Last weekend Denmark commemorated its Liberation Day. I celebrated together with the fellow members from the Zonen Flylaug, an association that maintains and flies a very special historic aircraft in Denmark: OY-DYZ, called “Zonen”.
Zonen has its home in Andelslandsbyen Nyvang that annually stages a great role play representing the WWII time in Denmark, and the Liberation of the country.
We were five members that met up Saturday morning. It was a bit windy and cold (it was snowing earlier that morning, even in Copenhagen where we rarely get snow), and we arranged a sheltered corner in the sunshine where we began our duty from a cup of coffee with some Danish pastries. From left to right: Morten, Michael, Rikke, and Hans.
We enjoyed the views as well – it was a beautiful-clouds-day:
At 10:30 the invasion began (photo Rikke Chemnitz):
The entrance point to the village where the “Nazis” checked visitors’ documents:
The Nazis were played by real German people, and I admire them for doing that – bringing the history to younger generations by personally dressing up and acting a little bit like Nazis. I especially like when they shout something in German – it sounds so authentic, though they never overdo it, maybe the opposite.
Different activities and role plays were taking place during the day. On the photo below, a Nazi soldier arrested a farmer for hiding weapon in his sack.
He took both the man and his daughter to the inquiry. The actors did the play so good that the girl began crying – she got afraid.
The “Nazis” comforted her, assuring that it was just a game, and they actually ended it rather quickly, they didn’t want to scare the girl.
We also did our part: talking to the visitors, explaining about Zonen, showing around. Michael in front of the crowd (Rikke’s photo):
Hans did hands-on sessions, showing how the wings of Zonen were covered:
Michael, opening the part of Zonen where the stretcher was set in when Zonen transported sick people:
All other volunteer associations in Andelslandsbyen Nyvang were open, actively participating in the show.
One could buy many interesting things – from WWII uniform to Rich’s coffee substitute.
In many places, one could see the real work done:
Many people attended, and it was really a great day out, with different activities and role plays, shootings here and there, food and drink stalls, and a nice atmosphere.
By the end of the day all actors playing bad people were put on a track and driven away:
The liberation time came. And then the last soldiers and officers left “Denmark”:
Visitors were waiving with Danish flags, singing songs, and thanked all actors for staging this memorable day.