All,

I thought you would like to see some pictures from the Historic Soldiers Weekend that was held in Burlington NJ on the Delaware river, right outside of Philadelphia.

They hold this event every year, and it truly is a walk through history. They have displays along with men, women, and even children in period costume and uniform. All the wars in American history are represented, from the Revolutionary War to Iraqi Freedom.

My very good friend and collector extraordinaire, Goldfasen (Horst) was my guide as he has attended this even in past years. I brought my son along, and he had a great time.

Here are some pictures. I hope that Horst joins the thread and gives a further explanation to some of them, as he knows his history (especially German WW II).



Halten Sie es! The front gate, guarded by our brave German warriors.



The guards admired Horst's greatcoat and walking stick.



Neat gun! It even fired (LOUD!). I think this type was even used during WW I.







Some items were for sale.



Here is something you don't see everyday. A Truppenfahrrad 42 Combat Bike!



You see the recreation of the Potato Masher grenades all wrapped together? Horst knew the German name for them. They were improvised to take out enemy tanks - and they were quite effective.



A Raketenpanzerbuchse 54.



Horst, my son, and some folks in German costume.





A blonde lady dressed up as a Frau in the Reichsarbeitsdeinst (RAD).



This anti-aircraft gun really swiveled around, and fired blanks. Here my son looks for P-38s and B-17s to shoot down.



A nice staff car. I think our driver had too much bier and schnapps the night before.





Horst and I were talking to some German soldiers, when suddenly gunfire came in from the river bank. Russische Soldaten!



Visiting with the Luftwaffe. An Italian soldier and a lady dressed up as a member of the SS too.



You all won't believe this guy. He is a retired Air Force pilot, and served in the Army Air Corps during WW II. He flew P-47s and P-51s. He is 88 years old. The entire outfit was given to him by a German Colonel after the war. He showed us his badges and decorations under the leather greatcoat - observer badge, Iron Cross First Class (from WW I), WW I pilots badge, and even one from a Romanian unit. The German officer must have worked with them during the war. The best the Blue Max - a real one! Horst asked him the name of the German Colonel, but he said he had accidently removed the name in the greatcoat years ago. It even had the number on it, with the original ribbon attached. Horst and I should have given him a business card or something. He was about to leave and drive back to Virginia.



The SS lady with some soldiers. She had period clothing on, right down to the old style stockings with the seam down the back.



American GIs getting ready for inspection.

A real nice event for those of you in the Pennsylvania or New Jersey area. They also had civil war and other displays and reenactors, along with a stage doing Abbott and Costello routines. They have campfires, and they show you how battle field cooking was done throughout the wars, and what they ate. There are drills, weapons displays (you can hold them), and other displays as well. They had a HUMVEE with a .50 cal also that my son even got to charge and point. Also an F-80 Shooting Star you could crawl into.

Great day. Cold and WINDY! But lots of fun.

Hope you all liked the photos.

For some reason I can only see the first 5 or 6 photos, but they are great. Thanks for posting them.I'm sorry I missed this,I would have gladly drove down.When is the next time they are going to have it?

Thanks Raymond.

They hold it every autumn - I believe in October. Here is their website for you.

Historic Soldiers Weekend

I can see all the pictures on my desktop computer and my wireless laptop. Try refreshing your screen (F5) or the refresh button (two arrows chasing each other around) in the menu.

Good report and great pictures. Many thanks for your efforts.

Dave

Greg did a great job of breaking down the event, not much to elaborate on - the first picture with the guards shows me holding a Interim Feldmarshalls baton(copy) also the combinted stick grenades was called a "Geballte Ladung" and was used as a anti- tank or bunker breaker weapon, neat "PAK" gun and also a "Panzerschreck" - A number of these fellas play war games like the battle of the buldge in the winter at Indiantown Gap, PA, they take there stuff seriously.
I know John , Gregs son had a ball setting in the "PAK" also the F-80 airplane etc, cant get much better.

Horst

Horst...would you please post any future events of this group in 2007 because I would go out of my way to go and visit them...Danke...Roland.

Roland - Kein Problem, will post and let you know as soon as the schedule comes out. It would be great to get together with you,Greg(borse)and enjoy it together also have a "Hacker" or two later.
By the way if ever up in this direction please contact me and we will tour the Bunker to include some "Brotzeit" und Bier.

Horst