Wednesday, January 25

D-Day Miniatures recreate the scene & soldiers of the "Ambush at Poteau" in their latest set, now on sale...

D-Day Miniatures new set of four figures are sold as sets, pairs or singles that capture the "Ambush at Poteau" scene in the Ardennes in 19444. We look at the figures & the real scenes & soldiers who inspired the sculpts in our preview...

D-Day Miniatures recreate the scene & soldiers of the "Ambush at Poteau" in their latest set, now on sale...

The latest set of four figures from D-Day Miniatures feature the men of SS-Kampfgruppe Hansen in December 1944/ January 1945. In 1944 in the Ardennes, as the world held their breath as the German units counterattacked to drive towards the coast and split the allies apart. This high-profile campaign was Hitler's last gamble in the west and there were several pictures taken of the battle on both sides. It is from some of these images and films that this set of the soldiers of SS Kampfgruppe Hansen were inspired.
The shots shown here are some of these very well known shots of one squad of soldiers from KG Hansen in a well-known propaganda film
SS Kampfgruppe Hansen  participated in the "battle of the Bulge" or "Ardennes Offensive" In a quiet sector of the Ardennes in the bitter Winter of December 1944. The cream of what was left of Hitler’s armies and whoever else could be conscripted attacked through a narrow corridor in the forests of Belgium, trying to strike out and capture the Meuse river bridges to try to cut the Allied US and British forces in two.
The attack ultimately failed after harsh conditions, a strong resistance by the Allies and the basic lack of fuel, ammunition and the reliance on having to capture supplies to advance caused the German's advance to dwindle and fail – it was truly Hitler’s last gamble in the west. Famous pictures like these, made some of the soldiers in them well known from history books, and now from the internet.
The pictures we have been looking at are from a soldier who clearly inspired these new figures in 35th scale from D-Day Miniatures. The only thing that is known about this young soldier is that he was in the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler (1st SS) and probably from 1. Pz Gren Regt. The soldier in the photo is often called "Winter Fritz" or "Lucky Strike" on the other side of the pond.
He is actually captured in this short video I found on YouTube at the 1.05 minute mark 
The caption of the photo below: “After an ambush during the Battle of the Bulge, SS-Panzergrenadiers Berthold Nasse, Ernst Kalt and Walter Armbrusch, "Kampfgruppe Hansen", 'LSSAH', smoking cigarettes captured from American troops. Poteau, Belgium. 18 December 1944.”
It turns out that the ambushed American vehicles were from the 14th Cavalry Group and that these photos were taken on 18th Dec 1944 by SS propaganda photographers. The soldiers from Kampfgruppe Hansen and Schnellgruppe Knittel of 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler” and the pictures were taken near Poteau, which is roughly NW of St Vith.

Both of the soldiers from this set are seen in this picture, the MG Gunner and his ammo carrying buddy.
Now we are sure of the place but not the names of the soldiers, and although there were myths about a fellow on the history channel claiming to be him there has been no real verification of this soldier’s identity and we have done a LOT of reading on the subject. Lots of claims and counter-claims, but no real proof that we can substantiate. 


WWII German Fallschirmjager Hansen Combat Team Ardennes 1944
by D-Day miniature studio
1/35th scale
Sculptor: Pawel Krasicki
Box Art: Pawel Krasicki
The soldier seen smoking a cigarette given to him by the German noted as "Lucky Strike" is his assistant gunner. Seen carrying the ammunition in his Luftwaffe jump smock and thick pants. These would keep him warm, or attempt to, in this icy battlefield.


WWII German Waffen-SS Noncommissioned Officer in Tanker Trousers Hansen Combat Team Ardennes 1944
by D-Day miniature studio
1/35th scale
Sculptor: Pawel Krasicki
Box Art: Pawel Krasicki
Price: $21 USD from Hobbylink Japan
Seen with a looted M1 carbine and tanker's trousers, this soldier of Kampfgruppe Hansen is seen smoking (also) those looted cigarettes, as are his squad mates. The wrinkles in the material and his body language are quite convincing we think...


WWII German Waffen-SS Petty Officer in Tanker Trousers and Fallschirmjager Ardennes 1944 (Set of 2)
by D-Day miniature studio
1/35th scale
Sculptor: Pawel Krasicki
Box Art: Pawel Krasicki
Price: $41 USD from Hobbylink Japan
These two soldiers are also sold as singles, but they do go together quite well in clothing choices and disposition. Seen in a common setting and for sale for only slightly cheaper than two single figures.


WWII German Waffen-SS Soldier in Camouflage Poncho Hansen Combat Team Ardennes 1944
by D-Day miniature studio
1/35th scale
Sculptor: Pawel Krasicki
Box Art: Pawel Krasicki
Price: $21 USD from Hobbylink Japan
Another soldier from this video is seen munching on some looted food from the captured US stocks. Pavel has sculpted him with a mouth full of food and seen in his zeltbahn, or poncho that doubles up as a tent, covering over his uniform.


WWII German Waffen-SS MG42 Machine Gunner Hansen Combat Team Ardennes 1944
by D-Day miniature studio
1/35th scale
Price: $21 USD from Hobbylink Japan
This figure recreates the soldier called "Lucky Strike" from the propaganda video. Smoking the well known US cigarette as he walks forward, Belgian made pistol in his hand and MG 43 strapped to his back . The cleaning gear and all of his food, ammunition and other tools are included. You can see him put together but unpainted below for more detail...


WWII German Waffen-SS MG42 Machine Gunner and Soldier in Camouflage Poncho Hansen Combat Team Ardennes 1944 (set of 2)
by D-Day miniature studio
1/35th scale
Sculptor: Pawel Krasicki
Box Art: Pawel Krasicki
Price: $41.07 USD from Hobbylink Japan
Sold together in a set, these two soldiers fit each other in body language and weight of clothing to suit the same setting. The gear is also late-WWII, so you have two for a slightly cheaper price than two individual figures...


WWII German Waffen-SS Poteau Battle Set Hansen Combat Team Ardennes 1944 (4 figure set)
by D-Day miniature studio
1/35th scale
Sculptor: Pawel Krasicki
Box Art: Pawel Krasicki
Price: $78.65 USD from Hobbylink Japan
These four soldiers from a historical scene in a bleak time for these soldiers and their enemies. The images and scene has been captured well by the sculptor in these four figures, and the set of four, at a slightly cheaper price than buying them individually is worth looking at.

If you would like your own copies of these figures, you can order them via the D-Day Miniature Studio website.