Thursday 30 April 2020

A Cross of Iron

I have always found it difficult to resist a movie or popular culture crossover when it comes to this most wholesome of hobbies and so it was that when I stumbled across these splendid miniatures from 'Empress Miniatures', my already weak resolve just caved in completely and an order was placed.  
I have to confess that young Master Awdry was initially confused by Sam Peckinpah's 1977 'anti-war' film, Cross of Iron.  Its treatment of the Second World War was just so different to any other experience that I had had up to that point.  For one thing, I was been asked to view the beleaguered German unit, literally fighting for its life on the Eastern front, as the heroes of the piece.  The level of violence and portrayal of war so far removed from my previous sanitised experiences during the much loved films that I would watch with my father on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Now considered a masterpiece by many, albeit a lengthy self indulgent one, Cross of Iron has clearly had an impact on modern film makers, Quinton Tarantino being one such notable example.  For me it is the character of the indestructible platoon leader, Sergeant Steiner that is most memorable.  Played by James Coburn in the film, Steiner has to fight the war on two fronts, the Russians on one and the overly ambitious Prussian aristocrat, Captain Stransky whose desire to win the Iron Cross puts the men under his command in mortal danger on the other.  It is Steiner and members of his platoon that these four wonderful sculpts, by the talented Paul Hicks, represent. 
Cross of Iron aside, I plan to use the 'Steiner' miniature to represent Major Josef 'Sepp' Gangl, the man who led the German troops during the defence of Schloss Itter.  I appreciate that the weapon might be slightly anachronistic and indeed I probably should have considered displaying his rank more clearly, but there was something about the sculpt that just seemed to resonate with the picture that I had in my mind of the real Major Gangl.
Josef Gangl was a career soldier who had joined the army at eighteen, moving through the ranks and serving almost exclusively with the artillery.  A highly decorated soldier, Gangl was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class in 1941 and then received the Iron Cross 1st Class in 1942 whilst serving on the Eastern front.  He fought in France during the invasion of the allied forces then redeployed with new equipment, following heavy loses, to take part in the Ardennes offensive.  On March 8, 1945, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold and shortly afterwards was promoted to Major.  In the face of continued loses, he was ordered to take his battalion and fight his way back to the Tyrol to take part in the defence of the Alpine Fortress.  In the final days of the war it becomes clear that Major Gangl's primary mission was to keep the men under his command safe from the advancing Americans and marauding SS Troops.  To that end he contacts the Austrian Resistance and it is through this connection that he finds himself defending French Prisoners of War alongside American G.I.s at Schloss Itter.  Sadly Gangl was fatally wounded  by a sniper while trying to get former French Prime Minister, Paul Reynaud out of the line of fire. He was to be the only defender of the castle to lose his life on the day of the battle.
It seems only fitting that such an important figure in the battle should be represented and I am delighted to have found a suitable miniature, all inaccuracies aside. This has also meant that I have been able to fashion him a character card as well.  It is also lovely to have had the opportunity to paint some Paul Hicks' sculpts again, they really are exquisite.  The only draw back being that they are so accurate that I worry about the details, spending an inordinate amount of time trying to make up my mind as to how to approach them.  As with all such conundrums it is sometimes better just to start and sure enough once underway the process went relative smoothly.  More 'Empress Miniatures' to come in the not too distant future, but a final group shot to end the post.


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54 comments:

  1. Lovely work Michael. Your character cards are particularly professional in appearance 👍 I might need to go a rewatch the film as I can’t really remember it

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    1. Thank you Matt, really enjoyed the card design aspect. I haven't seen the film for an age, too tight to download it.😀

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  2. Fantastic work Michael, remember the film, which I enjoyed very much, and wonderful piece of history to finish the post

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    1. Thank you Dave, it has been a good to get a few of these side elements done.

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  3. Nice work, I love the movie (and the book) and I love the miniatures and I will be getting them myself at some point. Though unlikely he could have brought a PPSh back from the Eastern Front and still had it in 1945...or if you don't look too closely it could be a captured Tommy Gun.

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    1. Thank you Kym, they really are great miniatures. The PPSh really is a problem, love the idea of it being a Tommy Gun.🤣 I did wonder if the calibre might be such that they would be able use German ammunition, but I don't think that is likely?

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    2. I think realistically it is more likely he obtained a PPSh captured in Russia than used a captured Tommy Gun. Germany had such massive supply issues they eagerly used all captured weapons and other materiel. Captured guns were generally re-chambered to accept German ammunition. The PPSh for example was re-chambered to accept the German standard SMG round which was a 9mm parabellum. I have never heard or seen photos of captured Tommy guns being used possibly for 2 reasons (just speculation) - 1. they were never captured in large numbers 2. the Tommy gun was not a good gun (Australia stopped using them in 1943 in favour of sten and owen guns which had better stopping power, penetration, and reliability--probably other countries were the same but I know this because I am Australian, I think the US army and USMC stopped using them, or at least sopped ordering new ones, as well at some point in the war though don't quote me on that). I don't know if the Germans had a .45 pistol round but I don't think so.
      But only button-counters will care about all this :D it's a cool model and that's the main thing.

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    3. Thank you Kym, loved the additional detail. I think I am going to embrace the last point, it looks cool so it's in. 😀

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  4. Lovely sculpts enhanced by your wonderful painting Sir.

    I can see why you admire him so much, too.

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Thank you Roger, such a key character in the story.

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  5. Really an outstanding post, your painting is spectacular.

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  6. Marvellous and a cracking film

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    1. Thank you so much Martin, it's been a while since I have seen the full film though.

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  7. Lovely post, it has it all: personal interest, great miniatures and a History lesson!

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  8. Lovely work. I really must revisit this film and give it a watch. The Major is an interesting character it seems and I like how you have envisioned him for the tabletop.

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    1. Thank you Simon, Gangl really comes across as the hero of the piece, whose actions clealry saved the lives of many on that fateful day.

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  9. Great work sir, the film like you pointed out was so different from what went before, but was necessary imo as its often easy to forget that in wars people on all side suffer & that the most of them never want to be in a war in the first place.

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    1. I think you are right Frank, it needed to be made and I really must revisit it again soon.

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  10. One of my favourite movies, and a nice depiction in 28mm of the character. An interesting background on Major Gangl, too.

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    1. Thank you A.J. as soon as I saw these sculpts I just had to have them, there really are very good.

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  11. Very cool figure from a cool movie. James Coburn is one of favorite actors.

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  12. Very nice work Micheal and a great movie!

    Christopher

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  13. Not seen these figures before Sir M? They look terrific! And doesn't the Sgt Steiner/Gangl figure look like James Coburn! What a great sculpt!

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    1. They really are superb Ray. I love Empress Miniatures and may have bought some of their 'not' Apocalypse Now miniatures too! 🤣

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  14. Fantastic work sir! The movie is also one of my favourite :)

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    1. Thank you Michal, so pleased you liked them.

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  15. Masterfully done! They have so much character in them.

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    1. Thank you, they really are great miniatures.

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  16. Nice character cards and additional bits of history and lovely looking figures and it's not like your making a documentary !
    Best Iain

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    1. Thank you Iain, I think a misplaced submachine gun between friends is fine isn't it? ;)

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  17. I do like figures that are based on characters from TV and films, especially if they're well-sculpted. Excellent painting, as usual.

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    1. Thank you Jez, I am such a sucker for a movie tie in and these were particularly good.

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  18. The figures definitely look the part Michael! I have to agree the Steiner figure has some resemblance to the good Major.

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    1. Thank you so much Nick, rally lovely miniatures to work on too.

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  19. Great film and great figures... It might just have to be on to nights viewing planner.
    Cheers
    Stu

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  20. Great bunch of very prominent, individuals, all with their ownpersonaltitites and a very good choice for the CO too.
    I like your impressive cards too(a lot) and I do hope the corners will be rounded for that more 'professional look'.

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    1. Thank you so much Joe, they really are a lovely set to work on. Funnily enough, I was just thinking that the corners needed to be round and have a cutting tool for the job.

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  21. That final photo is so lovely just for the simple fact that there is so much variety in the bare heads; hats and helmets.

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    1. They are such a characterful set, really lovely to work on.

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  22. These are very nice figures and you've certainly done them justice with your painting. I do like the figures that are in a more static, or should I say less of a dynamic pose and these fit the bill perfectly for me.

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    1. There are a smashing set, just finished another group of Empress Germans and hopefully they should all work well together.

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  23. Lovely work - not seen those figure before. Cross of Iron is a favourite film of mine too and long while ago I picked up the Steiner set from 1st Corps - not quite as good a likeness as your Empress figs though. I remember running a game with them where the players were given various roles to play with their character (all loosely based on the film - shell shocked, cynical about the war, fanatical, etc) and had to patrol a forest, making decisions based on keeping their character alive rather than just shooting everything in sight!

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  24. Great choice of models Michael, even the face of the Steiner figure resembles that of Gangl. These character cards are awesome too by the way.

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