France 1940 Event in Maryland

[Rustman]

We are looking for French, Dutch, Belgian and BEF forces as well as civilians for our Battle for France event at a farm in Maryland, USA this April.Event details are here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1940-battl ... 3999657697

If you are of the Facebook persuasion more information is here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/737046459961240

Thanks
Matt

[Hammerhead]

So, the French forces will be throwing their rifles down and retreating/running? LOL

[Rustman]

Response deleted.

Matthew

[Lee Bishop]

So, did the event go off? I really want to see photos if it did!
I love the idea of an early-war event. I would assume you had a lot of guys begging to show up with later-war impressions anyway? Not many people in the hobby have impressions for such an event.

[Rustman]

So, did the event go off? I really want to see photos if it did!
I love the idea of an early-war event. I would assume you had a lot of guys begging to show up with later-war impressions anyway? Not many people in the hobby have impressions for such an event.

Yes it did! This is actually my third time doing it, and the fourth for the event overall. I'll work on getting some photos up from this or past ones. Very few people portray French army, but once you add in some Belgians, Dutch and BEF the Allies field 15-20 people and the Germans about as many. Last year we had some civilian refugees and a car. This year no refugees, but The Salvation Army (my wife, a friend and myself) used a horse to bring forward comforts to the Allied army. Who was fielding a French AT gun this year.

Matt

[Lee Bishop]

Matt, over the years I've been asked why most re-enactments are for 1944 ETO or later. I tell them that this is what most of the people in the hobby have impressions for. I also tell them it's usually ETO because very few wanna be Japanese soldiers.
With PC-isms well in effect and some public events banning German re-enactors outright, I do wonder about the future of the hobby. I think it's great that your event is for something you rarely ever hear about.
Sounds like a great event.

[Rustman]

While I'm one of the directors it's really the passion project of Craig Alarie. Even for British reenactors 1939-1940 is limiting. A great deal of advancements in uniforms and equipment occurred over those 5-6 years of war. Anyway here is a trailer type video of the event. We were cut short this year with a monsoon style thunderstorm. Pictures will still follow. I'm the guy holding the horse, my wife is in front of him and behind her in blue is Andrea our third member of our Salvation Army Red Shield Services reenactment group.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pp2Gdzzz3Q

Matt

[Rustman]

As promised, photos!

German army in thee wood line:

German army at rest:

Allied camp:

More Germans in the woods:

German army chow:

Beleaguered French army:

Salvation Army and French Army preparing dinner for post-battle soiree:

Cafe Louis Friday evening:

Craig Alaire, the man behind the event resting in Cafe Louis:

French Army cook at work in the Salvation Army kitchen:

[Rustman]

German army getting rained on:

Salvation Army carrying lunch forward to the Allied forces with the help of "Pete the Pack Hors"

French and Allied forces retreating from the downpour:

German army headed to the front:

Allied v German Bocci competition after the battle and before dinner:

Here you go, some of the hundreds of photos taken during the event by the pro photographer.

Matt

[Lee Bishop]

Great photos, thanks for sharing!

[Tim Shanteler]

Great photos...great event.... thanks for sharing.

[YLG80]

Hi Matt thanks for sharing these photos.

Today, the Musée du Souvenir in Haut le Wastia is commemorating the early day’s of the war with the French troops in Belgium.
This is a nice museum entirely dedicated to the May 1940 events.

You can see images on their FB page here:
https://www.facebook.com/museedusouveni ... NMhOU&_rdr

Ok, sometimes there are reenactors of another period, but the principal is that they are commemorating these terribles day’s with their nice uniforms and vehicles.
I like that little museum full of rare photos and their very dedicated team.
Yves

[YLG80]

So, the French forces will be throwing their rifles down and retreating/running? LOL

These are photos taken by my father-in-law in the region of Dinant (Belgium) a few weeks after returning from the exode.
They are showing that fierce combats happened there in May 40 between the Germans and the French, not simply throwing their weapons down.

DO-17 shot down by a Morane French pilot, 500 m from my home.

Yves

[David]

So, the French forces will be throwing their rifles down and retreating/running? LOL

These are photos taken by my father-in-law in the region of Dinant (Belgium) a few weeks after returning from the exode.
They are showing that fierce combats happened there in May 40 between the Germans and the French, not simply throwing their weapons down.


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DO-17 shot down by a Morane French pilot, 500 m from my home.

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Yves

Those photos are amazing!

[Rustman]

Yves, Merci! Thank you for contributing to this thread and the link to the museum's page on Facebook. Many Americans under appreciate this period of WW2. I am fortunate to be around those who value French and Polish history and contributions to WW2. Both during the 1939-1940 period and during liberation.

Matt