Military History as a hobby

History

Throughout the centuries, the study of military history has attracted interest from a wide range of people. Military personnel and business leaders have looked to military history for lessons to help them meet future challenges. Others have taken part in historical reenactments, portraying past eras by dressing in period uniforms and replaying famous battles. Since the invention of chess in ancient times, legions of "armchair generals" have enjoyed creating and playing games of military strategy.

Some of the most notable works of military history and strategy, which continue to inspire military history hobbyists, were written centuries ago. In the sixth century, the Chinese strategist Sun Tzu wrote the military manual now known as The Art of War. The Prussian military writer Carl von Clausewitz achieved similar success in the nineteenth century with On War, which was based on his experiences in the Napoleonic Wars.

Wargaming dates back to ancient strategy games, such as chess. Originally, chess was a game played by kings and nobles as a way to develop their strategic thinking. The different pieces, such as knights and castles, represented different military units. Modern wargaming, in which terrain, tactics, and units are represented with greater realism, arose during the Napoleonic Wars of the nineteenth century. The Germans used wargames as a teaching tool at military academies. The success of German forces in the late nineteenth century resulted in the use of wargames in the military education systems of countries worldwide. In the United States, wargames became an essential part of the curriculum at the Army and Navy war colleges.

Just before World War I, British science fiction author H. G. Wells made wargaming popular among the general public with his how-to handbook, Little Wars. Comparable rules for naval wargaming were developed before World War II by the American novelist Fletcher Pratt, also known for his works on naval history. After the war, wargaming became even more popular through publication of easy-to-play board games. Computer games have also developed to provide military history enthusiasts with further opportunities for wargaming.

High school and college teachers have incorporated wargaming into courses as a way to make history more interesting. In the early twenty-first century, the US military even used commercial wargaming platforms as the basis for training simulations.

Wargaming also helped give rise to the hobbies of building and collecting model ships, model aircraft, and other model vehicles and figures. Enthusiasts often sought to replicate the models used by actual military strategists, and as manufacturing techniques improved models became more and more realistic, allowing the staging of highly accurate miniature battle reproductions. Radio-controlled vehicles with miniature weaponry even allow wargames to be played out in real time. Model building continues to often overlap with military history as a hobby. Similarly, many military history hobbyists collect historical artifacts, such as military badges, clothing, weapons, or other items.

Historical reenactment is another activity in which military history enthusiasts may engage. Participants dress as members of military units from past times and places, such as the Roman Empire or the American Civil War. The acquisition of historically accurate clothing and equipment is the most expensive aspect of reenactment. Interest in historical reenactment dates back at least to the ancient Romans, who would reenact military victories as a form of entertainment. The same practice was apparent in the Middle Ages, when knights would portray ancient Roman warriors.

Historical reenactment has been popular in the United States for decades, but the practice gained immense popularity in the twentieth century. It is partly related to the "living history" movement, which began in nineteenth century Europe and later spread to North America. "Living history" museums tried to recreate life from an earlier time; Colonial Williamsburg, for example, recreates life in eighteenth century Virginia.

Techniques

Becoming a military history hobbyist requires extensive reading, regardless of whether one intends to be a wargamer or a historical reenactor. Those who play and design wargames do so based on the specialized knowledge they have acquired through long and careful reading about the weapons, tactics, and strategy of the period. Military officers will even visit historic battlefields, such as those of the American Revolution and American Civil War, to gain an appreciation of the role that terrain plays in leadership and strategy.

Becoming a historic reenactor also requires a commitment to authenticity, and a refusal to accept elements that do not belong in that particular place or time. A near-sighted person portraying a medieval knight, for example, often must do without eyeglasses. Authenticity also means avoiding anachronistic expressions, such as "okay" in the mouth of a Revolutionary War soldier.

Trends

Advances in information technology have dramatically affected the study and reenactment of military history. Many classic works of military history are now available online for free, through websites such as Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org). The internet has also transformed wargaming by enabling multi-player games over network connections. Meanwhile, amateur researchers are able to easily self-publish works online, leading to a proliferation of nonfiction works on niche subjects of interest as well as historical fiction.

Historical reenactment has become an increasingly visible part of American culture; reenactors frequently appear as extras in films and television shows. The History Channel, for example, has made extensive use of reenactors in its documentaries.

Another trend popular with many people interested in military history is the field known as counterfactual history or alternate history. Counterfactual history examines the impact of alternate outcomes of major historical events, such as the American Civil War or World War II. The field has produced an increasing number of works, and directories such as Uchronia.net seek to provide a comprehensive directory to counterfactual works.

Military History for Fun vs. Profit

Many people pursue military history simply as a hobby, but for others it may develop into a career. The most traditional professional path for specializing in military history is academia; one might teach college history courses while pursuing research and publication on a particular area of interest. However, other opportunities also exist. For those who enjoy teaching on a more public-facing level, one could be employed by or volunteer for a local living history museum, serving as a "docent" or guide at a place such as Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia or Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts. Meanwhile, a strong demand exists for wargame designers both in the entertainment and instructional markets, particularly as the US military is relying increasingly on electronic forms of instruction.

For people interested in reenacting as a career, there are many opportunities at events such as medieval and Renaissance festivals. In the United States, many reenactors travel the circuit of these events, which usually take place from spring through fall. Opportunities include working as a "sutler" or vendor, selling armor and weaponry. The festivals also offer opportunities for modern "knights," who compete in the festivals' jousting matches. Reenactors for other time periods, such as the American Civil War, may earn money by serving as extras in historical films and TV shows.

Learning More

Organizations

Association for Living History, Farm, and Agricultural Museums (ALHFAM) <http://www.alhfam.org/index.php>

Historical Miniatures Gaming Society <http://www.hmgs.org/>

Naval History and Heritage Command, US Navy. <http://www.history.navy.mil/>

Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) <http://www.sca.org>

US Army Center of Military History <https://history.army.mil/index.html>

Books

Gaylor, John. Military Badge Collecting. Revised ed. Pen & Sword Books, 2018.

Hadden, Robert Lee. Reliving the Civil War: A Reenactor's Handbook. 2nd Edition. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1999.

Wells, H.G. Little Wars. (1913).