I am surprised that there hasn't been any discussion about FIG?
This was my first year to attend this event. Two of us from our unit drove 16 hours to attend - we fell in with our "sister" unit for barracks and battle. I was amazed at the units there - overall, they displayed some great attention to detail. In our barracks, modern items were hidden and everyone tried their best to stay "period"... the Geibrigsjagers upstairs set up a barracks display better than any museum I've ever visited.
Nightly, the largest reenactor market I've ever seen assembled - bargins were everywhere and I don't remember seeing anyone leave empty handed. Original militaria was present, but often in the form of field and camp gear...reference books and repro uniform dealers rounded out the assortment.
Friday's tactical had mixed opinions. As far as command and control and emergency services, I saw nothing wrong. We were bused to a drop off point and marched to battle - this worked smooth IMO. Some buses got lost and apparently in some areas, medical response was slow. But in my AO, things worked. However, hit taking and unit movement was appalling - a typical area of trouble.
I'll make the trip again - to see 1000 plus reenactors come together and play the part is worth it.
Maybe I am just "pro-Axis reenactor", but GI's continue to fail in their impressions. The American offensive that my unit encountered was a solid walking line similar to what one would see in a Revolutionary war painting. The troops were firing their M1's from the hip while walking into a German MG34 without taking hits. The German units that I "play" with strive to practice German military theory, from marching to attacking to defense and withdrawl - commands are studied and (attempted) used in the field. For the most part, the Commonwealth troops I encountered were fairly squared away, which leads me to believe that US reenactors have just watched too many John Wayne movies??
This was my first year to attend this event. Two of us from our unit drove 16 hours to attend - we fell in with our "sister" unit for barracks and battle. I was amazed at the units there - overall, they displayed some great attention to detail. In our barracks, modern items were hidden and everyone tried their best to stay "period"... the Geibrigsjagers upstairs set up a barracks display better than any museum I've ever visited.
Nightly, the largest reenactor market I've ever seen assembled - bargins were everywhere and I don't remember seeing anyone leave empty handed. Original militaria was present, but often in the form of field and camp gear...reference books and repro uniform dealers rounded out the assortment.
Friday's tactical had mixed opinions. As far as command and control and emergency services, I saw nothing wrong. We were bused to a drop off point and marched to battle - this worked smooth IMO. Some buses got lost and apparently in some areas, medical response was slow. But in my AO, things worked. However, hit taking and unit movement was appalling - a typical area of trouble.
I'll make the trip again - to see 1000 plus reenactors come together and play the part is worth it.
Maybe I am just "pro-Axis reenactor", but GI's continue to fail in their impressions. The American offensive that my unit encountered was a solid walking line similar to what one would see in a Revolutionary war painting. The troops were firing their M1's from the hip while walking into a German MG34 without taking hits. The German units that I "play" with strive to practice German military theory, from marching to attacking to defense and withdrawl - commands are studied and (attempted) used in the field. For the most part, the Commonwealth troops I encountered were fairly squared away, which leads me to believe that US reenactors have just watched too many John Wayne movies??
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