Allies Continue Push to Berlin At Atterbury

By Staff Sgt. David Bruce, Atterbury-Muscatatuck Public Affairs

EDINBURGH, Ind. - Light footsteps belied a heavy purpose as Alex Lawson, of Columbus, Ohio, crept up stairs to a better vantage point. Gravel crunched slightly under the vintage Russian combat boots, rendered inaudible over the sound of the firefight. He had just skirted around the German defensive positions in the village while the rest of his squad of Russian soldiers were pinned down. Unobserved, he took aim, leveling the Mosin-Nagant 1891/30 bolt-action rifle, at a German soldier.

"Hey, Fritz!" he yelled just before the Mosin announced his presence to the German soldiers. Another building, another enemy soldier fell and another flight of stairs for Lawson to ascend before he could reach his final objective. He didn't make it. Halfway up, a German soldier cut him down. Prior to the assault, Lawson had joked with Dane Kirk, also of Columbus, Ohio, "I hear they have food in Berlin."

Alex Lawson, of Columbus, Ohio, approaches a German position in a mock village during the Living History Reenactment Association event held at Camp Atterbury joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind. Photo: Staff Sgt. David Bruce, Atterbury-Muscatatuck Public Affairs)

Obviously, this isn't Stalingrad during World War II, these aren't real Russian and German soldiers. Neither were the GIs and Brits elsewhere. Also there isn't any Kevlar, nylon, Velcro or plastics; just wool, cotton and canvas. Members of the Living History Reenactment Association journeyed to Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind., to hold a World War II reenactment event.

During the event, the re-enactors performed activities that would be familiar to any Soldier; reconnaissance, patrol, movement to contact with enemy forces and a whole lot of walking. Some re-enactors had restored vehicles, mostly jeeps, but the primary mode of transportation was leather personnel carriers, more commonly known as boots.

Most the people present at the event share an interest in history, according to Lawson. "I remember my father's medals," he said. "I played the games and this was the next step, a radical next step to be sure, but it's fun." Lawson chose the Russian forces because he is studying Russian at Ohio State University.

Blake Keppel, of Indianapolis, moves through a thicket during a Living History Association World War II re-enactment event held at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind. Photo: Staff Sgt. David Bruce, Atterbury-Muscatatuck Public Affairs)

"The Russians are a lot harder to do," he said. "Russia really is a different culture from the rest of Europe and America. Then there is the historical aspect. 80 percent of the German army was destroyed in Russia." Germany invaded the Soviet Union with Operation Barbarossa on June 22, 1941. Fighting on the eastern Front would continue until the fall of Berlin on May 2, 1945. Estimates of casualties are difficult to verify and sometimes contradictory, however it is estimated by Russian and German military historians that between three to five million German soldiers were killed or missing in action. Russian losses range between eight to 12 million. "With Germany and Russia I think it was different from the rest of the conflict; it was a real clash of cultures, of fascism versus communism." Kirk, who is a theater major and history minor at Ohio State University, said it was relatively inexpensive to be a Russian for these events. "The GIs have backpacks, web gear and a lot of equipment," he said. "We carry ammo and water. My rifle cost about $100 and blanks are cheap. The Russians didn't have a lot to fight with except people; during the war the Germans said that the Russians kept coming."

Doug Hvidson, of Indianapolis, watches for enemy troops during a Living History Reenactment Association Event held at Camp Atterbury Joint Menuever Training Center, Ind. Photo: Staff Sgt. David Bruce, Atterbury-Muscatatuck Public Affairs

During World War II, Russia drafted over 29 million soldiers. By the end of the war, they had roughly 12 million soldiers. For others it is a way to commemorate those fought in World War II. Richard Maier, of McCordsville, Ind., who has a degree from Indiana University in history, first encountered reenactment in 2001 at the Indianapolis Air Show and has been doing reenactment for over ten years. At first, reenactment was a means to indulge his historical interests, but it became more than hobby, said Maier.

American GIs assault an intersection held by German soldiers. Photo: Staff Sgt. David Bruce, Atterbury-Muscatatuck Public Affairs

"At the time, I did for pure enjoyment, but I never served. As I get older, I wish I had. It gives me a chance to relive history. It really changed for me when I met my first World War II veteran. That's when it ceased being just a hobby but a vehicle to educate others about the Second World War. I think that there are a lot of people that do not know history. They see it in a movie or read it in a book; that's absolute. But if read numerous books and talk to veterans, you find out very quickly there were no absolutes."

As the veterans of World War II grow fewer, the firsthand accounts also diminish and younger generations will have no connection to this defining event of history and the sacrifices of so many, said Maier.

"I've done numerous school presentations and my interpretation is from the GI grunt on the front line. I tell them what life was like," he said "It's a way to honor the veterans. It's not really glamorous, but we do it for a love of history and honor the veterans so people don't forget, because it's really sad to forget history."

Alex Selig, of Sycamore, Ill., and Adam Bednar, of Chicago, clear and reload a German World War II era machine gun during an attack by GIs during a Living History Reenactment Association event held at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind. Photo: Staff Sgt. David Bruce, Atterbury-Muscatatuck Public Affairs

Richard Maier, of McCordsville, Ind., takes cover in a roadside ditch during an assault on an intersection. Photo: Staff Sgt. David Bruce, Atterbury-Muscatatuck Public Affairs