World War II Historical Reenactment in Poland: The Practice of Authenticity by Kamila Baraniecka-Olszewska

Author:Kamila Baraniecka-Olszewska [Baraniecka-Olszewska, Kamila]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Russia & the Former Soviet Union, HISTORY/Europe/Poland, HISTORY/Modern/20th Century, World War II, Modern, HISTORY/Europe/Germany, Military, 20th Century, HISTORY/Europe/Baltic States, Baltic States, HISTORY/Europe/Russia & the Former Soviet Union, Europe, Germany, history, Poland, HISTORY/General, HISTORY/Military/World War II
ISBN: 9781000454376
Google: _9VAEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2021-10-21T00:06:54.781539+00:00

Reenactors remember such moments as confirmation that their work has meaning, but also as something of a time warp. They are allowed to experience the past through reenacting history in front of those who took part in it – and, better still – will recognise their own past in the scene or reenactment.

Veterans are a relatively frequent sight at historical reenactment events. They are a separate group in the audience – always received with the highest honours, introduced to the gathered crowd. What they watch are attempts at representing parts of their own life stories. Reenactors regard veterans’ presence at their events as corroboration of the importance of reenactment activities and their legitimisation. Moments in which witnesses to history recognise a glimpse of their own past in the presented stories or carefully prepared impressions are one of the most valuable experiences for reenactors.

Incidentally, the situation involves an interesting type of feedback. Reenactors depict events from general history which also include the veterans’ personal histories. In doing so they emphasise the achievements of these former soldiers, inscribing individual stories into the wider context of the history of the country and the nation, which adds meaning to their past actions. People recounting their personal experiences are familiar with the need to adjust individual biographies to fit the collective images of the past (Kaźmierska, 1999, p. 13). At the same time, however, the fact that veterans recognise themselves in the vision of history presented by reenactors legitimises that vision (see also: Kuczyńska, 2012, pp. 101–102). Individual stories authenticise the vision of general history. If even a single participant of these events sees his or her own life reflected in it, its validity is corroborated.

The policy of authenticisation in reenactment does not, however, involve any reflection on “psychological truth” and individual memory, or on what veterans choose to share after all these years and how they do it. As a traumatic experience, war is not an easy topic for reminiscing. Reenactors have also noticed this.

Veterans don’t always like to talk about it. These are generally… Some happier memories rather than these, the difficult ones they probably try to keep away. […] But these are people of considerable age, elderly, and we also don’t want to push them, so to speak. A handshake or a single sentence… is enough, this is enough. (female reenactor, ca. 25 years old, impersonates American units)

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