A military museum in Massachusetts said it will review its protocol for historical war reenactments after a group of its performers dressed as Nazi soldiers ate at a local restaurant this weekend, sparking an uproar online.

Throughout the weekend, the American Heritage Museum in Stow welcomed 350 attendees for an event called “ “Battle for the Airfield – World War II Reenactment” on Saturday, October 12th. The museum claims to have one of the world’s largest collections of military tanks and vehicles and regularly hosts war reenactments.

Rob Collings, president of the American Heritage Museum, said in a statement shared with Hyperallergic that “at a time when anti-Semitic acts of violence continue to increase, neo-Nazis take to the streets and the horrors of the Holocaust continue to be denied, wearing German uniforms in public spaces is beyond thoughtless and repulsive.” ”

“Following this incident, we are conducting a thorough review of how our rigorous presentation protocols are understood and followed by the living historians who participate in our programs and the consequences of ignoring them,” Collings said. He added that the uniforms were intended to be worn as part of a reenactment “to educate a new generation about what American GIs experienced and defeated some 80 years ago.”

The incident first attracted attention on the social media site Bluesky when a user said he had left a restaurant after a group of people dressed in Nazi costumes came in with a reservation.

Hudson restaurant Kith and Kin confirmed in a statement on Instagram that the two people in SS uniforms, sitting at a table in a group of eight costumed people, had taken part in the museum’s World War II reenactment earlier Saturday. The restaurant apologized to guests and said staff were aware that guests were “living historians” and did not believe they had “anti-Semitic beliefs.”

“In hindsight, they should have been asked to change before being seated,” the statement continued. “We would never intentionally do anything to offend or hurt anyone in the community.”

The restaurant announced it would remain closed today, October 15, after receiving “increasing harassment and threats.”