‘Mortally offensive’: Popular UK festival turns ugly after locals clash with group dressed as Nazi soldiers

The organisers of a popular 1940s festival are facing calls to ban Nazi uniforms after ugly scenes saw clashes between locals and a group dressed in SS costumes. The men were confronted by crowds on Sheringham High Street in Norfolk during the resort’s Second World War-themed at the weekend.

The group subsequently had to be escorted out of the area by police to stop the trouble escalating. The annual event drew up to 25,000 people across both days many of them in period dress.

Among them was the group of at least ten men in Nazi-era German uniforms, including some with SS markings on their collars, as well as badges featuring the ‘death’s head’ symbol and swastikas. Their presence angered many locals with onlookers shouting and telling them they were not welcome.

Event marshals stepped in to ask the men to leave and police also intervened to shepherd the group away from the angry crowds. Officers said one man had reported being assaulted and that they were still investigating.

The incident has prompted calls to ban Nazi uniforms from future weekends and the town council has agreed to discuss proposals to make the event Allied-uniform only. German military clothing from the period is not currently banned - although the North Norfolk Railway, which runs an associated event over the same weekend, does not permit such garments.

A spokesman for the main festival organisers say German uniforms are permitted, as long as they do not “promote the Nazis”. He claimed the incident had been a “misunderstanding” and that the group was there to “commemorate the German people”.