There was some heated controversy last week when City Pages received a photo of a Minneapolis restaurant filled with people dressed in German attire and Nazi flags hanging from rafters. The anonymous source of the photo did not give any additional information about the event other than the restaurant it was taken in.

Turns out everyone in the picture was a part of a convention for historical reenactment enthusiasts that took place last December -- an event that remained relatively unknown until photos taken during the dinner surfaced. According to Jon Boorom of the WWII Historical Re-enactment Society Inc., the event was "a Star Trek convention but for WWII enthusiasts." Boorom explained that all the reenactment groups host a Christmas party since there aren't many events during the winter. For this particular event, WWII enthusiasts dressed up as German soldiers and ate at a German restaurant to "eat German food, and drink German beer."

Boorom told City Pages that the group's decision to wear Nazi uniforms was not to support Hitler or his beliefs, but rather to educate its attendees about history "so people don't forget." Gasthof Zur Gemutlichkeit, the restaurant featured in the photo, has been hosting the Christmas event for the last six years.

Picthx City Pages