7th PANZER DIVISION MAY 1940: “Fall Gelb (Case Yellow)” (2 Viewers)

[sceic2]

INTRODUCTION

This is my attempt at making a World War II diorama as accurate as possible but with the limited models available in 1:30 I have had to make some accommodations and concessions. I have done a bit of research to attempt to make the diorama look as if it were the actual event. This is a work-in-progress. I am awaiting some vehicles to come out of the paint shop and for materials to sculpt the terrian. The pictures are as I have layed out the columns and groupings to that I can do the landscaping (hills, ditches, etc.)

Alex Prieto has done a tremendous job in repainting (grey) three Opel Blitz trucks, a SdKfz 250 & ammo trailer, and a Panzer II. He is repainting an SdKfz 222 and a 37mm anti aircraft gun.

I used Archer Fine Transfer Decals for the vehicle ID's, license plates, tactical symbols, division emblems, national symbols, air recognition banners, etc. to make most of the vehicles identification labels as correct as possible.

I left some K&C vehicles unblemished and just assumed their factory identify is not as it appears but rather is appropriate for the 7th PD (I don’t want to depreciate their value as K&C originals):
Krupp Truck is as originally marked (simulated 7th PD anti aircraft platoon)
Panzer I’s are as originally marked (simulated as 7th PD light and medium panzer company)
Panzer IV’s are as originally marked (simulated as 7th PD light and medium panzer company)
Stug III Ausf B’s are as originally marked (simulated as Sturmgeschutz Battery 640 platoon, detached and assumed to the with the 7th, I have no prove they were but the tanks look so cool together and besides they are my toys and I will play with them as I want to so naa)

Every vehicle and figure is 1:30 with the exception of the six 21st Century 38(t)'s (1:32) that fit extremely well in this setting. The diorama is entitled:

SUNRISE SOMEWHERE IN WESTERN GERMANY
0530 on 03 May 1940 (One week prior to “Fall Gelb or Case Yellow”)

7th PANZER DIVISION
Headquarters Elements
Motorcycle Platoon
Mapping Detachment
25th Panzer Regiment
1st Regimental Staff Company, 1st Platoon
1st Panzer Battalion
2nd Light Tank Company, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Platoons
1st Medium Panzer Company, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Platoons
37th Panzer Reconnaissance (motorized) Battalion
1st Heavy Recon Company, 1st Platoon
42nd Anti-tank (motorized) Battalion
1st Anti-Tank Company, 1st Platoon
1st Anti-Aircraft Battery, 2nd Platoon
7th Rifle (motorized) Regiment
3rd Infantry Battalion
1st Heavy Infantry Company, 1st Platoon

Temporailay assigned Unit
Sturmgeschutz Battery 640
1st Platoon(deattached)

 

[sceic2]

Kampfgruppe (pl: Kampfgruppen) [Battlegroup]:

The Kampfgruppe was an often used German combat formation that doesn't really have an equal in Allied organization, being closest in concept to that of an American task force. A Kampfgruppe could range in size from a Korps to an Abteilung or Kompanie in size. Most Kampfgruppen were usually around an Abteilung in size. The Kampfgruppe was essentially an ad-hoc organization of different arms (Some tanks, a few artillery pieces, infantry, some assault boats, a few anti-tank guns, etc), more-or-less organized temporarily for a specific operational task. These tasks could be short term or long term in nature, and they were often organized quickly in accordance with tactical and strategic situation at hand. Kampfgruppen were usually named after the person chosen to command the formation. Kampfgruppe Pfieffer is an example of a German Kampfgruppe. It was organized very quickly from elements of the 21st Panzer-Division while it was stationed in North Africa. It was named after the commander chose to lead the unit, and it was composed of detached Abteilungen of infantry, amour, and artillery. It was used in operations over the span of a few days. The concept of the Kampfgruppe was a key and central element in WWII German tactical doctrine. Many hundreds of Kampfgruppen are known to have existed during WWII, while many thousands more were used but will probably never be known because of the nature in which they were often formed and saw combat.

Rommel's 7th Panzer Division one week prior to the invasion of France on 10 May 1940; this is the Division's primary Kampfgruppe (battle group). They are gathering for the last field exercise in Western Germany prior to moving up to the Belgium/French frontier for “Fall Gelb.” Rommel has been in command for less than a year after being commander of Hitler's field headquarters and personal train. Some of the Division’s junior officers and senior NCO’s have some serious doubts about their new General’s leadership abilities. They are just recovering from the shock of being renamed from the 2nd Leichte Division especially after their success in the Polish campaign. But their newly promoted Major General will prove them wrong and history will remember the 7th Panzer Division (7th PD) as the “Ghost Division” that campaigned through France to the Channel.

 

[sceic2]

This is a list of the vehicle and figure sets:

Division Headquarters Motorcycle Platoon
K&C WS46 (1 each) - Motorcycle set unmodified
K&C WS74 (1 each) - Motorcycle set unmodified
K&C WS87 (1 each) - Motorcycle set unmodified
K&C WS88 (1 each) - Motorcycle set unmodified
K&C WS89 (1 each) - Motorcycle set unmodified
Heavy Recon Platoon
HJB AA02 (1 each) - SdKfz 250/3
Added front and 2 rear license plates
7th PD emblems on front and rear
Tactical symbols for reconnaissance battalion HQ on front and rear
Early war Balkenkreuz left and right sides
K&C WS32 (2 each) - SdKfz 232
SS on front and rear license replaced with WH
7th PD emblems on front and rear
Tactical symbols for reconnaissance unit on front and rear
CS 00258PP (1 each) - Still in paint shop
SdKfz 222 repainted grey by Alex Prieto
Will add:
License plates front and rear
7th PD emblems on front and rear
Tactical symbols for towed anti-tank unit on front and rear
Early war Balkenkreuz left and right sides
Anti-Tank Platoon
HJB AA01 (2 each) - SdKfz 250/1
Added license plates front and 2 rear
7th PD emblems on front and rear
Tactical symbols for towed anti-tank unit on front and rear
Early war Balkenkreuz left and right sides
Hitch modified to fit WS42 tow bars
K&C WS42 (2 each) - 37mm anti tank gun
Unmodified, gun only
Anti-Aircraft Platoon
K&C WS37 (1 each) - Krupp truck unmodified
CS 00260PP (1 each) - Still in paint shop
Towed 37mm gun repainted grey by Alex Prieto
Division Headquarters Elements and Mapping Platoon
HJB AA01 (1 each) - SdKfz 250/1
Added license plates front and 2 rear
7th PD emblems on front and rear
Tactical symbols for mapping unit on front and rear
Early war Balkenkreuz left and right sides
K&C FOB20 (2 each) - Kubelwagon
7th PD emblems on front and rear
Tactical symbols for headquarter’ company on front and rear
K&C WS90PP (1 each) - Opel Blitz truck
7th PD emblems on front and rear
Tactical symbols for division staff company on front and rear
K&C WS90PP (2 each) - Opel Blitz truck
7th PD emblems on front and rear
Tactical symbols for heavy weapons company on front and rear
Light Tank and Medium Panzer Company units
21st C 99314S1 (6 each) -38(t) Tank
Original turret number painted over
Renumbered with 7th PD early war turret numbers
7th PD emblems on front and rear
Air recognition panels added
3 have had radio antenna removed
4 have had spare tracks moved
Regimental Staff Platoon
HJB AA01 (1 each) - SdKfz 250/1
Added license plates front and rear
7th PD emblems on front and rear
Tactical symbols for Regimental Staff on front and rear
Early war Balkenkreuz left and right sides
Light Tank and Medium Panzer Company units
K&C LAH68 (5 each) - Panzer I
Hull numbers Added
Light Tank and Medium Panzer Company units
K&C AK30PP (1 each) - Panzer II repainted by Alex Prieto
Renumbered with 7th PD early war turret numbers
7th PD emblems on front and rear
Renumbered with 7th PD early war turret numbers
7th PD emblems on front and rear
K&C FOB39 (2 each) - Panzer IV unmodified
Sturmgeschutz Platoon
K&C FOB38 (2 each) - Stug III Ausf B unmodified
K&C WS100PP (1 each) - SdKfz 250 repainted by Alex Prieto
Added license plates front and rear
3rd PD emblems on front and rear (to match FOB38)
Tactical symbols for SP Artillery unit on front and rear
K&C BBG09PP (1 each) - Trailer only
7th PD emblems on front and rear

Figure Sets
K&C
WS40
WS45 (officer only)
WS75 (one officer only)
WS94
WS96

Honor Bound
HB1A to C (select crew)
HB8C (food line only)

Patriot
PMW2set1
PMW2set3 (crew only)
PMW2set1

Scenic Materials
Department 56 Trees
JG Miniatures Rocks
Woodland Scenic Soil
Woodland Scenic Grass Mat

 

[sceic2]

So here are some pictures of the dio as I have layed out the vehicles and trees to begin the process of sculpting the terran.

 

[sceic2]

These are the recon and anti tank platoons.

 

[Alexdakar]

Michael you have to blow this one up for sure.

 

[sceic2]

These are the 3 Opel Blitz and the SdKfz 250 and trailer repaints by Alex Prieto.

 

[Warrior]

Micheal,
That diorama deserves to be in a magazine, up in lights for all to see, superb work. If that is the work in progress, I can only imagine the final result.

Stunning.........

 

[Alexdakar]

That is one massive and awesome diorama.

 

[jazzeum]

That is one massive and awesome diorama.

Aww, it's not that awesome, he's only got 8 Panzers

 

[Steven Chong]

Aww, it's not that awesome, he's only got 8 Panzers

But look at all the cavalry in the left of the picture that he is going to repaint as WWII German cavalry.

 

[aujj65]

This is most impressive!

Jeff

 

[Wraith]

Very cool dio Michael and an impressive array of armour.

Simon

 

[desk11desk12]

Michael you have to blow this one up for sure.

Michael:

Words cannot not express how awesome this dio is; the scale itself is impressive and it definitely tells a scary but accurate story. I’m very impressed and keep the pictures coming.

Carlos

 

[Leadmen]

Very impressive display. You have a nice diorama going. I enjoy your photos and your impressive collection of vehicles and armor. Thanks. Leadmen

 

[fmethorst]

What an ambitious and excellent display.

I have been considering doing a diorama of Kampfgruppe Peiper in Stoumont somewhere down the road but I thought it might be too much. After seeing this I'm feeling inspired again.

Thanks for this post

Frank

 

[debrito]

wowww!! you are read for war!...

 

[Captain]

Looks great Michael. looking forward to many more photos. Fantastic collection and Dio!!!

 

[Warrior]

Frank,
Regarding your Pieper diorama; go for it, the Bulge sets are terrific, begging for large scale dioramas........

 

[redhugh]

OOhhh Yeahhhh, now that is some diorama WWoooowww