BEF digging in along the Seigfried Line

These are the first of my BEF Tommies. There are many more on the table awaiting paint. I'm about to order a bunker from Steve Weston that will provide a great base for them to defend against the Fallshirmjagers and the onslaught of tanks about to make their way West!

More German Para's

These chaps are currently training in secret locations for their drops into France during the weekend of 8th & 9th May!

German Paratroops (Airfix 1/32)

I've been neglecting my 1/32 painting lately but the first lot of German Paratroops are nearly there, this is the first one I've finished. I always try and get one done to use as a reference point for all the others, that way they all look the same in terms of painting style. I didn't paint any in camo yet as I want to use them as early war pattern and also I couldn't be bothered lol. The British infantry are more like early war period anyway so they fit quite well together.

New German Armour

These are the new Italeri fast build PzIII's, with long 50mm barrel. There is another short barrel option in the kit. They are extremely easy to make and look great. I haven't painted the details and I'm not sure I need to, better time spent on more kits and figures!

Final outcomes

The inevitable happened to this armoured car causing the first blockage to the road, the following SU 152 was also destroyed right on the end of the bridge. This left the battle in a shoot out between Tigers and T34's, the Tigers were already limping and the Soviets eventually cleared all real opposition to the town. The T34's then covered the bridge and waited for engineering support to clear a way through. Meanwhile the artillery outside the town, which had been inactive all through, braced itself for a final stand. The Waffen SS company in the Dingly Dell of Death fell to the revenge of the T34's and retreated with a HMG manned by a lone gunner. Some surviving troops from the second company also fell back towards the town.

The Red Army could be said to have had a difficult victory. Assuming no further resistance could be fielded soon. Soviet losses were great but this is not a problem for the huge Red Army. High Command was happy with Comrade Peelerski's attack and he was spared the gulag on this occasion. The German's lost yet more tanks they can ill afford and a number of very brave troops. Iron crosses were won by the crew of the Panther and many of the infantry were decorated for their efforts but this battle only served to slow the tide of iron rolling in from the East.

The Dingly Dell of Death!

The German's and Soviets both entered each side of the wood and fought a fierce firefight through the trees, the Red Army took massive losses but stood firm through a couple of morale tests even after loosing their Political Commisar. They fought on despite no one being there to remind them that an NKVD firing squad awaited anyone thinking of surrender. The last few remnants eventually melted away depite support arriving from the T34's that had retreated back up the road after and exchange with the Tigers outside the town. German losses in the wood were minimal at this point but the other company had rather blindly jumped into their transport and tried to cross the road under the bombardment of the T34's to joint with their brothers in defence in the wood in the hope they would be better placed to attack the Soviet armour with infantry crewed anti-tank weapons. Few survived and the truck was now blocking the road forcing the Tigers to chase the T34's cross country. Meanwhile the Marder III was on it's way to the wood to support the infantry, vicorious against the Red Army infantry but now at the mercy of the T34's.

Not so quiet on the Eastern Front (Part 3)

Upon crossing the first Soviet rifle company made for a nearby wood, the Germans now aware of what was happening at the bridge bagen to move out on foot from the farm to take a defensive position in the wood. The T34's roll on down the road, unaware of the Tigers waiting at the end of it.