Echoes of WWII: Macomb Exhibit Highlights the Human Cost of War
By: Hannah Chatterton
German soldier reenactor, Rich Russo, on a motorcycle used during WWII
The World War II Live History Exhibit, hosted through a collaboration between the Macomb Park District, the Western Illinois University (WIU) Department of History, and the WWII Historical Reenactment Society, took up camp at Veterans Park and the WIU Campus Mall on October 18th and 19th. This immersive event allowed visitors to step back in time, bringing to life the experiences of soldiers, nurses, and civilians from World War II through reenactments, weapons demonstrations, and first-hand stories.
On both days, the exhibit featured two weapons demonstrations, each showcasing firearms from various countries. With rifles from the United States, Britain, Germany, Poland, and Russia, the reenactors fired blanks into the air following brief explanations of the historical significance and use of each weapon. Notably, the German MG42 machine gun, capable of firing 1,000 rounds per minute, contrasted sharply with its slower American counterparts. The reenactment revealed the technical evolution of weapons, especially in response to lessons learned from World War I.
The event featured reenactors in period-appropriate uniforms representing soldiers from a wide array of countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany, Poland, Russia, and Finland. Despite the exhibit's modest size, attendees found the wealth of knowledge shared by the reenactors abundant as well as compelling. Andrew Stano, who portrayed a soldier of the Polish 5th Kresowa Infantry Division, explained the minimalist kit Polish cavalry soldiers carried, including two grenades, a backup shirt, and footwraps instead of socks. Stano himself was born, raised, earned his masters degree, and got married in Poland before immigrating to the United States in 1985.
Polish solider reenactor, Andrew Stano, explaining the gear carried by calvary soldiers.
Rich Russo, a German soldier reenactor, shared gripping war stories gathered from veterans he met, including one about a German tank unit using a decoy train in a dramatic clash with partisans. Russo, who became interested in WWII history through family stories, had five uncles who were together involved in the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force. His uncle in the Army had picked up and brought home a German helmet from the beaches of Normandy that Russo would wear as a kid, acting as the enemy and running around with other children playing war.
The exhibit was a poignant reminder of the personal sacrifices made during WWII. As Russo shared how he grew his interest in history, he said: "I picked up all these little stories talking to people who were in the war and now they have all died off," emphasizing the importance of learning about history while we still have first-hand accounts and the testimonies that are left out of history books.
Through the lens of these reenactments, visitors glimpse the complex, brutal, and often untold stories of those who lived through the war. From soldiers in every rank to civilian women who had to ration what little they had, everyone was influenced by the war. The exhibit continues to grow in its effort to preserve and share these histories that shaped much of our nation.
Polish solider reenactor, Andrew Stano, demonstrating a Polish rifle used in WWII.