The Past Reflected in the Present

Surprise!

Driftingfocus — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:16:41 +0000

A German fallschirmjager pops up out of a farm field to take a shot during the WWII Weekend at Eisenhower Farm in Gettysburg, PA.

A Russian hunting Russians

Driftingfocus — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:06:36 +0000

A reenactor portraying a Cossack volunteer in the German army crouches in a field at a small private Eastern Front WWII reenactment near Edinburg, Virginia.

Through the Mud

Driftingfocus — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:46:45 +0000

Reenacting is not a clean hobby. While most reenactors are nowhere near as filthy as the soldiers they are portraying, some are generally better about it than others. At an eastern front WWII event in Newville, Pennsylvania, my friend Robbie made the mistake of saying “I look too clean.” to his commanding officer. He then ended up being told to low-crawl for about 15 or so feet, through the mud and snow. He looked much better afterward, but ended up wet and cold long before the rest of us were.

Holiday Cheer

Driftingfocus — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:25:21 +0000

Probably in bad taste, but I couldn’t resist altering this photo from a reenactment in Torrance, Pennsylvania. Who knows, maybe the Nazis would have been in a better mood if they’d been wearing santa hats.

Happy Holidays!

At The Ready

Driftingfocus — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 10:12:53 +0000

At an eastern front WWII event in Newville, Pennsylvania, a Soviet reenactor holds the strap of his rifle while chatting with his comrades. This photo gives a good idea of the texture of Soviet coats during WWII. The wool used in Russian coats during the war was so rough that soldiers jokingly claimed they must be made out of dog hair.

On the March

Driftingfocus — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:12:15 +0000

Reenactors sometimes refer to “seasons” within the hobby. 18th century events are generally in the summer, with the “season” starting around mid-April and ending around late September. 20th century events are generally in the fall and winter, with the season starting around late September and running until late May. It’s very convenient for reenactors like me who do multiple impressions, though reenactors who are part of several groups may find that at certain parts of the year, their schedule is booked tight.

This photo is of some of the members of my Soviet unit, marching down a road at an eastern front WWII event in Newville, Pennsylvania. The event was in mid-February and was quite cold. But, to reenactors with an eye toward authenticity, it is just another way to get a better feel for the experience of the men who were actually there.

Jammed

Driftingfocus — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:59:19 +0000

Surprised by a sudden attack, Marc and Mike both struggle to load a machine gun while laying in a muddy trench at an eastern front WWII event in Marion, Kentucky.

Looking Ahead

Driftingfocus — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:03:38 +0000

Waiting for the rest of the unit to finish preparations to head out, Elena, a young Soviet reenactor (who is the daughter of a member of one of my units), looks out the doorway. This was taken inside a bunker at an eastern front WWII event in Newville, Pennsylvania.

Red Star

Driftingfocus — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:47:43 +0000

With his pilotka cap perched jauntily on his head, Robbie, a Soviet reenactor at an eastern front WWII event in Newville, Pennsylvania, looks skeptical about something being said.

Waiting

Driftingfocus — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:53:29 +0000

At a WWII event in Torrance, Pennsylvania, a German Fallschirmjager (paratrooper) sits down as a casual guard for the rest of his unit, who are eating lunch nearby. He holds an MP44 machinegun.