""The Wehrmacht make it to Kent
There is a rousing scene in The Gathering Storm where Albert
Finney as Churchill takes in the magnificent view from Chartwell across the
Kentish countryside towards the coast and glowers that if the Nazis invade,
that is where they will strike. Well, for once the Nazi quality of running
on time let them down - it was the Russians apparently - but now they've
made it. For a friend rings to say: 'I'm in a field in Kent watching men
marching past in SS uniforms.'
It is, I should explain, a re-enactment, but it's still a little
unsettling. Once, sturdy yeomen would relive the civil war before giving in
to the effects of too much scrumpy; now they play 'let's invade Poland'. The
Nazi nostalgia movement is booming and for the first time this military
beano near Paddock Wood will allow a Nazi parade, with cheery waves rather
than zieg heils. One maiden marked the occasion by marrying, tripping
between the sort of honour guard that Eva Braun was always denied.
'It's massive,' shouts my sleeper over the roar of a passing
Panzer. 'Like Glastonbury, but with guns. I've just seen a woman with an
umbrella decorated in swastikas.' In case you think for dinner chez Gerard
you will be placed next to a Nazi stormtrooper, my friend was there in a
professional capacity. He enjoys cooking and votes Lib Dem: 'These Nazis are
mostly called Kenneth and have wives in floral dresses chasing after
hubbie's tank shouting, "You've forgotten your Luger, darling."'
A Dutchman was among those flogging 'memorabilia' at the hop
farm. Stock included a trolley marked 'Belsen 1944': underneath was a sign
reading 'fascinating piece', as if this were a Victorian figurine on the
Antiques Road Show.
Couldn't these goose-steppers sublimate their passions and
support Millwall, or join New Labour? Creepy. Brits love costume drama, but
can't they make do with Foyle's War?"""end.
now that made me angry due to personal insult so i complained to their editor with this;;
i would just like to point out that the comment of the title above regarding and i quote
"Nazi parade, with cheery waves rather than zieg heils. One maiden marked the occasion by marrying, tripping between the sort of honour guard that Eva Braun was always denied. "
is firstly wrong due to the parade of german world war two re enactors in period vehicles are in no way a "nazi" organisation.
and thank you for bringing attention "maiden marrying with the term nazi" would you please like to clarify how you came to this conclusion and being a written comment must have proof that this "maiden is a, or deemed connected to the term nazi"
the maiden in question is my fiance and we married at the hop farm in a 1940's re-enactors ceremony with full co-operation of many friends, the hop farm and the kent county council who arranged the marriage ceremony and certificate.
i would like an apology, from the writer and publisher of this article as written proof of a character assault on someone you have no evidence of their beliefs and interest cannot be assumed .
many world war two re-enactors portray accurately the period of 1939-45 and have no connections to any political bias.
i am extremely annoyed over this publication and feel that myself and my wife have been victimised
now the response just shows the observer for who they are, and this has just made the matters worse as i will be speaking to the press complaints comission tomorrow
the response was
![Twisted Evil :twisted:](./images/smilies/icon_twisted.gif)
I am The Observer's readers' editor – the paper's ombudsman – and have been
passed your complaint about Jaspar Gerard's piece.
I have read your complaint carefully and looked again at Jaspar Gerard's
piece.
I cannot agree that by dressing up in Nazi uniform you are somehow
distancing yourself from the Third Reich. If you had no wish to be
associated with such a vile regime, why on earth did you get married in
that distasteful manner?
You describe yourself as 'victimised'. Do you think the Nazis worried about
victimisation?
In my opinion you deserve all the derision that is heaped upon you.
Yours sincerely,
Stephen Pritchard
Readers' Editor
The Observer
thank you mr pritchard, you will be hearing from us
what do you guys and girls think of their opinion of us
![Twisted Evil :twisted:](./images/smilies/icon_twisted.gif)