[MV] German re-enactors at The War and Peace Show in 2000 and beyond

NIGEL HAY (Nigelhay@tanksrus.freeserve.co.uk)
Wed, 29 Sep 1999 09:34:12 +0100

As the PR person behind the War and Peace Show, Rex Cadman (the show
organiser) has asked me to clarify our position.
The War and Peace Show has always welcomed, indeed encouraged, re-enactors
from all groups as a complimentary part of of the world's largest military
vehicle event.
The influx in the last few years of these groups has added a lot to the
show...indeed their contribution to the arena events has been immense.
I must cite the Viet Nam groups who combined to put on a very visual event
prior to the shows climactic +ACI-tanks on the loose+ACI- finale each year and to
the Allies and Axis who put on full scale battles 3 days running.

Generally it all runs fairly smothly and we are keen to develope this side
of the event which delights our paying public, without whom the show could
not be funded.

As some of you may know we had an influx of +ACI-wanabbee SS+ACI- at Beltring this
year. Whilst we know some are serious re-enactors (who have failed to read
and observe the instruction sheets each is sent.....), several of us saw the
thug with his shirt off proudly showing off his swastika tatoos and his back
was decorated with a tatoo of an SS soldier stamping on a pyjama costumed
Jew.

A great deal of time and effort goes into our contact with the press to
ensure that their percived view of the hobby and subsequently their readers,
is a positive one. However this can all be undone by say several of the
+ACI-wanabbee SS+ACI- who continuosly make a beeline for the press and tv on site(as
they believe they are very photogenic and newsworthy.....), this puts as at
the mercy of the press ....you can imagine the headlines....

Now he is not saying +ACI-I'm a really serious re-enactor+ACI- he is actually saying
+ACI-I'm a neo nazi and have no place at Beltring+ACI-

Needless to say this is way beyond offensive. Every effort is being made to
weed out people like him .
The show has always tried to run on seemless orginaistion and as relaxed as
possible, however we are very aware of this major issue.
I can confirm we are going to rigidly enforce the rules in 2000. The rules
are simple, but can very difficult to police without confrontation, so we
are relying on eduction and co-operation.

NO SS INSIGNIA, RUNES OR FLAGS TO BE DISPLAYED OR WORN ON SITE.
AXIS UNIFORMS (BUT NOT SS) MAY BE WORN AS PART OF A DIORAMA OR ARENA EVENT,
BUT MAY NOT
BE WORN AROUND THE SHOW SITE.

To ensure the smooth running and universal acceptance of them by all groups,
we are inviting the key players in all the re-enactor groups, of +ACI-both
sides+ACI- to a meeting in the next few months to discuss the Y2K show to ensure
that we can overcome this problem smoothly, hopefully they will +ACI-self police
it+ACI-. We will also make it clear in forthcoming press releases and the (as
soon as I get into gear and write it+ACE-) the new War and Peace Show
newsletter.

On the whole the German re-enactors co-operate and help the event succeed,
sadly, as in so many aspects of life , a few will screw it for the rest of
us.

With regards,

NIGE

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