New Midland based SS group possibilities

[berlin1945]

I may have a housten cuff title good quality in house , if you are doing this or set up a group I will look for it and gift it to you as you have been decent with me in past

Cheers kamerad, maybe if I get this up and
running you could come and visit for a show

Regards Pipes

I have no probs doing a show with you in the future , already committed to 5 shows in the uk , two main shows and three privately run ones for community groups in the uk .

[SplinterA]

Why would, out of all the SS divisions, you want to do Handschar? It's very limiting for UK re-enactors. Where would you find opposition?
Am I alone in thinking it, in the current climate, would just be a red rag too? Im not sure the British public would be sympathetic.
It pushes too many buttons, Nazis, SS and Muslim(mostly).

[MasGew]

Of course you could do the Frundsberg, the sister division to the Hohenstauffen. Was done many years ago I believe. More photos of the Hohenstauffen than the Frundsberg so the later not so well known. Both divisions have a relatively 'clean' record regarding war crimes.

[peiper1944]

Why would, out of all the SS divisions, you want to do Handschar? It's very limiting for UK re-enactors. Where would you find opposition?
Am I alone in thinking it, in the current climate, would just be a red rag too? Im not sure the British public would be sympathetic.
It pushes too many buttons, Nazis, SS and Muslim(mostly).

Yes mate I agree that's why I wouldn't do them,
also the Totenkopf as they are both "hot
potatoes", although I have no issue with groups
that do portray these Units, just not for me
especially living in a small village (Bridgnorth)
I would like some locals to maybe join also once
up and running maybe an article in the local paper ( I know one of the photographers) so a
run of the mill SS group would be better with no "political overtones"
Regards Peiper

[Halle]

" Hot Potatos !? " ... To many people , simply representing the Axis , and especially SS units , is " beyond the Pale " ..

Splinter A - I don't think it would be too much to do Handschar , they're Muslim , but also Catholic , with a fair representation of native Germans and Volksdeutsche ...as for opposition , my main impression is pre war Heereshochsgebirgschule , there isn't any " opposition "

But we're hijacking Peipers thread ...

[peiper1944]

" Hot Potatos !? " ... To many people , simply representing the Axis , and especially SS units , is " beyond the Pale " ..

Splinter A - I don't think it would be too much to do Handschar , they're Muslim , but also Catholic , with a fair representation of native Germans and Volksdeutsche ...as for opposition , my main impression is pre war Heereshochsgebirgschule , there isn't any " opposition "

But we're hijacking Peipers thread ...

It doesn't matter mate, its food for thought
plus talking about it generates intrest, as for
thr Handschar yes some were Catholic, I did
study the Unit and did a thread on them a
while a go, basically it still is a Unit which
may not be accepted at local events tbh,
us reenactors know the history of the
Handschar but to joe public it may be red rag to
a bull, to be on the safe side I should really start
a Wehrmacht group but as I said there seem to
be only a few SS groups in the UK and seem more
WH and Fallshy groups about also I have all the
SS gear so it would mean selling it all and start
again
Peiper

[Walther]

Fair comment Herr Peiper, it is a tough one to pull off in the face of all the opposition you are likely to encounter.

On the SS v WH thing, it's weird how it's gone. When I started around 10 years ago, WH groups were dwarfed by the amount of SS out there. All I can remember are the old AFRA 116 Windhund, WW2 LHA 916 Grenadiers with any decent numbers and ourselves as IR/.GD. There seemed to be alot of Falshie groups and the 85th Gebergs and that was your lot (please correct me if i'm wrong).

Is WH the new black?

[SplinterA]

New Field Grey surely?

[peiper1944]

Fair comment Herr Peiper, it is a tough one to pull off in the face of all the opposition you are likely to encounter.

On the SS v WH thing, it's weird how it's gone. When I started around 10 years ago, WH groups were dwarfed by the amount of SS out there. All I can remember are the old AFRA 116 Windhund, WW2 LHA 916 Grenadiers with any decent numbers and ourselves as IR/.GD. There seemed to be alot of Falshie groups and the 85th Gebergs and that was your lot (please correct me if i'm wrong).

Is WH the new black?

Yes I agree Walther, maybe because of
the recent Hollywood genre of films etc
people are steering away fron the SS
bad guys lol, another Unit that has been
done to death is the US Airborne obviously
because of the success of the BOB series,
tbh as iam happy with the group iam in but as I
said most of their events are way down South
even training etc hence me trying to generate
some intrest this end also because I can only
attend some of the main shows hardly anyone
knows me in that group so I miss the kamerad-
schaft which would be more so if members lived
nr each other, any advice is welcome
Cheers Pipes

[Bauer]

On the SS v WH thing, it's weird how it's gone. When I started around 10 years ago, WH groups were dwarfed by the amount of SS out there. All I can remember are the old AFRA 116 Windhund, WW2 LHA 916 Grenadiers with any decent numbers and ourselves as IR/.GD. There seemed to be alot of Falshie groups and the 85th Gebergs and that was your lot (please correct me if i'm wrong).

Is WH the new black?

PFRGD were "part time" from c.1998-2006 so we were around, just low profile. Beltring and Bletchley with the odd foreign event.

Das Heer were established at that time I believe.

But broadly no, WH were firmly in the minority, certainly 916GR and Das Heer were the only two "non elite - ordinary" landser from my recollection. Both very good portrayals.

As a former well-known living historian put it to me once regarding LH as a whole - "Anyone can dress up as an elite unit, it takes real quality to portay the ordinary rank and file though".

[Walther]

Thanks Herr Bauer - of course there was Das Heer . I'd heard of PFRGD, but as you say it was low key so they were not prominent in our thoughts of other WH groups at the time. I only really became aware in the last 5 years or so.

As for the kameradschaft question, don't know how you can solve that one. We have always prided ourselves on it and the fact that we've been able to keep it going so well as the group has expanded over the years. The more recruits you get in means you do move away from it a little, but as long as you have blokes who are in touch with each other outside of shows, regularly turning out for events, sharing common experiences and have events to discuss the friendships and banter will flourish.

Some will be isolated, but it all depends on how much the individual wants to join in as to how much they will get out of a group. It's not the sort of thing that can be switched on and off for a weekend.

[Bauer]

I agree with Neil. Comradeship is an inherent attitude and transends distance. There could be 10 of you within a 5 mile radius, but if the attitude is found wanting, the advantage from being in close proximity is lost.

The smaller the group, the greater chance of cultivating a tight knit fraternity. And you use that advantage to compensate for lack of numbers. Quality over quantity everytime.

If there are just 3 of you in a hole - equipped only with excellent attitudes, a commitment to doing it "right" and your personal kit - your impression will shine and be recognised.

Best of luck.

[Halle]

I agree with Neil. Comradeship is an inherent attitude and transends distance. There could be 10 of you within a 5 mile radius, but if the attitude is found wanting, the advantage from being in close proximity is lost.

The smaller the group, the greater chance of cultivating a tight knit fraternity. And you use that advantage to compensate for lack of numbers. Quality over quantity everytime.

If there are just 3 of you in a hole - equipped only with excellent attitudes, a commitment to doing it "right" and your personal kit - your impression will shine and be recognised.

Best of luck.

Absolutely spot on ...

[peiper1944]

Thanks for your thoughts gents, as for me due to the fact
I can only do 3/4 main shows per year down South doesn't
help the "kameradschaft" especially when
most of the group live nr each other or
socialise between shows, basically I would
like a laid back type group where the shows
would be a fun experience to do hence the
idea of a "Chinese parliament" type group so
everyone gets a say rather than having one
specific leader
Cheers Peiper

[peiper1944]

Just to add (incase any SBG members are reading this thread), i have tried to put the idea
forward on the SBG facebook page for the SBG group to form a "Northern Zug" for members
living this end to do some smaller shows which would be sanctioned by the group but unfortunately
this was found "undo-able" hence me looking at other options, as i said i have informed the group
of my idea of forming a new "northern" based group

This new group hopefully may have a cadre of SBG members who will form a nucleus for a new group,
but who will still be in the SBG group as a main portrayal to do the main Southern based shows, this
will be my own plan as well

Cheers Pipes