BBC NEWS | UK | England | Derbyshire | Can war games cause serious offence?

Rather than wash the car or put up shelves this weekend, you could put on the costume of warrior from history. Dressing up as a roundhead or a Roman is an option, but what about a soldier of Nazi Germany? Groups who spend time, money and effort in recreating the army held responsible for one of the darkest moments in human history are sometimes regarded as crackpots and extremists. A heritage railway in Derbyshire was recently criticised for using a picture of a Nazi soldier on its newsletter - the image causing some offence as it came close to the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. But the members of these societies say they play a valuable educational role, are often welcomed by veterans and realise they have a responsibility to remember the lessons of the past. English Heritage, the largest organiser of "living history" events in the country, is acutely aware of the potential for causing offence.