The newest controversy to befall this great hobby of ours comes in the form of Ohio congressional candidate Rich Iott. Mr. Iott, who is the Republican Party candidate for Ohio’s 9th District Congressional race in the upcoming election, is associated with the Tea Party and was recently discovered to have been a German WW2 reenactor in his spare time. Iott’s military career consists of having served 28 years in the Ohio Military Reserve, an unarmed civil support group that lends assistance during disasters. But it is his participation in the recreated Wiking Division of the Waffen SS that has many in the far left and some even in the moderate right ringing the alarms.
The fact that Mr. Iott is a German WW2 reenactor is not the big of a deal. I used to don feldgrau myself for a few events way in the past. However, Waffen SS is a whole other kettle of fish. I have heard all the arguments about how portraying SS is for historical authenticity and if it were only that simple, I wouldn’t bother writing this. However……let’s get one fact straight. The SS were Nazis…..period. Sure, they may have conscripted troops late in the war, but the SS were fanatical Nazis irregardless. Many who portray SS buy into the whole master race bullshit and some even think Hitler was a neat guy. I know because I have been there at night around the camp fires when alcohol loosens tongues and the propaganda flows out like a black, malignant vomit. It’s scary stuff, folks and that’s one of the reasons why I don’t do many WW2 events at this point.
Oddly enough, many SS reenactors seem to create their own mythology to give credence to their impressions. Many even downplay or outright deny the war crimes committed by their beloved super soldiers. One individual I know actually tried to tell me that the ancient Romans were much worse because they killed more people. Yes, I suppose that might be true…….but then again, the Roman Empire lasted…..what? Almost 1500 years?, so in that time of wars and expansion, yes…I suppose more people were killed, however it was not done with the systematic and calculated methodology as was used by the Nazis.
The bottom line here is this. If you plan to run for public office, don’t wear an SS uniform. If you think people won’t find those pictures, guess again. To be fair, the news media is salivating over this newest lurid story because it is just that….lurid and scandalous…..but the dark days of WW2 are still very real for tens of thousands of people who suffered at the hands of the Nazis. It’s not ancient history by any stretch
The fact that Mr. Iott is a German WW2 reenactor is not the big of a deal. I used to don feldgrau myself for a few events way in the past. However, Waffen SS is a whole other kettle of fish. I have heard all the arguments about how portraying SS is for historical authenticity and if it were only that simple, I wouldn’t bother writing this. However……let’s get one fact straight. The SS were Nazis…..period. Sure, they may have conscripted troops late in the war, but the SS were fanatical Nazis irregardless. Many who portray SS buy into the whole master race bullshit and some even think Hitler was a neat guy. I know because I have been there at night around the camp fires when alcohol loosens tongues and the propaganda flows out like a black, malignant vomit. It’s scary stuff, folks and that’s one of the reasons why I don’t do many WW2 events at this point.
Oddly enough, many SS reenactors seem to create their own mythology to give credence to their impressions. Many even downplay or outright deny the war crimes committed by their beloved super soldiers. One individual I know actually tried to tell me that the ancient Romans were much worse because they killed more people. Yes, I suppose that might be true…….but then again, the Roman Empire lasted…..what? Almost 1500 years?, so in that time of wars and expansion, yes…I suppose more people were killed, however it was not done with the systematic and calculated methodology as was used by the Nazis.
The bottom line here is this. If you plan to run for public office, don’t wear an SS uniform. If you think people won’t find those pictures, guess again. To be fair, the news media is salivating over this newest lurid story because it is just that….lurid and scandalous…..but the dark days of WW2 are still very real for tens of thousands of people who suffered at the hands of the Nazis. It’s not ancient history by any stretch
