Temptation

One has to admire the seemingly tireless productivity of author Bruno Mugnai, repeatedly producing high quality and well researched books on one of my most favourite subject areas, namely the Wars and Soldiers in the Early Reign of Louis XIV. This latest offering is volume 7, Armies of the German States 1655-1690, part 2. Part 1 covered the armies of Brandenburg, Bavaria, Saxony and Münster. The second volume looks primarily at the armies of the Electoral Prince Archbishoprics (Cologne and Trier), the three Brunswick states, the two Hessian states and the Palatinate. There is a final chapter covering other much more minor states such as Holstein-Gottorp, Baden-Baden, Baden-Durlach and the Bishoprics of Paderborn and Osnabruck. Of these I found complex relationship between the three Brunswick states explained well, if only for my benefit. The author’s inclusion of some the smallest states is also very welcome.

After the preliminaries where the fragmented nature of Germany is discussed and put in the context of the wider European theatre we are presented with the chapters mentioned above. In addition to a brief introduction to each of these states, the armies of each and their campaigns are discussed.

The stars of the book are the ten pages of completely splendid colour plates, all painted by the author. These images and the commentaries that accompany them bring the whole subject to life in startling colour. I will now have to paint a unit in yellow and another in blue with pink facings and breeches. The rest of the book is also replete with a wide range of contemporary black and white images and further uniform reconstructions, plus photos of surviving pieces of equipment. The maps are especially useful as they demonstrate the incredibly diverse and exhausting range of electorates, principalities, bishoprics, archbishoprics, free cities and the rest.

The appendices go further in explaining the composition of ‘Germany’ as a geographical expression by listing every single ‘state’, including the status of the ruling Prince, the size in square miles and population numbers.

This is another fine addition to the series and one I can recommend most highly. I am looking forward to the final volume out later this year I believe.


ISBN 978-1-804514-47-4 197 pages, soft covers.

Scraping the barrel.

 More oddments finished yesterday. These really are the arse end of the French resin pimple for the time being. Of course I am sure that other stuff will surface when I dig deeper……

A stretcher bearer team hurry to the aid station, their casualty overcome by the attentions of the subject of the next picture.

I am sorry miss but nude sunbathing during a German invasion is not a recommended activity so we ask you to move on.

Anozeur invasion by ze Bosche. Phut! Zut alors. This time our army is better armed and better prepared.

This is an old and imho very silly FT17 tank of WW1 vintage converted into an armoured command vehicle. I’ve made this one an armoured FOO for the RAAT artillery regiment attached to the 3DLM. I doubt it’ll ever keep up.

There we are for now. I might be going to the club this evening. Fingers crossed. I might even run a game next week.

Life Need Not be a Train Wreck. Let the train take the strain 1940 France

When I was in India the start of the year I ordered this rather lovely 3d printed train wreck in 1/72 scale. More or less finished it today as a bit of a displacement activity to avoid more pressing jobs.

I’ve also done about five feet of track to go with it. Not a bad job though I say so myself.

More French for 1940

 I don’t seem to be able to shake my enthusiasm for painting 1940 French. Here are the latest off the painting desk.

A 75mm artillery battery, horse drawn of course, for my N African troops in the shape of the 1st Moroccan Division 

An obsolete but rather splendid little P-28 armoured car. 

Two more Char B1 bis, inspired by the last photo on this post of an actual paint scheme. It looks pretty good and to be honest wasn’t too difficult to do. I’m pleased with them both.

This is what the two tanks above were based upon.

I reckon the French are pretty much done. I’ve still got a few vignettes to finish ( oh and one battalion of N African infantry) but then they’re done (?) . A battalion of Hotchkiss tanks are finished but not adorned with their decals.

THEN, we might even see a game next weekend subject to all the usual caveats. 

French Army 1940 on Parade.

 I thought I would organise a parade of my French 1940 troops, primarily so I would be able to see where any gaps were in the orders of battle of the formations I had chosen to produce for the tabletop; this exercise would then allow me to move on whatever French remained unpainted and unwanted to another home. Everything is organised more of less for Rapid Fire.

HQ of 3DLM (Division Legere Mechanique)

I wanted a random N African or Senegalese unit. These are the support company for the first battalion. I need (?) to finish the second battalion and some horse drawn artillery.

Tirailleur battalion.

A host of refugees.

The rump of two battalions of Dragon Portees. With a squadron of motorcycles, two of motorised infantry, attached AMR light tanks and assorted AT guns and mortars these should be quite tough.

Two squadrons of AMR light tanks for the Dragon Portee battalions.

Somua and H39 for the 1st and 2nd Cuirassiers. 

Divisional Reconnaissance Group 

I should field the group with either the Schneider P16 or the Panhard AMD 178

The whole lot on parade 

This was actually quite a useful exercise as I’ve been able to give potential new homes to lots of metal and resin from the box of doom. I’ll be able to field another N African battalion, a battalion of Chasseurs Portee and ultimately an armoured brigade with Char B tanks, all of which are some way through being completed already. 

I will have far too much but at least there will be a good selection to chose from for any future games.

A Garden Extravaganza

A mate of mine shared this at our weekly Virtual Wargames Group (aka the Zoomie Boys and Girls Gamers in our house).

Quite inspirational given it is such a long time ago. Here is the link.

https://fb.watch/wM8aVqknbL/?

A Mighty Fortress of God. The Siege of Munster 1534-1535. A Review

I have to admit that the subject of this latest book by Doug Miller is something I had never even heard of, as my focus has previously been on the wars in Italy taking place at the same time. I was looking forward to learning some new stuff, and was not to be disappointed.

A Mighty Fortress of God, the Siege of Munster 1534-1535 is one of the latest offerings in Helion’s excellent and growing series ‘from Retinue to Regiment’. 

In brief, in February 1534 Franz von Waldeck, the Catholic Bishop of Münster began a siege that would last for sixteen months. The Anabaptists holding Münster viewed it as the 'New Jerusalem',  and they resolutely resisted the bishop's forces. The Anabaptists fortified the city, and repelled numerous assaults while suffering from starvation, disease, and internal strife. Ultimately the defenders were be betrayed and the city fell.

Doug Miller brings the siege to life through the vivid accounts of contemporary witnesses and detailed historical research. We are taken on a step-by-step journey through the each aspect of the siege: the construction of earthworks, the organisation of defences, the failed attacks of 1534 to the dramatic betrayal that finally led to the collapse of the Anabaptist defence in June 1535, this account covers a key moment in Reformation-era history. The author also explores the motivations, leadership, and ideologies of both the besiegers and the besieged, offering an unparalleled and for me massive insight into the complexities of the Anabaptist movement, which was entirely new to me, and its extinction in Münster.

As ever with Helion books, we are provided with lots of specially-commissioned artwork of clothing and flags together with contemporary black and white images and photographs of surviving buildings and equipment. The numerous colour plates of troops and coats of arms are simply beautiful and are inspiring. I have to say the image of the Landsknecht longbow man came as a surprise, but the weapon’s continued use is perfectly plausible. There are some particularly useful colour maps of the area and the siege itself.

The appendices amongst other things include Bishop's Articles of War, and details of the actual costs of the siege.

This is a superb addition to the series and the author should be commended on the quality of his writing and research. As I said at the start of this review, I knew nothing of this siege but have now learnt a great deal about this fascinating episode set during the Reformation in Germany. I now even know who and what the Anabaptists were and what their beliefs were. Fascinating stuff.

ISBN 978-1-804515-55-6  141 pages soft