Volkssturm Infantry Gun Platoon (GE826) (Direct Only)

Designed by Evan Allen Painted by Aaron Mathie

Volkssturm Infantry Gun Platoon (GE826) (Direct Only) Includes 13 metal figures - two 7.5cm IG37 guns with crew, one Command Rifle team and one Observer Rifle team, two plastic medium bases and two small bases. The Siemens Company in Berlin formed the best-trained and most well-equipped Volksturm battalion to take part in the battle. It was led by WWI veteran officers and equipped with a good selection of weapons, even including infantry guns to help defend Berlin from the coming Red Army assault. Check out the Volkssturm Infantry Gun Platoon in the online store here...

Berlin: German In January 1945 the German Ardennes offensive in the west failed to force the Allies to the negotiating table. The British and Americans are ready to cross into Germany. The newly-raised Panzerdivision ‘Clauswitz’ and troops from the schools and training battalions are thrown into the fight. Every fighting man is utilised in the defence of the Reich. In the east, the Germans traded ground for time, falling back into western Poland and east Prussia and establishing Festerplatz, or fortress cities. An eerie calm settled in for the first few weeks of the new year as both sides prepare.

Assembling the Volkssturm Infantry Gun Platoon

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Command Team Description of Components a. Kneeling NCO.  b. Kneeling rifleman. c. Figure holding Panzerfaust. Assembling the Command Team To assemble this team the same as Aaron's painted example, simply arrange these three figures on one of the small three-hole bases provided. Feel free to swap one or more figures with any of the figures below (other than the MG gunners or loaders) if you prefer.

Observer Team Description of Components a. Kneeling firing rifleman. b. Prone Observer figure. Assembling the Observer Team To model the observer team, simply arrange these figures on the small two-hole base provided.

	Gun Crew Description of Components a. 2x Kneeling gunner figures. b. 2x Kneeling loader figures. c. 2x Kneeling figure covering ears. d. 2x Kneeling crew figures.
Assembling the Gun Crew Each 7.5cm IG37 gun has a four-man crew; simply arrange one of each crew figure type to taste around each gun.

7.5cm IG37 Gun Description of Components a. 2x Gun trails. b. 2x Gun trail wheel sprues. c. 2x Gun shields. d. 2x 7.5cm gun barrels.

Bases Description of Components a. 1x Small two-hole base. b. 1x Small three-hole base. c. 2x Medium bases.

Assembling the 7.5cm IG37 Gun

Step 1. Begin by attaching the wheels to the gun trail.		Step 2. Next, attach the 7.5cm gun barrel.

Step 3. Finally, slide the gun shield into place.	Step 4. With the gun shield in place, the 7.5cm IG37 is ready for painting.

Painting Volksstrum

The better-supplied Volkssturm units, particularly those in the first Levy, were issued as many military uniforms as possible, from whatever sources were available. These were mostly Grenadier Green but included some camouflage gear, and even Luftwaffe items (Luftwaffe Blue). All had markings such as collar patches and shoulder straps removed.

NSDAP Uniforms Many Volkssturm recruits would have owned paramilitary uniforms from Nazi Party organisations such as the Hitlerjugend, Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labour Service) and Sturmabteilung.

The official instructions were for Party uniform items to be dyed Grenadier Green, but often this was not possible, so you may choose to paint some uniform items, such as greatcoats, the distinctive light brown colour iconic of the Nazi ‘brownshirt’. (Comrade Khaki, highlighted with Sickly Yellow).

Many Volkssturm men received no uniforms at all, other than their armband and had to provide their own suitable hard-wearing clothing. Civilian clothes seem like an opportunity to depart from the drab military palette of typical army uniforms. But you should try to stick to fairly dark, muted colours, which predominated in typical 1940s clothing, particularly the sort of practical outdoor garb favoured by the Volkssturm.
Black Some people find it difficult to highlight black. One useful tip is that even a very dark grey like Worn Rubber looks bright compared to pure black. Try mixing it with a little black for more subtle highlights.		Grey Almost any shade of medium to dark grey is appropriate. Suggestions: Worn Rubber, Panzer Grey, Bunker Grey, Luftwaffe Blue.
Brown As with grey, almost any shade of brown will do. Suggestions: Battlefield Brown, Wool Brown, Battledress Brown, Motherland Earth.		Blue Pure blue shades like Infantry Blue will look too bright and garish on their own. Mix them with grey or black to produce a suitably muted colour.

Painting the Volksstrum Armband The only official uniform of the Volkssturm consisted of an armband. Painting the armband is easier than it looks.

Paint the whole armband Artillery Red

Paint a band of White across the middle of the armband;

Paint a narrower band of Black, leaving a thin line of white showing at the top and bottom.

Aaron based the Volkssturm Infantry Gun Platoon to match the theme of street fighting in Berlin. The Plastic Bases: Urban Rubble set (XX106) gives you plenty of easy options for basing your Berlin force.