WW2 re-enacting in the 80s and 90s

[willysmb44]

People who weren’t around in the hobby back in the day don’t realize how different it was then as opposed to today.

WW2 re-enacting got essentially started by civil war guys who wanted to take on other eras. Civil war did start in the 60s but quickly died out and what we know today got rolling in the mid 70s. WW2 and WW1 picked up in the 80s I think from those guys.

But a few observations about the hobby in the 80s and 90s, most of which aren’t that way now.

Mind you, I'm referring to reenacting with AMERICAN impressions:

• NO internet.
• NO decent reference book about US stuff. People only had Osprey Vanguard books and poorly researched general histories. None of the key books we know today existed. When Windrow and Hawkins’ “color photographs” book came out, it blew people away. Same for “Doughboy to GI” (which I was the second American to get a copy, in 93)
• You only got into the hobby by knowing someone in it, stumbling across an event or seeing something in the news and catching a name or two. For me, the NRA magazine did an article that had addresses for all the larger organizations. That brought huge numbers into the hobby.
• Very few reproductions were being made. Other than poorly-made jumpsuits, A-2 jackets and jump boots, there wasn’t much being made. The hobby didn’t have as many huge guys then, because you needed original stuff-
• -and that stuff was MUCH easier to find and affordable (except for boots, which people often gave a pass on). Everyone sneered at GI re-enactors and collectors, saying they were, “too poor to buy the German stuff”, which I heard at almost every event and show.
• It was perfectly acceptable to be in the hobby because just liked it. The whole “doing it for the vets” stuff didn’t really come up until the 50th anniversary but most events were private. People often admitted to each other and the press that they just liked playing war with better toys.
• People wouldn’t think twice about going out in public in uniform at large events and nobody thought it was odd then. For example, at the Virginia Beach D-Day event in 1994, many participants hit the clubs in Virginia Beach the night before the big event in WW2 Class As.
• You rarely saw large events. Other than Indiantown Gap, an event with a hundred folks was considered huge.
• German unforms were just starting to be banned outside of the events, as were “those” flags.
• Hardly anyone in the hobby had armor. You most often saw tanks in conjunction with MVPA/MVCC members or events.
• People would throw grenades with black powder charges at many events.
• A big one for GIs: YOU WERE ONLY TO WEAR WOOL. For some reason, everyone frowned on GIs wearing HBTs for ETO events, even for units that had them (like the 29th Div).
• Newsletters were almost utterly dominated by German re-enactors. The HRS newsletter sometimes didn’t even mention anything but German units and events at all.
• Hardly anyone re-enacted the 101st AB then, because it seriously limited what events you could show up for. You didn’t see 82nd guys much either. It was a world of “dirty legs” then.
• People re-enacted movies. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise. Hardly anyone re-enacted Rangers until Saving Private Ryan came out. Same for 101st AB until Band of Brothers came out. Many large groups didn’t have 101st units then; I bet they ALL have one now.

I'm sure this list will offend or anger folks who weren't there, but those who were, will probably back up the way things were then.

[Marinecore34]

I don't think this would anger someone. as a much younger collector and reenactor who has only been in the hobby for a few years I figured ww2 reenacting was started early 2000s. this was a pretty cool post to read thanks for the input.

 

-Ethan

 

 

[ludwigh1980]

I remembered coming across traveling WW2 Re-enactors groups some-times out camping in the wilderness of Western Colorado running wargame events.  Typically, unfriendly and stand-offish groups, particularly the German reenactors as I recall were almost always Waffen-SS.  Seemed to be a sense of exclusivity.  They replaced the old mountain men rendezvous of the 1970-80's. Those gentlemen are long gone, sadly. A wealth of knowledge faded away with them. 

[everforward]

Well….In the DC area- say Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania— we had a pretty enthusiastic reenactment community as I remember it, and yes I remember many guys who did WW2 had done CW for quite some time prior to doing WW2…… one thing we had then that has since dried up for various reasons is cooperation from the US Army, for many if not all of the events we had in the late 70s- early 80s were held in training areas on Army posts; Ft. Meade, Ft. Belvoir, Quantico (which was a cool urban village scenario), Ft. Story (Va. Beach), Camp Butner NC, Weldon Spring Missouri (this was a National event)…..and of course Fort Indiantown Gap, which was high up on everyone’s list and probably still is. At some of these events we even had Army referees telling the Germans what they weren’t allowed to do, LOL….which most of the time was not dying after being shot.

 

G.I. uniforms and gear was all original, cheap and plentiful in 1980….a lot of it was unissued. You could buy a US helmet and a liner for $30, and you were the first one to have ever worn either piece. A new, never-worn M1941 field jacket generally ran about $30-$40, Jeep caps were 5.00 at Woodhaven Antiques…..The only reproduction stuff being used was on the German side, and even some of those guys wore original stuff on those days, but they were very careful.

 

This was taken in the summer of 1982 for an article in our local newspaper on our local group that did our hometown unit, India Company, 3/116th Infantry, 29th ID. All original stuff here being worn, and none was harmed while making this picture. Many of the real 29ers who landed at Normandy and survived the war were around 60 years old then and living/working as life dictates…..

 

[iron bender]

I recall going to my first WW2 reenactment at the 45th Division Museum property in 1988? German reenactors wore converted Swiss field jackets and trousers with some original gear, the rest was Bundeswehr gear. Gi's wore original m37 wools and m43's and 80's brain buckets. I recall when m41 field jackets and t-handles didn't exist. Rare stuff back then. The first time we fielded a full scale platoon was at Camp Walters when everyone owned correct original rifleman gear, wools and an m43 field jacket. M1 rifles were imports with later features. Then the late 90's the stitch natzees arrived and everyone worried about having correct stitching on cuffs of jackets. The days of getting a flyer in the mail with dates and when to arrive at which property gate.  Good stuff. WW2 events were always fun while we did it. but CW was always my go to. Some of my old crew meet at Pleasant Hill, La for the old "reenactment' once a year. We actually used to have WW2 fights there too. Late 90's. We mostly reminisce about how awesome we were and how everyone stinks now. Time, reality, real war, raising kids, trying to keep your stuff together ruins hobbies. Here's a pic from 1991 and last year. Looking forward to seeing my boys again in April!

[iron bender]

Here's a heavily redacted pic from Pleasant Hill probably 1995

[iron bender]

I recall this was one of Rollin Curtis's early attempts to sell WW2 stuff at an event. Basically a blanket sale. Pre atthefront, back when he was anderfront.

[skautdog]

Thanks to all those who partake in reenacting and your contributions to history. I've been to many re enactments and it's amazing the comments from "the crowd" such as, "I never knew that, or can you imagine what it must have been like back then, they really had it tough, that equipment looked so heavy," etc.

[iron bender]

Here's our depleted company at the 125th of Gettysburg in 1988. Half these guys were in ACR's in Germany at the time and flew in for the event. I was still a 13 year old kid at the time. Took the pic!

[iron bender]

June 6, 2000....and the beginning of the end of WW2 stuff for our group. Opening of the then D-Day Museum in NOLA. Went as 2nd Ranger Bat. WW2 reenacting went from scrounging for good stuff to overload. Everyone had SPR M41's, hbt field unis, repro wools, fixed loop pots, invasion vests, repro army shoes, still using original gear at this time. Class 3 guns still affordable. Internet was in full swing. Good times! I miss a mailed flyer telling you where to be at what time at what gate. And use a map of whatever state you're in.

[willysmb44]

A big thing back then was vets were everywhere. 

I once went to a 8th AF group reunion where I sat at a table at their banquet in my pinks and greens and I was the only one at the table who hadn't evaded capture to return to the UK or awarded a Medal of Honor.

And for those who today declare that vets would hate seeing German impressions or think the hobby was disrespectful, I saw many vets around reenactments and never ONCE heard one who took issue.

The only negative thing I ever heard was against obese reenactors, and only from a handful...

Including Dick Winters.

Yes, THAT Dick Winters.

He used to show up at events in Pennsylvania in the 90s. This was before the book and the series, but I heard him poking fun at a 300-pound 101st reenactor once.

But it was great having them around to talk to and hear their stories. Many would tell us stuff their own families had never heard.

[USARV72]

Pics from re-enactments in the late 80s at Ft Dix to 90s at Ft Picket and FIG Battle of the Bulge. Those were the days before 911.

[willysmb44]

On 2/12/2026 at 10:39 PM, iron bender said:

I recall this was one of Rollin Curtis's early attempts to sell WW2 stuff at an event. Basically a blanket sale. Pre atthefront, back when he was anderfront.

I remember the New Columbia guy talking with people at Olustee in the early 80s, talking about how tough it was to handmake German stuff that looked production line made.

[RayRay]

I got into collecting in the 90’s-early 2000’s. You speak the truth.