Nazi war weekend

These photographs were taken in Levisham North Yorkshire part of a war weekend. The old steam station and village are taken over by war re-enactors as a German occupied French village. I found the Men in Nazi uniforms an interesting visual to document due to the strong striking uniforms. I am interested in why they decide to do what they do and why as German troops. Is this exhibitionism and role-play for a sense of escapism from the norm, having a chance to become someone else for a few days. Or just a sense of nostalgia a way of remembering the past. There are local opposing people to the weekend due to the belief it glamorises war and brings back painful memories. As an outsider I found the object of this spectacle an odd thing and even odder the choice of wearing Nazi uniforms.

(click to enlarge images)

Below is someone dressed in a Nazi gestapo uniform. I was told by many of the other Men that he shouldn’t have been here dressed up in that as it is particularly controversial and confrontational due to the added negative connotations it holds. I find it a particularly interesting uniform due to this and how bold and strong looking it is.

The images below were taken in Pickering where the uniforms were mainly British and some American. I don’t think these images work as well due to a mixture of uniform choice, dull light and over crowding.