. All his energy is in his Tennessee Battery. Don't bother to argue the plusses and minuses or reenacting, he has it nailed.

Thanks, Ole......I am flattered!

 

[major bill]

Camp Custer here in Michiagn years ago had World War Two re enactments and there were only a problem after hours. some of the German re enactors stayed in uniform at the NCO club. This often resulted with them singing German songs and sometime when they drank they call National Guard solders racist and anti Jewish names and pretend to be real German solders. With both sides drinking this could lead to problems. Because I was company commander this required me to go to the NCO club and read my solders the riot act. "This next time I walk in the NCO club door you all will be formed into ranks, marched to the barracks and locked down until morning. I will insure all alcoholic beverages are dumped down the drain. This will become standard practice every where we go until I feel like ending it." This usually ended any problems from my solders, the other company commander's people were their problem.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Albert's got more knowledge and experience in his little finger then I'll ever have! Lol

I don't know about that! But I appreciate the compliment!!

 

[unionblue]

I'm learning a lot on the forum, I had no idea that there were Vietnam War Re-enactors, I did go and see an Easy Coy re-enactment group at an abandoned airfield, the exact one where Dick Winters and his men launched their D.Day invasion from. The group were brilliant, as you can imagine they were spot on with their uniforms, they even got the swagger walk and the Gum chewing down to a fine art. One of them was handing out Hershey bars to the kids. In fact, I think Dick Winters was there. Just as a foot note, If anyone would like to see some pictures of the old airfield and abandoned buildings, I would be happy to take some pictures and upload them in the General Forum if that is permissible.

Kind Regards

Waterloo

Waterloo50,

Please do! I would love to see those pictures!

Sincerely,
Unionblue

 

[D.H. Hill]

Do you plan to continue to reenact a Confederate?
Certainly.

Will your group fly the battle flag? Some other flag? No flag?
I don't have a group at the moment, but I would never join one that refuses to fly the colours under which brave men fought and died because of post-war misappropriations and current fads: to do so I feel would be to insult those men and everything they fought for.

Are there any changes you'll make?
Not as pertains to the subject at hand. As a reenactor my duty is to portray a man of the past as accurately as possible.

How will you respond to possible protesters who feel hurt or offended by your presence?
Ignore them until the issue is pushed aside by the next fad. It isn't a period issue so I won't address it unless asked directly; if so I can hopefully teach them some history. Won't be as easy as the usual "Why are you fighting for slavery?" &c. but it'll do.

 

[Lt.Drake]

I portray an officer in the 12th Texas cavalry, and I and my squad will continue to do so until the reenactments around here dry up. We don't fly a CBF, but a Texas flag. Nobody's said anything to us yet.

 

[hrobalabama]

I have sold all my period reenactors clothing and gear except my haversack and weapons.
This is due to age. It tires me out to travel over 50 miles.

 

[Lt.Drake]

I just had to travel 3 hours to get to one weekend before last. I'm gonna have to miss one that's 3 hours away in favor of one that's two hours away later this month.

 

[capt13th]

I have only just discovered that the UK has the American Civil War Society, and guess what they are reenactors. I have decided to contact them and give it a try. Here is a picture of the British reenactors in action.

i have met many british reenactors. they travel here to the U.S. and participate in some of the biggest battles. i hope you follow through with joining. have fun doing it and be safe my friend.