German Grenadier Painting Commission: WWII Miniatures
Recently I have just finished completing a Late War German Grenadier army in 28mm for our client Max. He wanted the force to be themed around the fighting in Normandy, particularly based on the infantry fighting in the 21st Panzer Division.
21st Panzer fought in North Africa and were then transferred to France prior to the D-Day landings.
During the invasion they were stationed north of Caen and were the first unit to be sent into a counterattack against the British. The division continued to fight in the Normandy campaign until it was brought to near destruction in the closing of the Falaise Pocket in August 1944.
The infantry units in this force depict the common layout of a later war grenadier squad. The NCO is armed with an MP40 sub machine gun. The majority of the men are carrying the standard issue Kar98k bolt action rifle. The true firepower behind the units lie with them having 2 MG42 machine guns. The Warlord Games Grenadier kit allows for a good variety of poses and weapon combinations, also included are the STG 44 early type of assault rifle which I have given to 6 spare figures allowing for some different combinations of weapons to be taken. Each squad also has men carrying the Panzerfaust anti tank rocket, a useful piece of kit for any German infantry encountering tanks.
Support weapons come in the form of a static firing MG42 team, these were often set up in the dense bocage terrain of the Normandy countryside waiting to ambush the approaching allies. Along side this is a mortar team crewing an 81mm mortar. The indirect fire support will allow for a lot of tactical use.
A Pak 40 Anti Tank gun provides heavier support against armoured threats. This was the typical main anti tank gun of the late war and had a crew of 4 men. It could easily knock out the majority of armoured tanks that the allies had in the western front.
As well as the grenadier infantry, the force also contains a couple of armoured vehicles to add further punch and power to the army. The first of which is the Puma Armoured Car. This was a heavy recon vehicle armed with a 50mm anti tank gun. Able to scout ahead of the main force it also posed a threat to light tanks and enemy soft skins but would not engage the heavier tanks.
To engage tanks, the Stug III G would be more suited. Originally a self propelled gun, the Stug primarily changed to a tank destroyer roll during the war and became the most produced of the German armoured vehicles in the war. It’s schurtzen side skirts have been given an ambush camo pattern and it clearly displays the 21st Panzer Division badge on the front.
Matt has also painted some elements of Max’s Grenadier force and has done a splendid job on a second platoon of infantry, armed in the same fashion as the other infantry in the force. These are more typical of Panzergrenadiers as they have dedicated half track transports with them. The SDKFZ 251 was the main armoured troop transport of the German army and was armed with a forward facing MG42 although some also had a mount for a rear facing gun as well.
Overall this comes together for a very formidable and flavourful late war German force, allowing for a lot of options to play multiple rule sets on the tabletop.
