RAILS TO VICTORY 2021 WW2 Event

361 South LaFox Street,South Elgin IL 60177

11 June, 2021

Description

The Hosting Units and the Fox River Trolley Museum present Rails to Victory 2021. This year's theme is "Battle of Berlin". Commemorating the end of WW2 with this year's theme of "Battle of Berlin", we are trying some new ideas for the event. We are planning to run just one large scale Battle in the morning and one in the afternoon on Saturday, and then on Sunday there will just be one Battle early afternoon.  All three battles will occur in the vicinity of the Bridge where we have performed battles in the past, however the battle field will be double the size this year.  Passengers will be shuttled down to the battle in 3 to 5 trolley cars and park adjacent to the field for the entire battle.  As the passengers travel down to the battlefield, they will once again encounter the Monuments Men skirmish and and other small action skits that reenactors may propose. We have open spots for any units who may wish to perform or demonstrate a skit along the route (military or civilian).  Please contact RTV leadership if your unit is interested in securing a spot. This year we are also inviting our Soviet Friends to participate in the Battle of Berlin by taking over our museum station area which stands in for Berlin so that when the passengers return back to the Museum, Berlin is now occupied by Soviet soldiers.  We thought this would be fun for the passengers to be loaded by German Soldiers, and then be received back by Soviets.  There are a whole host of imaginative ideas our Soviet and German Reenactors can devise to make this interesting for the public.  We do have space for small action skirmish type maneuvers in the museum area to represent the street fighting that took place as the Soviets moved into Berlin RTV is a great event for reenactors to immerse the public into history by putting them on a trolley and leading them through various skirmishes, skits and battles. Period civilians and Resistance reenactors are particularly encouraged to attend.  The museum offers interesting landscapes for both reenactors and spectators along the picturesque wooded and sloping terrain along the Fox River which shall stand in for the Spree River. Other activies planned for the weekend are: Weapons Demos, A Period WW2 bicycle ride along the Spree,  and all WW2 impressions and displays welcome in our encampment. Like last year, we have scheduled a school day for Friday morning. Please send us an email if you wish to participate in the school day.  Those who participate are welcome to set up their camp on Thursday evening. *All Reenactors must be Registered prior to event.*Registration: FREE ON-LINE Registration through June 9, 2021. Camp Amenities: Flush Toilets on site. Camp sites are assigned on a first come first served bases.Event Times:- Friday, June 11: Reenactor check-in, 4pm to 10pm.;- Saturday, June 12th: Reenactor check-in, 8 am to 9:15am;- Sunday, June 13th: Reenactor check-in, 9am to 9:50am;- Daily morning formations and S&A check;- Museum Opens at 10 am on Saturday and Sunday;- Visit the Event Web Site for Additional event details (schedules, maps, and updates). Website: http://www.railstovictory.com Authenticity Notes: HRS safety and authenticity rules apply. Invited Vehicles/Items:  All WWII vehicles including tracked vehicles are welcome, weather conditions permitting; tracked vehicles may be limited to the gravel road and battle field.  Smaller vehicles such as Jeeps, Motorcycles, Kubels & Lightweight Trucks may drive on the grassy areas. Boats and other period water crafts such rafts are also welcome on the Fox River, but should contact us first prior to bringing out. River depth is only 2-3 feet in the vicinity of the museum. Restrictions on Minors: HRS Rules Other restrictions: No alcoholic beverages permitted in the Museum and County Park. No digging, but camp fires are allowed in above pits and military stoves and grills. No firing of weapons in the encampment area in County Park by Forest Preserve Ordinance; but okay in the designated battlefield areas on museum property. Motels: Accommodations available in nearby Elgin and St. Charles Illinois: Hampton Inn, the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites and West Dundee's Marriott International-Courtyard & Towne Place Suites; and in St. Charles: Best Western, Country Inn & Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Geneva Motel, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hotel Baker, Pheasant Run Resort, and Super 8. Restaurants: There are eating establishments with in a very easy walk of the museum ranging in variety from hot dogs to pizza.Sponsoring Unit(s): US10th Mtn LHDG, 3rd Gebirgsjaeger Division, 5th Regiment Coldstream Guards, & Feldgendarmerietrupp 353