Invasion Ohio: Attending the Biggest Annual D-Day Reenactment

FOR THE PAST DOZEN YEARS, the largest D-Day reenactment in North America has regularly taken place in mid-August with Lake Erie filling in for the English Channel and the beach at Conneaut, Ohio serving as Normandy. In many ways this small Ohio town, an hour east of Cleveland is “invaded” with more than 2,500 reenactors coming to take part in the three day event, as thousands of spectators come to see the spectacle that is D-Day Conneaut.

The event actually began as a private, low-key event featuring a couple of dozen reenactors back in 1999 before becoming an official and well-organized event in 2007.

Visitors can take part in Higgins Boat rides on Lake Erie, attend a Church service conducted by military chaplains, and even see a 1940s-style USO show.

german guard reenactment — Visitors weren’t asked for their papers, but this sentry still took his job seriously! *Peter Suciu*

a red haired woman singing into an old microphone — It wasn’t just guns and shooting at D-Day Conneaut. Period music included a “USO Show” to entertain the troops and other visitors. *Peter Suciu*

german propaganda reenactments — While Leni Riefenstahl may have been the most famous of the directors of Nazi propaganda films there were others who donned the “directors pants” – these reenactors took it to a less serious level however. *Peter Suciu*

Weapons, Equipment and Gear

Of course this event is about the guns, equipment, and vehicles. While not 100 percent historically accurate—D-Day Conneaut features reenactors who are clearly older and much better fed, not to mention there were Waffen SS and other units that weren’t actually in Normandy on June 6, 1944—this is the next best thing to a trip back in time.

Over three days there were multiple “engagements” including two beach landings and even raids by French resistance and British Commandos; as well as weapons demonstrations, a tank parade, and artillery firing!

actors of the british royal air force reenactment — Here some British Royal Air Force reenactors get into the spirit of 1944 with a good cup of English tea! *Peter Suciu*

What sets D-Day Conneaut apart from other reenactments is that this one is truly meant to be a public display, and it offers a hands-on approach to attendees and offered a history lesson on the weapons and equipment. This included short lectures, demonstrations and other talks.

actors at a german weapon demonstration reenactment — In addition to actual “fighting,” the various reenactors gave weapons demonstrations to educate attendees of the event. *Peter Suciu*

a lineup of german paratrooper actors at a reenactment — While not at the beaches on June 6, 1944 there were several units of German Fallschirmjäger (paratrooper infantry) in Normandy. These reenactors are dressed and outfitted with the equipment in use by those elite German soldiers at that point in the war. *Peter Suciu*

Attendees could walk in the camps, talk with the reenactors and feel as if they were traveling back in time or making their way through a living museum. Even if the reenactors were a little too old (as noted) the uniforms and equipment were truly timeless

actors at a french resistance camp during a reenactment — The reenactors take this event seriously and camp out for the weekend. Here is a scene from the French Resistance camp. *Peter Suciu*

german field equipment at a reenactment — There were numerous displays that highlighted the equipment and gear used by the various soldiers at the time of the D-Day invasion in 1944. *Peter Suciu*

two men in a kitchen at a german army reenactment — Don’t expect to see most of the reenactors grabbing a Coke and a slice of pizza. At one of the German encampments an actual field kitchen was set up to keep the “troops” fed! *Peter Suciu*

german landing post at a reenactment — Great efforts went into the various encampments, including this U.S. Naval landing post – these would have been set up within hours of the invasion beachhead on June 6, 1944. *Peter Suciu*

german gun crew on a hillside — This German gun crew is armed with an MG-42 – blank firing of course – and defending a bluff over the beach. *Peter Suciu*

french resistance battle reenactment — British Commandos and French Resistance engage the enemy prior to the main beach landing. *Peter Suciu*

Big Guns and Tanks

D-Day Conneaut has also become akin to a military vehicle show, but instead of one where the tanks and jeeps are merely parked in a lot or field, these vehicles can be seen on the move. Numerous vehicle collectors rolled into town mid-week and continued to arrive on Friday morning. This included an assortment of original World War II motorcycles and sidecars, Volkswagen Kübelwagens, and even armor!

Impressively there were nearly a half a dozen German tanks, including Panzer III, Panzer IV and Sturmgeschütz IV assault guns; which were replicas, each built on a British armoured personnel carrier chassis and mocked up to resemble the wartime armored vehicles. Eagle eyed viewers (or model builders) might note that these tanks had fewer “road wheels” than the real German Panzers, but these were far more accurate than the tanks seen in various Hollywood movies, notably Patton and The Battle of the Bulge , which merely dressed up Cold War tanks.

There were also original American pieces of armor, including several M4 Sherman tanks, landing craft, and even some large caliber artillery pieces. In other words the reenactors brought out the truly big guns!