Battle of the Bulge : World War II : Living History Week

Our reassignment to Area 13 has been finalized and includes the following details.

Area 13 Barracks layout is arranged in quads. Eight barracks have been allocated to the Axis. These barracks are situated in the Southwest corner of Area 13. There are four cadre buildings allocated to the Axis and they have been assigned as HQs, the Café Trois, the Field Hospital and a Commo/Field Police Building. These buildings have not been renovated and may therefore be used and decorated as they were in Area 12. Unfortunately, the deluge of requests for units to have one of these buildings allocated for their use cannot be filled. Building assignments for Axis reenactors are the exclusive responsibility of Axis Chief of Staff, Spence Waldron and he goes above and beyond in attempts to fulfill requests.

Each barracks building has been upgraded with wainscoting, drop ceilings, fluorescent lights, new doors, floors and windows, and new electric. We have been instructed not to move the bunks and lockers from their positions. The use of protective flooring covers and furniture base (and leg) protectors has been recognized/authorized by the Federation staff. Especially considering the upgraded electric, the use of period style lamps instead of the fluorescent lighting was also discussed and approved in the barracks buildings.

Units assigned to these buildings will naturally be responsible for their condition at the conclusion of the event. This is NOT unique to our event. GAPII employs a similar understanding of the care of the buildings, as do any entity allowed to use these military buildings. An important time to consider this is when inviting other units to visit for any social gatherings. Damage caused by visitors would naturally first be the responsibility of the unit assigned to that building. THIS is one of the reasons that the Federation has elected to suspend public visitation to your barracks during the event. The public will be permitted to visit the other buildings during the event…especially the German Field Hospital.

As with other events held in Area 13, the vendors will be assigned to the larger buildings in the Northeastern section of the building cluster. This is also where the mess halls will be.

The two large parking lots in the South will be for permit and public parking only. The buses used to transport reenactors to the Training Areas for the field exercises will muster in these South parking lots on Friday and Saturday mornings. The period vehicle convoy will gather on the designated road in Area 13 and cross Clement Avenue to the normal route to the Training Areas West of Area 12. All of that will be covered during the various briefings of unit commanders and vehicle operators as usual.

The Area 14 parking lot is only approximately 70 feet from the Southwestern border of Area 13 and is therefore closer to the event than when we were assigned to Area 12. Period vehicles will be permitted to park in areas within the barracks and building area but may at no time block any of the roadways, especially for emergency vehicles. Tracked vehicles will still need to be stored in the Wash Rack area in the Northeast section of Area 12 and may never use the hard ball roads at FIG itself.

Arriving reenactors will still be permitted VERY temporary parking access within the barracks vicinity to allow for the offloading of equipment to the buildings. Modern vehicles will need to be removed ASAP afterward and parked in the reenactor lot in Area 14 (see above). The registration building will be at the extreme Southwest corner of Area 13. Maps with building designations will be posted on the Federation web site ASAP.

Remember to cooperate with and follow the directions of Field Police, MP’s and CAP personnel directing traffic within the event territories.

The Pass and Review for the Veterans is still scheduled for Thursday. However, they will gather across the road on the West side of their barracks (in the German area) and a combined column of Allied/Axis reenactors will march past them, rendering honors as they do. This column will be WITH rifles so plan accordingly.

The quad area in the German building section will be utilized for morning formations (Appel) beginning Thursday at 07:30. This will be the traditional U-shaped formation. Attendance at Appel is required for any units who intend to deploy to the Training Areas for the field exercises on Friday and Saturday as well as the recon on Thursday.  The use of this formation for last minute dissemination of information, especially pertaining to safety in the field is why attendance is mandatory. 

Finally, I would like to thank all of you. For those of you who pour yourselves into this event in an effort to help make it better for everyone, you have my heartfelt gratitude.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas as well as a safe and happy Holiday season. See you when boots hit the ground.