Last rites

"Nicht wofür wir kämpfen ist das Wesentliche, sondern wie wir kämpfen."

- Ernst Jünger -

Over the channel and far, far away...

Just a quick one today as I'm in a bit of a hurry really. At the moment I'm away with work most of the time and thus spare time with family and friends is at a premium. So, let's talk about channels today. When reading accounts about the fighting in Belgium, Northern France and especially Holland in 1940 what becomes clear immediately is the importance of streams, channels and similar water features as obstacles to the German onslaught.

To the green fields beyond...

.. probably football fields in this case.

War is full of strange things. Maybe one of the stranger sights during the Great War would probably have been an attack on German trench lines on 1 July 1916. After eight days of constant but little effective shelling German defenders crawling out of their dugouts could see men storming across no man's land frantically kicking footballs before them.

Back to the Great War

"Das Wort Operation verbitte ich mir. Wir hauen ein Loch rein. Das Weitere findet sich. So haben wir es auch in Russland gemacht"

-Generalquartiermeister Ludendorff-

Another year, another Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (The ninth so far and and the 6th I'm taking part in) and yet another project. A little more than 100 years ago World War I, or the Great War as it is also known, ended after claiming the lives of millions of soldiers and civilians alike. The tragedy of the whole conflict, especially on the western front, is in my opinion perfectly epitomised by the quote with which I started this post. Translated into English it reads like:

Russian Civil War - Kornilov Command Stand

No, no Fallschirmjäger this time... yes, promised!
For various reasons, both private and job related, I didn't have much spare time lately. So progress on the Fallschirmjäger came to an abrupt halt. You know how this works: Finish line in sight you simply HAVE to switch to another project for fear of actually finishing a project, or at least as close to finishing as we wargamers will ever come with any given project. Instead I finally finished the basing for a White Russian command stand I had sitting around for quite a while now.

The Great War Project No.6: The Great War Painting Club figure

As some of you will probably know there's a "Great War Painting Club" thing going on at the Lead Adventure Forum right at the moment. So in order to take part I grabbed me one of those Russian Stormtroopers from Brigade Games sitting on my shelf and waiting patiently to see some paint.

The Great War Project #5: Russian Shocktroopers

I'm back from my holidays in sunny Italy. After a week of sun and absolutely fantastic food this means back to business. I didn't even try to catch up with all the blog posts I missed so my sincere apologies to all of you.

Yesterday, after a hand full of sleep after all night driving, I finished the bases on my first full squad of tsarist Russian Shocktroops.

Last orders from High Command - 10th Painting Challenge Entry

The latest Fortnight Theme Bonus Round of Curt's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge was entitled "Favourite Characters" Many participants not only submitted stunningly awesome painted figures but also told interesting stories about why it's their favourite character. The poll is still open so feel free to pop over and nominate your most favourites of all these fabulous entries.

Finding a suitable set of figures for this themed bonus round proofed to be quite a challenge for me. I simply had no idea what figures to use as 'character' is quite open to interpretation.

Again a mixed bag of WW1 & WW2 - 6th Painting Challenge Entry & Vehicle Bonus Round

The third fortnight theme bonus round  of Curt's Painting Challenge is all about Vehicles. The poll is open since sunday so make sure to head over and vote for your favourite entries among a whole bunch of outstanding interpretations of the 'Vehicle' theme.

For my submission I went for a Daimler Mk1 armoured car for my Red Devils paratrooper force in beeing. Originally I intended to do a Churchill AVRE tank but decided it wouldn't fit my plans for the force.

A mixed bag of WW1 & WW2 - 5th Painting Challenge Entry

This time I'm back to historicals again:

As I finally decided to let my Great War games take place on the eastern front I ordered a pack of White Russian Officers from the Copplestone Russian Civil War range.These were intended as a test what colours to use and if they fit the bill. After all I'm rather pleased with the outcome and probably will stick to the range for further reinforcements.

The Great War Project #4: Beware the Snipers

There is some very strong leaning at home towards easy victories in unimportant theatres with small casualties and no real results. How on earth one can hope to beat Germany by killing Turks or Bulgars passes my comprehension. It is like a prize-fighter leaving the ring to trounce his opponent's seconds.

Brigadier General John Charteris, General Headquarters, BEF
Taken from 'The Great War: 1914-1918' by Peter Hart.

Following last weeks heavy weapon teams I now managed to get some snipers and a guy with an Anti Tank Rifle done. I don't know when I'll ever use three snipers but the models were too great not to be painted.

The Great War Project #3: Not home before the leaves fall...

A flooded Amazon of steel flowed roaring, immensely fast, over our heads and the machine gun bullets made a pattern of sharper purpose and maniac language against that diluvian rush. Flaring lights, small ones, great ones, flew up and went spinning sideways in the cloud of night; one's eyes seemed not quick enough; one heard nothing from one's shouting neighbour.

Lieutnant Edmund Blunden, 11th Royal Sussex Regiment during the third battle of Ypres.
Taken from 'The Great War: 1914-1918' by Peter Hart.

Almost finished standing on my workbench were two German heavy weapon teams. Today I did the last touch ups on the bases and here they are:

German 'Granatwerfer 16' from Great War Miniatures:

The Great War Project #2: Tending the wounded

'Take cover!' Too late: I fell on one knee on the ground. A sudden shock went through my left arm. It's behind me, bleeding profusely. I want to straighten it: I cannot. I want to get up: I cannot. I look at my arm as it shudders with the shock of a second bullet, and the blood pours from a second hole. My knees are stuck to the ground as if my body was made out of lead, my head bowed. Before my eyes a scrap of material jerks, the dull thud of a third bullet. Dully, I see the deep furrow of red flesh on my left breast near the armpit. I had to get up, drag myself out of sight. I didn't lose consciousness; my breathing sounded strange, gasping, quick and shallow.
The treetops swirl across a dizzying sky.

Lieutnant Maurice Genevoix, 106th Infantry Regiment during the fight in the St. Mihiel Salient.
Taken from 'The Great War: 1914-1918' by Peter Hart.

Yesterday I finished the first casualty markers for my Great War project. As strange as it sounds I had a great time painting the German casualties from Great War Miniatures. They're full of details. I think I'll need another pack to make some more. Unfortunately, as for any other miniatures range out there, there are much too few casualty miniatures out there.

The Great War Project #1: Over the top!

"The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our life-time"
Sir Edward Grey August 3rd 1914

I know I'm a bit late for remembrance day (not beeing celebrated over here in Germany anyway) but painting and especially basing took longer than anticipated.

This small Vignette (Pinmarker or similiar) of a fallen German soldier of the later period of the Great War is intended to be the start of my next big project. Gaming the Great War in 28mm.