HIRIART Spanish Civil War Infantry (1 Viewer)

[ucla1967]

As I have mentioned before, Hiriart has a separate Spanish Civil War catalog of 40 sets. I have about two dozen sets from this catalog in my collection. Set ES-01 Infanteria Espanola, 1939 shows them in their winter uniforms. Note the unusual Spanish helmet which was unique to Spain's armed forces. It is similar to the German stahlhelm, but is clearly different.

 

[ucla1967]

This is set ES-27 which shows the Spanish infantry in their summer uniforms. Note the three man machine gun section in this set.

 

[W T Allison II]

This is set ES-27 which shows the Spanish infantry in their summer uniforms. Note the three man machine gun section in this set.

Hi Mike: Great sets! Does Hiriart make any vehicles with these SCW sets? Tommy

 

[ucla1967]

Hi Mike: Great sets! Does Hiriart make any vehicles with these SCW sets? Tommy

Hi Tommy,

Thanks, I am glad you like them. Yes, set ES-32 Compania de Carros Ligeros del CTV which is also in the regular catalog as set 1207 Carroarmato Ansaldo, Italia. You have the desert version of this CV-33 tankette in your collection. This is the only vehicle among the SCW sets.

 

[W T Allison II]

Hi Tommy,

Thanks, I am glad you like them. Yes, set ES-32 Compania de Carros Ligeros del CTV which is also in the regular catalog as set 1207 Carroarmato Ansaldo, Italia. You have the desert version of this CV-33 tankette in your collection. This is the only vehicle among the SCW sets.

Thanks Mike. That is really an unusual set. Tommy

 

[ucla1967]

Thanks Mike. That is really an unusual set. Tommy

Thanks Tommy. Hiriart only has three other vehicles in its' catalog: 1162 British Bren Carrier; 1279 German Panzer II, Europe; and 1280 German Panzer II, Afrika. The 1280 DAK Panzer II is also found in the double catalog set 1220 Afrika Korps with Rommel.

 

[ucla1967]

On my future 2015 Hiriart order, I am ordering a special non-catolog version of set ES-17 ARTILLERIA DE MONTANA as Republican Infantry. I will ask Hiriart to use the officer on foot and the men behind him as the basis of this set. I will request that the set have an officer, bugler, Republican flag and 6 men, all marching. I will also request that they have a red star on their Adrian helmets, if possible. Here is what set ES-17 and the flag of the second republic look like.

 

[ucla1967]

Although the SPANISH BLUE (AZUL) DIVISION, was not formed until 1941, two years after the end of the Spanish Civil War, I thought I would post photos of it here to show how the Spanish Infantry's uniforms had changed, at least this for this particular divison. This was a divsion of volunteers who joined to fight the Communists on the Russian Front. They were named after their blue shirts worn by the Falangists. General Franco had agreed to send this division to Russia as part of his payback for Germany's support during the Spanish Civil War.

The 18,000 man division was trained and armed in Germany and was designated as the 250th Infantry Division of the Wermacht. Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa, had begun in June of 1941; the Blue Division arrived in the Army Group North sector in October of 1941 where it was assigned to the XXXVIIIth Corps of the Eighteenth Army. Their uniforms are German with the exception of the Spanish red and yellow national shield worn on their helmets and tunics. The officers, however, look more Spanish than German with their red berets. This division suffered 12,726 casulties, including 3,934 dead, in two years of fighting.

I had planned to order a non-catalog set of the Blue Division from Hiriart, but someone beat me to it. It is a handsome and unusual World War II set that may not, to my knowledge, have been made by anyone else. I have three Spanish Blue Division sets on my next (2013) Hiriart order. I can hardly wait to get them.

 

[jazzeum]

On my future 2015 Hiriart order, I am ordering a special non-catolog version of set ES-17 ARTILLERIA DE MONTANA as Republican Infantry. I will ask Hiriart to use the officer on foot and the men behind him as the basis of this set. I will request that the set have an officer, bugler, Republican flag and 6 men, all marching. I will also request that they have a red star on their Adrian helmets, if possible. Here is what set ES-17 and the flag of the second republic look like.

I haven't checked the Bueno book (it's at the office) but I wonder if the uniforms would be right.

 

[ucla1967]

I haven't checked the Bueno book (it's at the office) but I wonder if the uniforms would be right.

At the start of the war, there were eight infantry divisions (more like brigades in strength with only four battalions each) and one cavalry division located in metropolitan Spain. According to Osprey, 33,000 stood by the government, while 23,600 went over to the Nationalists. The para-military Guardia Civil, Asaltos, and Carabineros also split with a majority in each supporting the Republic. The Nationalists drew their primary strength from The African Army stationed in Spanish Morocco. These numbered 24,000 troops including six banderas (battalions) of the Tercio, ten tabors (half battalions) of Moroccan regulares, seven Spanish infantry battalions, six squadrons of cavalry, and six field artillery batteries.

My assumption was given the high number of regular army infantry units that fought for the Republic, that the any of the Hiriart sets of Spanish infantry, whether wearing the Spanish helmet or the Adrian helmet, could accurately represent the government Ejercito Popular Republicana (E.P.R) especially in the early years. The Jose Bueno book that the Hiriart catalog is based on is "El Ejercito Espanol en Parade" which was published in 1980 and only shows Nationalist troops and their German and Italian allies. I hope you have a different Bueno book which shows the E.P.R.

 

[Bombon]

Great figures!
What makes are they and where can be bought?

 

[jazzeum]

At the beginning of the War, it would have been natural for the uniforms to be similar but as it progressed they would have been a little different, particularly with the financial support of their respective patrons, Germany and the Soviet Union.

However, the black uniforms (including black pants only) would never have been worn by Republican troops. Those are fascist colors. In addition, the helmets would have been different as the original Army issue was used up.

Thus, if you're going to have Hiriart makes Republican troops, you could use the summer uniforms which don't appear all that different. For example, photos of officers on both sides seem to show similar uniforms. In addition, see the following. First image is of Fascist troops. Second, Republican troops.

 

[jazzeum]

I spent some time combing through Spanish speaking sites (as I'm fluent) and most seem to rely on the Bueno book.

As far as helmets, see the following images, which are different than the German style helmets. However, to me, that wouldn't be a big deal (I'm not as fastidious as others) and I think some early Soviet helmets resembled German helmets (last image).

 

[ucla1967]

At the beginning of the War, it would have been natural for the uniforms to be similar but as it progressed they would have been a little different, particularly with the financial support of their respective patrons, Germany and the Soviet Union.

However, the black uniforms (including black pants only) would never have been worn by Republican troops. Those are fascist colors. In addition, the helmets would have been different as the original Army issue was used up.

Thus, if you're going to have Hiriart makes Republican troops, you could use the summer uniforms which don't appear all that different. For example, photos of officers on both sides seem to show similar uniforms. In addition, see the following. First image is of Fascist troops. Second, Republican troops.
View attachment 114802

View attachment 114801

Brad,

Thanks for the photos and comments. I am not sure what black uniforms you are refering to. The troops in the Adrian helmets are wearing a dark, greenish brown khaki just like the infantry in set ES-01 (see post #1); maybe it is a bad stock photo, but I have the set and they are not wearing black. Also, the Adrian helmet was in use by both sides (see John Jenkins Designs Republicans) and the left-wing French government was a supporter, as you know, of the Republicans.

 

[ucla1967]

I spent some time combing through Spanish speaking sites (as I'm fluent) and most seem to rely on the Bueno book.

As far as helmets, see the following images, which are different than the German style helmets. However, to me, that wouldn't be a big deal (I'm not as fastidious as others) and I think some early Soviet helmets resembled German helmets (last image).

View attachment 114804View attachment 114805View attachment 114803

I like the idea of using the early World War II style Russian helmet, since it would be unique and lend itself better to painting the red star on the front than would the Adrian helmet with the raised badge in front. I also noticed an Adrian helmet in the photos.

 

[ucla1967]

Great figures!
What makes are they and where can be bought?

The figures are made by Hiriart in Uruguay. I have have no idea where you are located (where no eagles fly?), but Buzz Thorpe sells them at the Chicago Show, there is someone who sells them at the London Show, Stefano Allorini of SAMEXTOYS sells them from Italy, and I sell them at the West Coaster Show and to about two dozen Treefrog Forum members. However, I must alert you to a potential problem: Hiriart is a small mom and pop operation and has a limited annual production capacity. They do not stock sets, but make them to order. Because of this, I limit my annual Hiriart order to 120 sets. The 2013 and 2014 orders are complete and closed; the 2015 order already is up to 98 sets.

That being said, I do have three Spanish Civil War sets available for general re-sale: ES-04 Bandera de Milicias de FET Y JONS, ES-20 Regulares de Melilla, and ES-38 Regulares de Larache. I also have an add-on set with nine men of ES-03 Mehal-La Jalifiana Berbers in its set 1215 box.

 

[Bombon]

The figures are made by Hiriart in Uruguay. I have have no idea where you are located (where no eagles fly?), but Buzz Thorpe sells them at the Chicago Show, there is someone who sells them at the London Show, Stefano Allorini of SAMEXTOYS sells them from Italy, and I sell them at the West Coaster Show and to about two dozen Treefrog Forum members. However, I must alert you to a potential problem: Hiriart is a small mom and pop operation and has a limited annual production capacity. They do not stock sets, but make them to order. Because of this, I limit my annual Hiriart order to 120 sets. The 2013 and 2014 orders are complete and closed; the 2015 order already is up to 98 sets.

That being said, I do have three Spanish Civil War sets available for general re-sale: ES-04 Bandera de Milicias de FET Y JONS, ES-20 Regulares de Melilla, and ES-38 Regulares de Larache. I also have an add-on set with nine men of ES-03 Mehal-La Jalifiana Berbers in its set 1215 box.

Thank you very much for your answer.