'Repugnant:' WWII reenactors dressed in Nazi uniforms dine in Massachusetts restaurant

A Massachusetts restaurant has faced heavy criticism, and even threats, after men in Nazi uniforms who were part of a group of World War II reenactors were permitted to dine inside during the weekend.

The group of eight living historians had gone to eat at Kith and Kin, located in Hudson, following a WWII reenactment organized Saturday by the American Heritage Museum. According to the restaurant, four of the reenactors were dressed as U.S. ally soldiers, one was dressed as a nurse and the others were dressed as SS officers, a paramilitary group who served as Adolf Hitler's personal body guard.

Though Kith and Kin issued an apology the next day following an outcry, the restaurant was forced to temporarily close Tuesday after national media coverage sparked threats. Kith and Kin has since reopened.

"As a small, family-owned business, we strive every day to do our best and are continuing to learn and grow. Last night we fell short, and we deeply apologize," Kith and Kin said Sunday.

In a statement to Paste BN, the American Heritage Museum condemned its reenactors for wearing the garb outside the context of a historical event and said it would tighten its protocols for wearing uniforms.

"At a time when acts of anti-Semitic violence continue to rise, when neo-Nazis have taken to the streets, and the horrors of the Holocaust continue to be denied, wearing German uniforms in a public space is beyond thoughtless," the statement read. "It’s repugnant."

Kith and Kin apologizes for Nazi reenactors

The restaurant apologized Sunday on its Facebook page, saying "in hindsight, they should have been asked to change before being seated."

The statement continued: "Even though we knew they were living historians, at a time when acts of anti-Semitic violence continue to rise, we should have realized other diners might not be aware of the local WWII reenactment."

"We would never intentionally do anything to offend or hurt anyone in the community," the Kith and Kin statement concluded. "If we truly thought these individuals held anti-Semitic beliefs, we would never have allowed them to step foot in the restaurant."

Museum to review, communicate uniform protocols for reenactments

The living historians were among hundreds who were part of a WWII reenactment that took place all weekend.

Making use of restored military equipment, more than 350 reenactors took on roles of soldiers and military personnel in several branches of both the Allied and Axis armies to create a "living history," the American Heritage Museum said in a post advertising the event to the public.

But in its statement to Paste BN, the museum said the reenactment site is where all uniforms and other WWII artifacts should have stayed.

"These uniforms were meant to be used in the context of an historical reenactment designed to educate a new generation as to what American GIs confronted and defeated some 80 years ago," the museum, also based in Hudson, said in its statement.

In the wake of the controversy, the museum said it will review and potentially strengthen its protocols, which will be "understood and followed by the living historians who participate in our programs."

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for Paste BN. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com