Artnet: Javier Pes
The peace in a small English village has been shattered after a World War II-themed event became national news for all the wrong reasons. The organizers of the annual “Lacock at War” event, which is held on National Trust land near the home of photography pioneer William Henry Fox Talbot, fear this weekend’s event will be the last after complaint from a visitor, who is Jewish, about the presence of re-enactors who she claimed were wearing German uniforms, as well as traders selling Nazi-era memorabilia.
Far from being a rally for Nazi apologists, “Lacock at War: Codename Bolero,” is a family-friendly annual event, featuring vintage 1940s fashions, a wartime sing-along, and tea and cakes courtesy of the Women’s Institute while mainly middle-aged men wear uniforms of various combatants. The incident and negative publicity raises questions about how the history of the conflict is presented in an educational and entertaining way in the UK. …Read More
Image: German and GI military police guard the entry of Lacock at War in 2015. Photo by Chris Orchard, courtesy of the Military Vehicle Trust.