Next up in our series of Women Reenactors of WWII: German Civilians is Katrina. First off thank you so much for contributing your thoughts and taking the time to answer these questions in great detail! Karina's primary impression is German civilian but depending on the event does a nurse and "secretary" impression. No matter her impression though, Katrina always remembers that history is more than just black and white. As a reenactor/ living historian, she knows it's important to educate the public on the past as it was and not to "cherry pick" what we want to remember. Since starting in 2016, she has seen more women enter the hobby and hopes to see that continue.
1) Tell me about yourself! How did you get into doing a WWII German civilian impression and how long have you been doing this impression?
I got into re-enacting because of my husband, which is fairly typical for most women. I attended my first re-enactment back in 2016, and I only took a break from re-enacting when covid hit. Its been about 3 years since I've been able to attend, several events I enjoyed are no longer around. Re-enacting has been very male-dominated for several years, but recently the women who have been coming along have been carving our own space out for ourselves. I do multiple impressions, but civilian is my go to for casual events, or events where none of the other predominantly female units are. I also do a Nurse and 'Secretary' impression when I have a unit to fall in with.
2) What are some benefits of doing WWII German Civilian?
Civilian impressions can have a lot of freedom that others don't. For instance, authenticity standards can be much more lax. With my Secretary impression, the unit I fell in with had very high expectations, down to the correct type and color of wool used in a walking out uniform. Such high standards can be a good thing! It certainly looks better when you have a unit of 10 people all looking the same, but civilian has the freedom to blend in 'passing' outfits. It can be much more budget friendly, especially to women who are just getting started and don't know how much they want to invest, and for bigger women like myself who can't always find original pieces in our size. People tend to forget that typical height and build change over time. I have a modern dress that is the same cut and pattern of a dress from the 40s, so I can get away with wearing it at casual events
3) What are some challenges of doing German civilian and just portraying the "bad guys" side in general? Do you think playing the "bad guys" comes with an added responsibility or pressure? Oh absolutely. Especially as a woman in this hobby. I've gotten rude comments and slurs from the public and people berating me for being racist, fascists, anti-semitc, etc. In not so polite language. You can't take it personally. I think it's vitally important for me to be educated and to educate the public. It's called 'living history' for a reason.
One of my favorite quotes, and I'm paraphrasing so feel free to find the full quote, is "Those who forget history, are doomed to repeat it".
So here's the lesson I bring with me no matter what impression I do:
Hitler rose to power legally. In fact, people outside Germany supported him. He was man of the year for Time magazine. He used the system that was already in place, and the powers already granted to that position, and became the tyrant we know of today. But he didnt do it alone. It's easy to say Hitler and Germany and everyone in the country was evil. It's easy to still look at Germany and say we can't trust them because of what happened 75 years ago. It's easy to look at history and cherry pick the 'good guys' winning.
But in doing so, we forget the Americans had internment camps for Japanese-Americans and Imigrants. We forget the boats of German-Jewish refugees who came to the US seeking asylum, who's boats were refueled and sent right back to Germany. We forget that the Soviets were responsible for mass rapes and war crimes, and only escaped repercussions because they were on the winning side at the end of the war. It wasn't uncommon for Field Hospitals to overrun by Soviets on the Eastern front. They would execute patients in front of medical staff first. Then the doctors. Then they would rape and murder the nurses last. The allies were not immune to atrocity. It wasn't something Germany had a monopoly over.
We forget that it was outlawed to speak against the Nazi regime. We forget that WWII was a long time in coming, built on the back of hyperinflation caused by the French Reparations from WWI. WHICH were enacted because of a previous war that France had lost to Germany in the late 1800s.
If we vilify the Germans, the Japanese, and the Italians for their governments choices in WWII, we lose sight of the bigger picture. We in fact, do exactly what was done to the Jewish, Polish, Romani, and Gay victims of the holocaust. We blame a group of people for the actions of a few powerful people, and let prejudice blind us.
Hitler rose to power legally. He used the economic crisis caused by WWI to stir up the people promising them a better tomorrow. He took their anger and grief and pointed it to a scapegoat. People turned away from injustice because they were afraid. And if you think these are the sins of the past, I encourage you and everyone to take another look at the past 10, 20 years of history. Take a look at the US. At Britain. I can assure you, you'll find propaganda blaming 'the other' as the reason behind all our problems.
So I'll end my spiel with another favorite quote of mine. "Evil triumphs, when good men do nothing."
4) Do you have a static display at events? If so, what are your favorite show and tell items? If you don't do a display, what is your favorite item to still bring and show off at events?
So I don't have much in my personal collection, but I love to bring my vintage suitcases and accessories like my 1940s make up case, which has beautiful jade combs, hair brush, and other misc. 'must haves' like a button jook! I also love the 1940s type writers one of my friend has, it's always fun to practice typing on one to see how well I can do without making a mistake, and not poke it slowly one key at a time.
5) Do you have any advice to give to new reenactors? What is something you would have liked to have known when you were getting started?
Never trust a man to know women's fashion, especially from the 1940s. When I first got started, I trusted my husband's advice on thrifty clothing that could get me through a casual event until I had a better kit together. Do your own research, reach out to some other lady re-enactors, browse around thrift stores or find some patterns to sew or commission. I promise you, fashion history from the 40s is actually very fascinating. I'm talking button rations to put more metal to manufacturing for bullets, pants in factories, fabric rationing for civilians to save material for military uniforms, re-designing a dress to donate the excess buttons.
I love my husband dearly, but my god if I could go back I'd put together my own outfit without his input. He's an expert for his uniforms, down to insignia and the type of buttons. All I can say about his help is this: sparkly gold thread. Sparkly. Gold.
6) What is something you have always wanted to do at an event? What is something you would love to see at an event that you have yet to see?
I've always wanted to see a more casual group of women who can create a space for women at re-enactments without having a set impression. Some over arching group that we could just have a casual spot at events where we could get together and have our own space and time to chitchat without having to go from one camp to another for whichever group we tagged along with.
7) In your reenacting adventures do you have a fun or interesting story that you would like to share?
Not one in particular, but moreso my favorite part of being a female re-enactor is meeting with other women in the hobby and swapping stories or knowledge or showing off what parts of our collections we love best. I have a deep love of fountain pens and sutterland script now because of re-enacting. But I also love bringing my knitting needles or crochet hook to events and sitting around a campfire laughing and sharing jokes. Going to the German only parties at some events where people bring out their imported beer and their best traditional dress, like in my picture attached. I've even met a couple who perform traditional Bavarian dances and love showing off at their events! There's so many moments full of laughter and hard work paid off.
If I had to pick my funniest, it would be a few years ago, back in 2018, I was at a D-Day re-enactment with my husband but we were spending it with our own units (mine was the Nachrihelfrin and his was a Gerbersjager unit. We had all been up late into the night drinking and celebrating the coming end, and so we passed out around 2am or so right as a storm blew in. Sometime later around 4am, one of the other women opened up the tent flap I was sharing with two others, asking for help frantically. I was groggy and hung over so it took a minute to realize that our tent was partially flooded, and there was a veritable monsoon happening outside.
Two of us managed to get our shoes on and stumble outside, but the other woman was sleeping like the dead and she waved us off and just rolled over and went back to sleep.
So there's four of us outside frantically trying to secure the flap of our tent down, and rescue our original 1940s equipment before it gets damaged by the rain. There's papers everywhere and we can see all around us tent stakes are being ripped up and people everywhere are trying to rescue their things and batten down as much as they can.
In the end, we were all freezing cold, soppi g wet, and the tent I had been sleeping in even more flooded. There was a little island around the only woman who managed to stay asleep through the chaos. My other friend and I ended up crammed into our CO'S tent, spooning each other and the center pole for the last hour or two before sunrise. We had just started surveying the damage when Sleeping Beauty came out of the tent wide eyed asking what she missed!
8) Knowledge is power! Can you share some of your favorite resources in building up this impression?
To be honest, other people in this hobby. I only know so much, because of the other women who have shared their resources and tips with me over the years. Everyone I've met has helped me grow my own knowledge and understanding of this time period and I couldn't be more thankful.
9) How or what was reenacting WWII German civilian line when you started and what do you think is the future of reenacting WWII German civilian.
It was starting to grow when I came around. Before me, there were very, very few women who were involved. Now we're seeing more women joining and being active seperate from their husband's, brothers, fathers, etc. We're seeing more female only groups or specializations. I would love to see this grow even more, to having a larger community of women who are involved on their own from the get go. I loved this time period before I met my husband, but I never knew this was something I could be involved in as well. I hope that changes, and it becomes a hobby open to everyone.
Thank you, Katrina, for sharing your thoughts, experience and stories!
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