Don't Mention the War

All you need is a captured Luftwaffe aircrew or a spy to arrest. You don't need to portray the D-Day landings etc, just give a flavour of what the Home Front was like.

I've only ever been to the NNR's wartime gala, but both times I have been it has been exactly that - the Home Front. It is a great event to go to as a result.

Regards,

Dan

 

I spend a weekend firing on the Strathspey when they held one a few years ago. I didn't really like it, I couldn't really understand what was worth celebrating. The Second World War is a dark, dark stain on humanity. Tens of millions of people died. An entire culture was almost wiped out. Innocent civilians were blown out of their homes by the airforces of each side. Europe was basically a complete wreck by 1945, a civilisation sent back into the dark ages. Eastern Europe remained occupied by dictatorships propped up from Moscow until 1989.

I don't understand why this is all worth a weekend of a heritage railways time. It seems to gloss over what actually happened and pretend that it was all 'jolly good fun because we were all in it together against those nasty Germans' etc etc.

 

It has more to do with railways than Santa does! Both bring in large crowds, so there's the answer...

 

Santa isn't a historical figure or period of time, unless you believe differently...

 

Naturally, but you said 'I don't understand why this is all worth a weekend of a heritage railways time'. The same answer applies for both, and Thomas for that matter - bums on seats.

 

Hello again,

may I take up some points raised?

I agree with George (Robert Heath No.6) that it's bums on seats which matter. I also agree with concerns about authenticity with plenty of post-war equipment around which just can not be hidden.

But then we must not forget that first of all we are talking about the presence of people wearing the uniforms of axis officers in WWII. It's fine if the pyrotechnics will draw in the crowds and that usually necessitates some "enemy" presence, but I doubt that many visitors will come to an event especially to see reeanactors in black uniforms with armbands with swastikas. If they did, I would be rather worried, indeed.

What I am clearly missing in those events is some sort of reflection about the time portrayed. What we get is sandbags, uniforms, displays of equipment, show and dance, fireworks and some "what a great time we had pulling all together against Fritz". But it was a war, which meant austerity, fear, wounds and death. Agreed, looking at those won't get too many bums on seats but shouldn't the railways and reenactors show some respect towards those who died prematurely because of the war. It is some sensitive action to glorify a war at a time when British (and German!) soldiers return from Afghanistan in coffins?

At "my" place we hold a closing ceremony towards the end of the afternoon of the final day of the wartime event. In this ceremony we remember the dead. Most if not all vehicle movements are stopped during the ceremony which takes place at a prominent location so it is very difficult to miss.

Kind regards

Christoph

 

Similarly, I know the GC war weekend includes a remembrance service, which is usually well attended; and does help to give a balance between showing respect to those who died for whatever reason as part of the war, but still 'putting on a show' over the weekend. I'm not sure how many other lines include something similar?

 

At the end of the day it all depends on what type of show is put on, these days railway's aften go for a dad's army feel at one station, and an Allo Allo feal at another, as such the uniforms can take on a differen't role.

 

I agree that pausing to reflect and remember should be an important part of all wartime events. On my railway, the SVR, as far as I am aware no such thing takes place on the War weekends, but on Remembrance Sunday a service is held at Kidderminster station.

 

To me a 1940's wartime weekend is pre-grouping locomotives and stock in pre-grouping liveries.
in my opinion A war weekend on a steam railway should include an element the above.
If there's diesels, BR standards, Mark 1s and anything with "British Railways" on the metalwork.. its just as inaccurate as a german soldier on British soil.

If the event is attracting bad publicity, is inaccurate.. why do it ?

My experience in Europe is 1940's history can be presented without mentioning the war and without the need for combat uniforms et al... much more respectful.
If there was a 1940's theme weekend without the "Wartime" everything above could be justified in some form or context.

 

I haven't attended any 1940's events for a few years, but the last time I went to SVR they held a remembrance event on both Sundays. It included songs from the era followed by a flag lowering ceremony.

My husband sent me the link for this topic because he thought it might be of interest to me as I used to be one of the reenactors at these events. I started reenacting 10 years ago portraying an American medic, British ATS or civilian and French Resistance. I also took part in some of the battles. My interest started from an interest in military history, reenacting gave me an opportunity to share my interest and my knowledge with others. I met many of the German reenactors and on the whole their purpose was the same as mine to share their knowledge with people who were lucky enough not to have experienced a war so terrible, in the hope that such an event is never ever repeated. For the railways that hold 1940s events battles bring in more people and more reenactors and the battle cant be held without the enemy. The reenactors that portray SS are in an unenviable position, they were the most reviled of units during the war and as elite units they took part in some of the most intense fighting there was. So for the reenactors this is an area of military history that deserves recognition. However everyone seems to associate the SS with the camps and this is of course where the black uniform becomes most unpopular and even I have been horrified at seeing someone dressed in SS camp guards uniform as this was in bad taste.
Personally from the sharing of knowledge and the avoidance of it happening again then all aspects of the war should be covered and this includes the SS. To achieve an element of accuracy designating staions as a particular town or even country would help explain what the Germans are doing there. This in turn allows for a battle and brings the people and the money to the railways.

 

Glad to know that I was wrong

 

Thank you for a sensible and civilised debate here - the ELR - in true Nazi style - have censored any more input as to the merits of their unfortunate and cowardly decision.

As a War Memorial Trustee I can safely say that our responsibility is to commemmorate all servicemen of all countries, the evils that put those people in circumstances that even today we have not learnt from, or to challenge, and to defend the freedoms to talk, write and think that were so desperately fought for and won.

Sarayevo in 1914, Hitler & Mussolini in the thirties and forties, Pol Pot & Co in the seventies, the ongoing Eastern Mediterranean problem, Iran, Kuwait, The Taliban and Al Qaeda - shall we pretend none of them existed so that we can have profitable weekends - No! Never, and the mindset that caves in to pretending there is merit in the comfortable suburban outlook should be challenged every time it rears its sorry head.

The 1940s weekends can of course include the spivs and the squaddies, the GIs and the Land Girls - but to try to rub out the enemy that all were brought together to face is to debase all that the re-enactors are actually keeping alive.

Of course there are elements of re-enactors that go over the top - there is none of that in the enthusiast world - is there?

Let's hope that the other locations where a fuller remembrance is permitted can continue to show how it can be done, respectfully, entertainingly, but above all, comprehensively.

 

I feel that war on the line events should do more to educate people about the role railways played in the war both good and bad.
Evacuating the children, the Kindertransport, the horrific transportation of inocents to nazi death camps, the hospital trains, the struggle to keep the railways running during the blitz and transport the supplys needed for the d-day landings. this can be easily done with signs and presentations and also with a group of school children in period clothes waving goodbye to loved ones from the train or putting some jeeps or shermans on some flatbeds.

 

Education should play a greater role in 40s events, I would agree hogger.

It is worth noting that the reason so many railways go for 40s events in June is because it coincides with Primary school pupils being taught about the Blitz and Home Front in school. In the week educational evacuee trains run, at the weekends the nostalgic events.

So in effect, 40s events are in some way educational. But I would agree that tempering them with a greater educational bent is worth considering.

 

And in true media spin style you have yet to acknowledge that your original posting was incorrect, Axis uniforms were NOT banned, only officers uniforms, as the stated in the original notice.

In reply to hogger, the ELR have an Evacuee Experience for school children, I believe this is part of the Education programme. Last weekend had trains running with military vehicles on flat wagons and in previous years there have been Troop Trains. Some interesting ideas on other aspects that can be portrayed during such an event.

 

Yes, there's a famous photo of a German soldier alongside a British bobby.

 

40s event at the Alderney railway anyone?

 

first we need to learn to count. ONLY JOKING