Rotfront and the Spanish Civil War (1 Viewer)

[Wolfgang_UK]

This is one for inbetween. A conversion of a 1934, 7cm Elastolin Flag Bearer. Cast in Resin, than modified with a replaced head. Flag was drawn and painted by myself.
The Rotfront movement formed after WWI in Germany, also known as Der rote Frontkämpferbund.

Serving with the international Brigades during the Spanish Civil war this german unit took part in many battles. Not being able to
ever return to Germany all its members had to live in exil untiil the end of WW2. Many prominent leaders and members of the new
German State, which was to become the the GDR served in this Battalion - Erich Mielke (Head of Security) was one of them.^&cool

 

[Oberstinhaber1]

Hi Wolfgang,
A very interesting post, unusual, informative, "outside the square". The figure looks great too.
Why won't the main-stream figure makers pick up units like this? This is worth 50 Francos, Spanish Foreign Legion etc. Over to you boys in Hong Kong!
"Keep up the good work"
Happy Collecting,

Oberstinhaber 1

 

[Dettingen]

Nice work on the figure Wolfgang! This is a great example of what our hobby can do to enlighten each other about history. You made me look into the Rotfront, and dig out my old copy of Homage to Catalonia as well as an old article I have on the Lincoln Battalion/Brigage. I don't know that I will ever start collecting figures of the Spanish Civil War, but your little model knocked the dust out of my head and reminded me that there is a lot we need to remember about that strange, sad conflict. This is a 7cm reminder that nothing is as simple as it seems in this world.

 

[jazzeum]

There are a lot of books out there about the International Brigades but there is a new one out by Giles Tremlett called “The International Brigades: Fascism, Freedom and the Spanish Civil War,” that has received very good reviews.

For those who may be interested, here are some of my collection but it’s not up to date:

https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com...-Spanish-Civil-War-La-Guerra-Civil-Espa%F1ola

Robert Capa’s The Fallen Soldier, the best piece in my collection.

https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/showthread.php?74805-The-Falling-Soldier

 

[Wolfgang_UK]

Thanking you all for your likes and friendly comments.

@ Oberstinhaber
There is proof of at least 65 Australians who volunteered and served with one of the 5 International Brigades. These where numbered XI Brigade through XV Brigade.
Within those 5 Brigades, Battallions where formed which had their names given by their commanders. In her excellent book on the SCW the austrian author Julia Kölbl noted that the austrialians served with the franco-belgian Battallion, the British Battallion, the bulgarian (?) dominated Dimitrov Battallion and the Abraham Lincoln Battallion. So far I managed to research all flags but the franco-belgian one.

@ Dettinger
My major interest is the time between 1918 and 1939 which saw a lot of concflicts around the world. The "German Revolution" for example is a conflict that never was. Indeed there where numerous uprises and campaigns plus putches involved but it never was one major event. Regardless, those 1930ies Elastolin figures are a great source for converting and scratchbuiling people and events that no comercial producer will ever do. On my list is the story of the German Freikorps (got plenty of flags allready) the fighting for the baltic states, the bavarian revolution, the war at the Ruhr and many other conflicts of the time.

As for now here are the flags of two MIGHT BE AUSTRALIANS and a bit scruffy looking Anarchist also from the SCW period who is living proof that conflicts are seldom faught
in a "Blue vs Red manner".


Thank you for our interest
Regards
Wolfgang

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