The obsessive glory of England's World War reenactors

In the U.K., some rather meticulous hobbyists spend their summers going back in time

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Daniella Zalcman immerses herself in the lives of war reenactors.
Private leauan Joe Smith at the Victory Show in Leicestershire, England.
(Image credit: (Daniella Zalcman))

Squadron Sergeant-Major Nick Gibson, Royal Engineers.
(Image credit: (Daniella Zalcman))

French reenactors run drills as German Wehrmacht soldiers at the Merville Battery in Normandy, France.
(Image credit: (Daniella Zalcman)Zalcman focused on World War I and World War II groups. And the events she attended ranged from live battle scenes rich with authentic uniforms, weaponry, and play-by-plays,)

Italian reenactor Pierantonio Farina takes a photo on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, while doing an impression of a U.S. press photographer.
(Image credit: (Daniella Zalcman))

Ieuan Joe Smith during a live battle reenactment in Leicestershire, England.
(Image credit: (Daniella Zalcman))

Red Army encampment at an event in Leicestershire, England.
(Image credit: (Daniella Zalcman))

D-Day.
(Image credit: (Daniella Zalcman))

Lauren Hansen
Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.