28mm WWII Character Models

Stoessi’s Heroes is rightly known for the quality of their figures, which are all based upon historical personages from World War Two.

The three figures we picked up are Soviet Cook Ivan Pavlovich of the 91^st Tank Regiment, German Haupsturmfuhrer Fritz Klingenberg and SOE & French Resistance Simone-Segouin AKA Nicole Minet.

Soviet Cook Ivan Pavlovich of the 91^st Tank Regiment is famous for having single-handedly taking on two German tanks. In the first attack, he was taken by surprise by a German tank but, grabbing a rifle and his wood cutting axe, he attacked, damaging the barrel of the tank’s main armament and blocking up the vision slits so the Germans couldn’t drive away. He was promoted to Scout and attacked his second tank, using a grenade to kill the crew, then taking over the tank’s main gun and opening fire on a platoon of German soldiers, killing about a dozen. The figure depicts the character in mid-charge, with a PPsh SMG in one hand and an axe in his other. There’s a good sense of motion in the figure, although the look on his face lacks emotion.

German Haupsturmfuhrer Fritz Klingenberg was a Waffen-SS officer who is most famous for having captured the Yugoslavian capital of Belgrade with only six soldiers. When he and his motorcycle assault company reached the outskirts of the city, they found all the bridges had been destroyed. Undaunted, his men secured the use of a motor launch and Klingenberg, and NCO and five privates made their way across the rain swollen Danube and entered the city. The first Yugoslav soldiers they met surrendered to them, and a motorised group was vanquished, allowing the Germans to capture and use the vehicles. Racing to the Yugoslav War Ministry, they found it abandoned. Unable to find anyone to surrender the city to them, they headed to the German Embassy, whereupon they were visited by the Mayor of Belgrade who surrendered the city to them. They then ‘held’ the city until reinforcements arrived the next day. The figure shows Klingenberg in his smock and motorcycle goggles, perhaps pointing the way across the Danube at the prow of the motor launch.

Finally, SOE & French Resistance Simone-Segouin AKA Nicole Minet is a former French resistance fighter who served in the Francs-Tireurs et Partisans group (Free-shooters and Partisans, or FTP) – a combat alliance made up of militant communists and French nationalists. She was credited with capturing 25 Germans and killing several more in the Chartres, France area. She was also present in Paris, France during the city’s liberation. For her efforts during the war, she was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and was awarded the Croix de guerre. The figure shows her armed with a German MP40 SMG, and wearing civilian shorts and blouse topped off by her concession to uniform in the form of a red sash and a French soldier’s side cap.

All these figures have been cast in metal and are a fitting reminder of some of the unsung ‘heroes’ from the European phase of World War Two. A host of other single figure packs are available for those who want their 28mm World War Two forces led by chracters.

For more information, visit www.stoessisheroes.com