From FrederickC: Braving the Box Barrage - Der Gegenstoß (160 points)

Germans Stormtrooper in Action by Gerry Embleton

My third submission for AHPC XV is a group of 28mm First World War German infantry from Renegade Miniatures that I bought along with last Saturday's Canadians on the same visit to Calgary some fifteen years ago. It consists of four sections of eight soldiers. Each section contains men armed with rifle and bayonet, fighting knives, entrenching spades, and lots of stick grenades. These sculpts are also a bit on the chunky side compared to other First World War miniatures, but I like the variety in the weapons being carried. The only real criticism I have is that I think the puttees should go higher. These only come up to mid-calf, but photos clearly show them coming up to just below the knee.  Alas, they are also now out of production.

After cleaning up the mold lines, etc. the figures were glued to 1 inch fender washers, and then sand was glued down with PVA. I primed them using a rattle can of Army Painter Uniform Grey primer. The figures were then painted using primarily Vallejo Acrylics as follows: skin - Flat Flesh; uniform - German Field Grey; boots, pouches, and helmet chin strap - German Camo Black Brown; puttees - one of Charcoal Grey, Hemp, or Parched Grass; Blanket - Stone Grey; rifle stock, grenade handle, and spade handle - Beige Brown; spade - Gunmetal; metal rifle parts - German Grey; bayonet and knife blades - Steel; mess tin and gas mask canister - Charcoal Grey; helmet - one of AK Interactive Dunkelgrau, Olivegrun 1 or Olivegrun 2.

Once all the painting was completed, the figures got my usual treatment with Army Painter Strong Tone Quick Shade. Again, this worked very well on these figures as the detail is quite pronounced, so the quick shade flows readily into any grooves or corners.

 On an historical note, German tactical doctrine following the Somme battles was 'defence in depth' with the forward zone only lightly held by machine gun posts. They were to just slow down the enemy, not stop them. Any ground lost in the main zone was to be regained by an immediate counterattack before the enemy could consolidate their gains. The box barrage was designed to prevent the Germans from moving their reinforcements into the captured area. During the Battle of Hill 70 in August 1917, the Canadians used the German doctrine against them.

Haig ordered Sir Arthur Currie, who in June had been placed in command of the Canadian Corps, to launch a frontal assault on the city of Lens. Instead of attacking the heavily fortified city directly, Currie, after studying the ground, convinced his British superiors that a better plan would be to capture Hill 70, directly to the north. If this dominating hill could be taken, the Germans would have no choice but to counterattack. Currie planned for artillery and machine-guns to smash these German concentrations, thereby weakening their hold on the entire sector.

The Canadians attacked on 15 August and captured many of their objectives, including the high ground. They then held their positions against 21 determined German counterattacks over the next four days. Canadian probing attacks against Lens on 21 and 23 August were unsuccessful, but Currie’s forces had inflicted severe casualties on the enemy and gained the high ground overlooking the city.

 The Canadians lost more than 9,000 soldiers at Hill 70, but killed or wounded an estimated 25,000 Germans. Currie proved an able and innovative commander. His Canadian Corps would soon move north to help Haig and his faltering Passchendaele campaign.

 

"Your Fatherland is in Danger"

 

The points being claimed are as follows:

 

32 x 28mm foot figures @ 5 points each = 160 points

Thanks for stopping by. 

Sylvain: I don't know what impresses me most in your posts between the quality (and quantity!) of your brushwork or the historical knowledge you bring to the description of your minis. I like how your bases blend with the mud of the trenches. I also like that you shared your list of paint. I had to struggle to find the right type of green for my BEF Cruiser tanks. Thanks for the great post!