Legal information
In Italy, there is no official law that regulates events and reenactment shows. Normally, events are organized with the local authorities (police and mayor) that sometimes sponsor the events giving contribution in money and logistic help like making it possible to use municipal structures (gyms and old schools) and having a police escort during the events. In other cases, the municipal administration give only a formal authorization and no other help, so in this case the event organizers have to do the rest.
During big events, where many vehicles participate, the local police or Carabinieri, provide motorcycle escort during the road trip, managing traffic. Even reenactors, dressed as Feldgendarmerie, help the traffic management riding solo bikes. In this way, there are no problems at crossing roads and there are very very low chances of accidents.
Behaviour, uniforms and the law
In Italy, the wearing and showing of symbols that are related to racist ideologies in political environments is not permitted. In re-enactment, however, all symbols are permitted by authorities but some symbols, like SS insignia may be banned by the event organizers just to have less problems with the public. Infact, it is possible to wear e.g. NSDAP uniforms at private events. It is recommended not expose too much (very visible) of any kind of political flag on vehicles because a member of the public could be offended.Because Italy has been a war theatre, sometimes it is not appropriate and not recommended to wear Waffen SS uniforms (because of problems with civilsians during the war). Heer, Luftwaffe and Waffen SS camouflage uniforms (oakleaf and peadot) are usually not a problem. It is recommended to take advice from the Italian re-enactment groups what to wear to which event.
Like in all places, a good behaviour, that doesn't offend the public that is watching the event is always requested by the event organizers and association presidents.
Firearms laws
Any live firearms or automatic blank firers are not allowed at any event. Only gas and propane driven ones are permitted. Deactivated firearms are permitted on events. It is rare, during a public event, that deactivated firearms are banned. Normally, this happens only if its a special request from the authorities.Road rules
In Italy, there are more or less the same rules that there are in the rest of europe. During events though, it is not always mandatory to have a REAL licence plate on the vehicle, so it is possible to move WWII period vehicles with a WWII period licence plate. Outside the showground, it is only possible to do so in a period WWII military vehicle convoy.Anecdotes
An anecdote… funny, quite nice story.During a lunch of an event, in February, an Italian reenactment group doing German were eating at the same table of a group of Red Partizan veterans. Little by little, the German group started singing the most common songs like Erika, Rosemarie, Es war ein Edelweiss, Panzerlied, Westerwaldlied until one of the veterans said that he was bit amazed that German soldiers didn’t know the Horst Wessel Lied, so the German re-enactors started singing it for them and they, all happy, answered singing a communist partisan song (bella ciao) and it all finished with many glasses of wine.
As always, when you're in a foreign country for a reenactment, listen to the natives and follow their advice. And do not draw unnecessary attention to yourself and follow common sense.
© 2007 by bee • mailto: webmaster(at)ww2reenactment.info