Just the other day, Panzercommander sent me some pictures of his excellent Italian Machine Gun Team, shot in a really cool desert-like location. I am going to let him do the talking for the rest of this Blog though because I know nothing about Italian units and he's got the straight scoop on these guys. So...here we go... Take it away Panzecommander!
Machine Gun Team, 28th Regiment,
17th Infantry Division Pavia, North Africa 1942
I never would have considered kitbashing Italians if the Twisting Toyz Italians weren’t blown out at Tuesday Mornings all across the country last month. I based what I kitbashed off of what I could find – mainly Domenicos and Davides – so since it isn’t winter, I thought I would show you what I did with the Davides. I had hoped to see more people posting what they did with their Italian finds but thus far we’ve only seen photos
of what hoarders have bought and the rest ended up on eBay. Too bad!
of what hoarders have bought and the rest ended up on eBay. Too bad!
Italians in WWII are an interesting subject – most people disregarding Italy’s contribution to the Axis war effort almost completely – but research shows instances of bravery, courage, and heroism as in any other combatant in the Second World War despite often poorly lead, fed, shod, outgunned, and neglected due to the corruption of the Fascist state at home.
The Sergeant
The 17th Infantry Division ‘Pavia’ fought in every major engagement in Libya and Egypt from Operation Compass in 1941 to the Second Battle El Alamein (where it was destroyed) in 1942.
The figures in the pictures represent a machine gun team from the 28th Regiment led by a sergente maggiore (staff sergeant). The gunner of the Breda 37 heavy machine gun is a corporale maggiore (corporal) and the gunner’s assistant is a soldato (private).
The figures in the pictures represent a machine gun team from the 28th Regiment led by a sergente maggiore (staff sergeant). The gunner of the Breda 37 heavy machine gun is a corporale maggiore (corporal) and the gunner’s assistant is a soldato (private).
The Corporal
Gunner's Assistant - Private
Man! Panzercommander's Italian troops do look great. They didn't have these guys in my AO or I would have picked up some for sure. They really are sharp. I particularly liked this shot below. It just really looked real to me.
I've still got some work to do on them, but I have been working on some Printables for the folks that are collecting Italian soldiers. It will include post cards, cigarettes, money, Soldbuchs and rations as well as a few other things. Finding good reference materials on Italian paper items has sort of been challenging. There just isn't a lot of stuff to be had, but I'm thinking the ration packaging will at least be helpful to most folks. Not sure when they will be ready to post on the site, but they will be available probably within the next couple of weeks.
Well, thanks Panzercommander for sharing these great looking Italian troops with us. I can't wait to see them up close and personal at the meeting in a couple of weeks. Well, until next time, have a good one!
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