Inside the world of UK’s Nazi re-enactors: How hundreds of Britons spend their spare time posing as Hitler’s genocidal forces in dozens of dress-up groups – as leading German historian says groups should show the murderous truth
- Members of ‘SSTK Living History Group’ depict ‘units of the Waffen SS’
- The 304 Panzergrenadier Regiment says it offers unrivalled ‘camaraderie’
- Jim Keeling’s ‘5th SS Wikings’ caused uproar at Sheringham 1940s Weekend
This month, the images of men dressed as Nazis parading around a quaint English town during a 1940s-themed festival provoked uproar.
And Jim Keeling, the leader of the group who were pictured marching in SS uniforms in Sheringham, Norfolk, was then found to have been previously pictured performing a Nazi salute near Adolf Hitler’s summer retreat in Bavaria.
But MailOnline can reveal how Keeling’s group is just one of dozens operating in the UK whose members depict Nazi troops – including units from the SS, the main organisation responsible for the the Holocaust.
The organisations invariably carry disclaimers on their websites insisting they are ‘non-political’ and against any form of extremism.
But respected German historian Robin Schaefer told MailOnline that any re-enactment of the Second World War is ‘always political’, and claiming it is not is ‘silly’.
He added that they should have an ‘information board’ acknowledging the crimes of the individual units, but ‘that doesn’t happen’.
MailOnline can reveal how dozens of military re-enactment groups in the UK depict troops from Nazi Germany. Above: A re-enactor from the SSTK Living History Group wearing the uniform of an SS soldier
Another group, the 304 Panzergrenadier Regiment, was condemned as a ‘sick joke’ by critics in 2022, who claimed they made light of the horrific crimes of Nazi Germany
READ MORE: Leader of the re-enactment group that scandalised a Norfolk town by dressing as Nazi soldiers says it’s harmless – but his son says he hung a Swastika on his washing line on Hitler’s birthday
The groups include the ‘SSTK Living History Group’, whose members depict ‘various units of the Waffen SS from 1941-1945’, according to their Instagram page.
Photos taken this year show members – who insist they are ‘strictly non-political’ – taking part in an excursion while dressed in SS uniforms bearing the infamous ‘death head’ symbol.
Another group, the 304 Panzergrenadier Regiment, was condemned as a ‘sick joke’ by critics in 2022, who claimed they made light of the horrific crimes of Nazi Germany.
The group’s website says the regiment is committed to ‘authenticity’ and offers members ‘great experiences and camaraderie you will struggle to find in any other hobby.’
Photos of the group show its members in uniforms bearing swastikas – the symbol of Hitler’s fascist state.
The 304 Panzergrenadier Regiment claims to reject racism and far-right politics, and bans its members from doing the Nazi salute or flying the swastika.
The unit said it sought to ‘honour the fallen soldiers of all nations of WWII.’
But critic Dr Dave Rich, the director of policy at the Community Security Trust, insisted last year: ‘It is simply not possible to separate this from the genocide and mass murder committed by Nazi Germany in the lands that the German army conquered for Hitler.
This month, the images of men dressed as Nazis parading around a quaint English town during a 1940s-themed festival provoked uproar. Above: Jim Keeling (right) with fellow members of the 5th SS Wikings at the annual Sheringham 1940s Weekend
The groups include the ‘SSTK Living History Group’, whose members depict ‘various units of the Waffen SS from 1941-1945’, according to their Instagram page. Photos taken this year show members – who insist they are ‘strictly non-political’ – dressed in SS uniforms bearing the infamous ‘death head’ symbol taking part in an excursion
A member of the SSTK Living History Group is seen in a German uniform during an excursion
Members of the SSTK Living History Group smoke cigarettes while wearing SS uniforms bearing the ‘death head’ symbol
‘For this group to then claim they do not condone any right-wing or racist activity is a sick joke.’
Another organisation, the Großdeutschland Living History Group, says it portrays a unit of the Wehrmacht – the German army – from 1942.
READ MORE: Group at centre of Nazi uniform row at 1940s festival insist they were NOT dressed as Germans but instead foreign troops who joined the SS to fight Stalin’s Red Army
Dozens of photos on their Facebook page show members dressed in German uniforms bearing the swastika while on excursions around the country.
Savaging the claim that the groups are not political, Mr Schaefer said: ‘If you re-enact the Second World War in any way, you cannot separate one from the other. It is always political. It’s a political army.
‘To say it’s not is just silly. To remove one from the other is a dangerous thing to do.’
He added: ‘If these groups would say they are non political an that they understand what they are re-enacting, that would be ok.
‘Perhaps an information board acknowledging the crimes of the original units. But that doesn’t happen.
‘In Britain you still have the trend of thinking of the German army in two groups: the evil Nazis – such as the Waffen SS – and then you have the other side, the Wehrmacht and Kriegsmarine, who are somehow OK.
‘We were educated in Germany in the 1980s that there was no such thing as a clean Wehrmacht, they were doing criminal things for a criminal regime.’
A group which a BBC investigation in 2007 revealed had been infiltrated by neo-Nazis is also still active.
Members of the 304 Panzergrenadier Regiment re-enactment group are seen parading in the military uniforms of Nazi Germany
The group takes part in various events around the South of England, and is recruiting new members for ‘great experiences and camaraderie’
Another group, the Großdeutschland Living History Group, says it portrays a unit of the Wehrmacht – the German army – from 1942. Dozens of photos on their Facebook page show members dressed in German uniforms bearing the swastika while on excursions around the country
A fifth organisation, the ‘9.SS Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen Living History Group’, says it started in 2015 and now has more than 30 members. Above: A member wearing an SS uniform
The ‘9.SS Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen Living History Group’ says it wants to ‘inform, educate and entertain’. Above: A member wearing an SS uniform at an event in 2021
The Second Battle Group has pictures on its Facebook page from excursions last year, during which members were pictured wearing SS camouflage uniforms.
The group claims on its website to be the ‘longest-serving Second World War living history and historical society.’
Respected German historian Robin Schaefer told MailOnline that any re-enactment of the Second World War is ‘always political’, and claiming it is not is ‘silly’
They add: We do not aim to glorify war or the Nazi Regime but we do aim to portray the fighting German Waffen SS soldier of W.W. II as accurately as possible.
‘We do this by wearing the most authentic uniforms available and by using many original vehicles and weapons.’
BBC Panorama used a hidden camera to record one of the senior members of the group saying at an event: ‘”If it [the Waffen SS] existed now, I would join. I believe we should be sorting these Muslims out.”
The SBG had previously sparked outrage for allowing children to wear the brown shirts of the Hitler Youth and sell Nazi memorabilia at an event in Docklands, East London.
The SBG adds on its site that it is ‘acutely aware of its controversial portrayal in this hobby and is a totally organization.’
A fifth organisation, the ‘9.SS Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen Living History Group’, says it started in 2015 and now has more than 30 members.
Their website carries a quote from British Army officer John Frost, who described men from the SS as ‘chivalrous’ and ‘kind’ after being captured by them during the war.
The group adds: ‘We endeavour to Inform, Educate and Entertain the general public by historically portraying the hard pressed battle weary common soldiers of the elite axis forces during the War’s final years in war torn Western Europe.’
A sixth group, which goes by the name of ‘1st Panzer Reenactment’ has photos on Twitter of members in SS uniforms and wielding rifles.
A sixth group, which goes by the name of ‘1st Panzer Reenactment’ has photos on Twitter of members in SS uniforms and wielding rifles
Members of the ‘1st Panzer’ re-enactment group are seen wearing SS uniforms
The Second Battle Group has pictures on its Facebook page from excursions last year, during which members were pictured wearing SS camouflage uniforms
Members of the Second Battle Group wearing SS uniforms during an excursion
Members of the Second Battle Group firing a gun while wearing German uniforms
Members of the Second Battle Group march down a road while wearing SS uniforms
Some of the group’s posts show how they trained with the ‘5th SS Wiking’ group led by Keeling.
The furore in Sheringham took off after Keeling and others wore uniforms bearing swastikas and the Nazi ‘death’s head’ symbol at the annual Sheringham 1940s Weekend.
They were also reportedly seen goose-stepping and performing the Nazi salute.
A spokesman for the group had insisted that none of them ‘portrayed a German’ and that they instead were representing men from other European nations who joined Adolf Hitler’s SS to fight ‘against Stalin and communism during WWII’.
Historian Mr Schaefer savaged their apparent attempts to justify their choice of attire, calling it ‘complete cretinous b***s***’ which ‘doesn’t make any sense’.
Other attendees were said to have been left ‘very, very upset’, despite the group’s claim that ‘no one was upset or offended’.
One told the Mail: ‘It was deeply offensive,’ said one shaken witness. ‘These men were not milling about and blending in. They were marching and making a demonstration. It was frightening.
‘My father was from a Jewish family who lost his parents and brothers and sisters in death camps.
‘He was fortunate to escape with my uncle via Kindertransport, so having to see this with my son was mortally offensive and a disgraceful act.’
The men were asked to leave and then escorted out of the area.
The furore in Sheringham took off after Keeling and others wore uniforms bearing swastikas and the Nazi ‘death’s head’ symbol at the annual Sheringham 1940s Weekend
Keeling was then found to have been previously pictured performing a Nazi salute near Adolf Hitler’s summer retreat in Bavaria
Keeling (background), pictured with a friend, is seen doing the Nazi salute near Hitler’s summer retreat, the Eagle’s Nest
The spokesman claimed he was ‘attacked’ by a man who was ‘foaming at the mouth’ and ‘screaming about Jewish persecution’.
He added: ‘As a group we do not tolerate any politics or any form of religious persecution. We simply won’t have it. That behaviour disgusts us and tarnishes what we do.’
However, just days later, photos exclusively revealed by MailOnline showed the leader of the group – who was named as father-of-four Keeling – performing a Nazi salute near Hitler’s summer retreat, the ‘Eagle’s Nest’ in Bavaria
In June of this year, Keeling and friends posted a series of photos on Facebook of their trip to Nuremberg and Berchtesgaden, where the Fuhrer’s summer retreat is now a seasonal restaurant.
Keeling leads the Norfolk-based ‘5th SS Wiking’ group of re-enactors.
Further investigation by the Mail found that Keeling has long-standing obsession with military history, particularly the 5th SS Wiking – an armed regiment under the overarching auspices of SS chief Heinrich Himmler – that was largely made up of foreign volunteers, not Germans.
Keeling’s estranged eldest son told the Mail how his father would hang a Nazi flag on the washing line of his home in Bradwell, near to Great Yarmouth, to mark Adolf Hitler’s birthday.
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