Nazi re-enactors dressed as SS troops clash with locals at family fesitval

19 September 2023 , 17:07

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Police removed a group of men in SS uniforms from the Sheringham 1940s Weekend parade after a hostile response from some attendees (Image: Social Media)

Police were forced to break up an alleged brawl after re-enactors dressed as Nazi SS troops made a shock appearance at a local festival.

The group of men had appeared on Sheringham High Street to take part in the annual 1940s Weekend in the Norfolk seaside town, which celebrates cultural symbols of the era and the community spirit shown during the Second World War.

But their choice of outfit - which included SS markings on their collars, as well as badges featuring the 'death's head' symbol and swastikas - drew loud condemnation from onlookers, with one man deciding to confront them directly. The men were escorted away by officers in a bid to keep the peace, with one of the uniformed men reporting that he had been assaulted by a member of the public.

One eyewitness said they saw the men 'laughing and joking' outside a pub (Social Media)

Festival organisers said to local media that German uniforms from the period are permitted at the event, but not if they "promote the Nazis". More conventional uniforms seen in the event's Re-enactment Parade included those of the British military, other allied forces, and classic police uniforms. Other people meanwhile wore outfits referencing celebrities and civilian fashion trends of the era.

The demeanour of the men is said to have left some at the event feeling uncomfortable, with one attendee whose father escaped Nazi Germany in the Kindertransport claiming they were "marching in unison". He told the Eastern Daily Press: "It was deeply offensive. These men were not milling about and blending in among people. They were marching and making a demonstration. It was frightening."

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Another eyewitness described a sense of "tension and shock in the air" at the family event, which is attended by around 25,000 people every year and has been running since the 1990s. One person on Facebook said they saw the men "laughing and joking outside a pub" moments before they were approached by a member of the public.

Police have confirmed they are investigating the alleged assault and said no-one was injured. A statement from Norfolk Constabulary said: "A police officer on patrol in Sheringham came across a confrontation in the High Street on Saturday (16 September) at about 5.30pm, involving a man and a group of people who had been attending an event. The officer intervened and quickly resolved the incident. One man reported being assaulted and this is being investigated further. No one was injured during the incident."

The Schutzstaffel or 'SS' was founded by the Nazis as Adolf Hitler's personal bodyguard unit, before being made elite guard of the Nazi Reich during the Second World War. The 'Death's Head' unit of the SS was responsible for managing concentration and extermination camps.

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas