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anyone interested in hitler youth?
twilight_girl:
They did a lot of athletics and sports. They also did drill and learnt to use rifles and other small arms. They camped, they hiked, they sung songs. Mostly, they worked hard and had lots of fun.
Not everyone is interested in reenacting soldiers. I know several people who are more interested in civilian type roles. Personally, I find the Hitler Youth to be very interesting and I'd like to experience what it was like for them.
While not all German soldiers were Nazis during WWII, they were obviously fighting for the Nazi cause. Whether you consider it acting out Nazis or not, to most outsiders that's exactly what you are doing. I think most outsiders wouldn't see a difference between German soldier reenactment and hitler youth reenactment.
groomporter:
I think part of the problem is the people view the Hitler Youth differently.
-Sure they did some innocuous things similar to Boy Scouts, but they were also used to indoctrinate young men into anti-Semitism, and the overall Nazi belief system, as well as recruiting them to be storm troopers when they became adults.
As early as 1923 their early form had been banned for their involvement Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch in which he attempted to seize power in Bavaria. By 1938 it is said that it was Nazi storm troopers, the SS and Hitler Youths that perpetrated Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass) attacking Jews throughout the Reich. I think it's their direct connections to the Nazi movement that makes them even less politically correct than being a German WWII reenactor.
twilight_girl:
I see your point groomporter. But it would be a private event, not public. So is political correctness an issue? Since everyone there would be consenting adults, why would public opinion factor in?
Sorry, I'm not trying to be thick here. I just honestly don't see where the big problem is, but since several of you think there would be one, I'm trying to understand your points of view.
Thanks,
--Twilight
groomporter:
Well there's still the "public" of the reenacting community that you would be "marketing" the event to. It might take some work to over come the instinctive discomfort level people have.
I think the thing to do would be come up with a clear program of activities making it clear you would be focusing on the outdoor sports, games or other fun or healthful activities they engaged in. -No politics involved (-unless you wanted to do kind of an discussion session of their abuses and how they indoctrinated a generation. You could compare it to how any number of more modern cults work). -But even then some people may hesitate to participate due to a discomfort factor connected to reasons mentioned.
I can understand the interest to do a civilian portrayal. Personally, I think if I were to switch to WWII era, I've done enough marching. I think I'ld pick up saxophone again and start a little combo group as a touring USO band or something.
Just a stray thought since I mentioned the USO... did the JH or BDM do any "support the troops" types of things to entertain soldiers while they were on leave? Kind of like USO dances, or maybe athletic events watch, or engage in, or other entertainments?
I'm just blathering now and it's tea time.
twilight_girl:
They participated in parades often. And the older girls would put on rhythmic gymnastic shows. But in general they didn't do too much entertaining. The boys were kept busy with sports and training, and the girls did things like learnt to sew, made things for the front, collected money for the winter relief, etc... in addition to some lighter sports.
I think your saxophone idea sounds cool.
Here's another *maybe I'm being thick* question. What's the problem with political reenactment? Is pretending to be political any worse than pretending to shoot people? I've noticed that all the groups avoid everything political, and it just seems so odd to me, as it was such a politically charged time. I find the mental aspect hugely interesting, and it often seems like that's just glossed over. I mean, not everyone agreed with the politics for example, I'm interested in the internal struggle those people felt. That sort of thing.
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