07/10/2015

Greeks in Crete 1941

A useful find in a Greek modelling magazine, but a bit too late for the big game refight of Crete six years ago.

L to R Officer cadets; 8th Infantry Regiment; Gendarmerie and a Cretan peasant.

There were a couple of other plates of Germans and British, but they were not worth scanning.

4 comments:

  1. Hi,
    I am more of a diorama builder than a war gamer . My son does GW wargaming .
    I have a Battle of Crete diorama. I stumbled upon this picture of yours above . The first figure is certainly an officer or cadet. The second figure is a Greek 'sergeant' - yes the two stripes represent a sergeant not a corporal . Thank you for the good work that you have done on your blogs .
    I have had a good look around the various time periods .

    Nick Papadopoulos , Auckland ,New Zealand.

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  2. I used 1/72nd scale plastic figures from Airfix ,Revell ,Hatt figures ,etc for the Battle of Crete diorama .
    I converted Hatt figures ACW Zouaves in to Cretan irregulars . I used Italian infantry to depict the Greek soldiers as the Greek helmet was a licenced version of the Italian helmet . British and Empire troops were mainly Airfix with some Revell Australians as well as some Esci/Italieri stuff .
    The Germans were a mix of Airfix and Revell Falschimjager [German Paras] and converted Afrika corps to represent the Gerbirgsjager [Alpine /mountain troops].

    Some soldiers were individually painted -with different shades of colour -but many were also mass painted with primer then top coat with faces ,boots ,webbing painted on afterwards .
    I found an appropriate British light tank to use .
    Artillery was made to represent - captured Italian tanks that were shipped over from North Africa. I used Airfix guns from the Airfix Bren-gun set with large spoked wheels -adapted from WW1 -British tank steering wheels .

    The scenario was post - the battle for Maleme airfield . I showed a road that had villages in the left background -various fields of crops and a village where the British and Greek/Cretan forces were grouped in .


    Being a Kiwi of Greek background it was a labour of love to depict New Zealanders and Greeks together .


    I have also made a Generic WW 1 battle plus - ANZAC cove in Gallipoli .


    Nick Papadopoulos , Auckland , New Zealand .

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  3. The ANZAC cove scenario depicted the ANZACS some time after the landings when they were dug in .
    Again I used mainly Airfix and some Revell for the Empire troops and Hatt figure for the Turkish forces .


    I was asked to do this work by the :- Papatoetoe Historical society for the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings - for ANZAC day .


    I used polystyrene for the hills and trench work covered with a render so that it would hold spray paint . I used a hot - wire to cut the polystyrene .
    On the left was the sea . In the background was a large - 'painting' of the hills -views of which were taken from online -photos -to the right of the box was painted further trenches.

    I was fortunate to find that Hatt -figures manufactured WW 1 Turks . I used German artillery for the Turks . The only disappointment was that the Turkish charging figures did not have bayonets . I suppose if I had more time I could have made bayonets from fine fuse wire ,etc . But time was pressing . I took a months leave and was really stressing towards the end .

    Fool that I was I also offered to do a generic WW1 battle as well .
    I wanted to show trenches in all directions but could not do it along the two sides of the box properly so gave that idea up … or they would have found me going mad by morning … I did this project night and day .


    I added a few Greek soldiers in the scene to represent the 300 odd Greek volunteers that landed in the Gulf of Saros to the very north of the Gallipoli peninsula - couldn't help it I am a proud Greek Kiwi...!!!!!!


    Nick Papadopoulos , Auckland ,New Zealand .

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  4. It would be nice to send you some photos -how would I go about this ,please…?
    You may contact me at :- papafam@xtra.co.nz
    There may be people interested in doing -scenery or buildings or dioramas that I could help .
    Thank you.

    Nick Papadopoulos, Auckland ,New Zealand .

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