Nazi uniforms banned from East Lancashire Railway war weekend (From Bury Times)

Nazi uniforms banned from East Lancashire Railway war weekend

4:49pm Friday 27th May 2011 in News

Nazi uniforms banned from East Lancashire Railway war weekend

RAILWAY bosses have declared war on people dressing up in Nazi uniforms during a popular 1940s war weekend.

A ban on visitors wearing Swastikas and SS outfits has been imposed on the East Lancashire Railway after concerns they could offend Holocaust survivors.

Christina Seidel, ELR’s marketing manager, said: “We are asking people not to turn up in German officer or SS uniforms, because we do not want to offend the Jewish community on our doorstep.”

The ban was introduced after complaints that a minority had turned up the annual event in SS regalia, with one even impersonating Hitler's henchman Herman Goerring.

Officials from the Greater Manchester Jewish Represenative Council (GJRC) have been lobbying the ELR after receiving complaints regarding last year’s celebrations.

Lucille Cohen, GJRC secretary, said: “I am very gratified that they taken into account the correspondence we have had with them.

“There are a number of people in this area who suffered at the hands of the Nazis during the way and the Holocaust, which should be taken into account.”

Other complaints included a jeep arriving draped in a red swastika flag.

Mock battles will still take place at Bury, Rawtenstall and Ramsbottom stations over the weekend between ‘Allied’ and ‘Axis’ volunteer troops.

Notices posted in the official programme state that the ban has been imposed because warnings, in previous years, have been ignored.

David Harris, editor of the Jewish Telegraph, said: “The wearing of a Nazi uniform is not only deeply offensive to Jewish people, for obvious reasons, but to anyone who fought in the last world war or was tortured in prisoner of war camps.

“There have been instances of Holocaust survivors, passing the railway, who have been confronted by people wearing Nazi uniforms and it has been deeply distressing.

“Why bother dressing in a Nazi uniform for a re-enactment?

"It is fair enough to have British servicemen, because they would not be out of place, but no Nazis ever made to this country.”

Coun Alyson Barnes, leader of Rossendale Council, said: “The railway clearly has some very real concerns.

"I hope this does not detract from the whole exercise or affect anyone’s enjoyment of the weekend.”

County councillor Peter Evans, who represents Rossendale West, was a wartime evacuee from Manchester who said he appreciated the sensitivities of protesters.

“If I saw a German uniform it would not necessarily upset me but anyone who goes along dressed up as Herman Goerring or Hitler is taking things much too far,” he added.

Twin town efforts had been made with Bocholt in Germany, which Coun Evans said he had visited as the borough’s mayor, to forge better relations which reflected Rossendale’s ‘tolerant’ reputation.

Chief Superintendent Jon Rush, head of policing in Ramsbottom, said he was aware of ‘sensitivities’ around the display of Nazi uniforms and Swastikas.

He added: “We will not be overzealous when it comes to the wearing or displaying of Nazi symbols or uniforms as this is basically an historical recreation of the World War Two period.

“It is for the organisers to communicate any dress code they want those attending to follow but we will make them aware of the particular concerns that have been raised.

“That said, we will not tolerate anyone who is found to be doing anything to cause deliberate harassment or distress or with a view to inciting hatred, regardless of what they may or may not be wearing.

“However, our past experience at this event has demonstrated that this has never been the case.”

The weekend regularly attracts up to 10,000 people and will feature tea dances, vintage and military vehicles, brass bands and a parade at Irwell Vale station.