Germany expected an early conquest of Russia at the time of its attack on 22 June 1941, but when the expected victory did not come as easily as anticipated, the Wehrmacht soon found itself embroiled in Russia’s brutal and bitterly cold winter. A quarter of a million German soldiers suffered frostbite in that first Russian winter simply because they were ill equipped and poorly supplied with appropriate cold-weather gear. Soldiers who survived that first gruelling winter actually received a medal (called the Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42, and which the soldiers often called “Frozen Meat Order”)! Every winter on the Eastern Front in the following few years was also a test of endurance.
THE KIT:
The set features four separate soldiers, each distinctively dressed and armed. They reflect the range of clothing such as parkas, greatcoats, snow suits and reversible insulated winter suits that were available to soldiers, as well as a variety of different headgear.
Their range of weaponry includes a brand new Gew 33/40 rifle, Gew 43 self-loading rifle, MG42 machine gun and anti-tank 8.8cm Raketenpanzerbruchse.
