What draws your interests in Afrika Korps? AK Vs WS (1 Viewer)

[oberstoskar]

Why exactly is the desert theater popular?

In the past I've only limited myself to collect napoleonics and LAH. I've crossed over the line only recently to collect AK and the Tunisia Tiger was my first piece because I was attracted by its size.

What makes the desert theater more fasinating than the Waffen SS?

I thought the Waffen SS has more camouflage, more variety, more powerful weapons, etc. Nonetheless, I've not started to collect WS because I don't have money.

If only one line to choose (AK or WS). Which one would you prefer?

 

[Rob]

For me the desert war was as has been said 'A war without hate'.There were few of the atrocities that marked the SS in the battle for the west.Also the way the war ebbed and flowed is interesting.But for me its because Rommel swept all in front of him until he came up against my mate Monty.And as Churchill said 'It wasn't the beggining of the end,but it was the end of the beggining'.

Rob

 

[oberstoskar]

Rob that's well said!

I am still trying to justify why I got myself into brankruptcy by getting into AK and EA.

 

[Rob]

Thank you.

Polystone poverty,i know it well!

Rob

 

[debrito]

For me the desert war was as has been said 'A war without hate'.There were few of the atrocities that marked the SS in the battle for the west.Also the way the war ebbed and flowed is interesting.But for me its because Rommel swept all in front of him until he came up against my mate Monty.And as Churchill said 'It wasn't the beggining of the end,but it was the end of the beggining'.

Rob

Nice respond post Rod. I don't collect (YET) Desert war, but with its popularity maybe I will find myself buying those AK sets one day….. The only thing I find difficult to do when come to create a Desert scene DIO its get a realistic photo shooting, because of a lack of background scenario. Sand all over……

Cheers

 

[oberstoskar]

do you guys think AK is bland comparing to WS because of it's invariably sand/khaki color on uniforms and vehicles?

 

[jazzeum]

My sentiments echoes Rob's. I actually became interested in this period of history thanks to King and Country. I was a relatively new collector and was in the stage where you could purchase anything new or retired and not get that whacked in the pocket book. Anyway, I got an announcement about the De Mag retiring so I purchased it. I was at a show and then purchased AK 11, which had also been retired at the same time.

Then, one day I was looking at K & C UK before they changed the site and they had a recommended reading list. Took a look at it and purchased John Latimer's Alamein, followed by Barrie-Pitt's The Crucible of War. The rest is history.

I think the Desert War fascinates us because the desert is something mystical and mysterious. But the campaigns are fascinating. Just consider that at the beginning of the war, England has very few soldiers to cover the area and Wavell's area of administration included part of Africa and the Mediterranean and the Italians were beginning to make noise about having an empire as Mussolini was jealous of the Germans. The beginning campaigns as what become 8th Army are fascinating: crossing the wire between Egypt and Libya in old Rolls Royce armored cars (would love to see something like that, as an aside) or the siege at Tobruk, the LRDG and on and on.

There are tons of interesting personalities here. After all, Rommel and Monty gained their reputations here. If no Desert War, do we have the Desert Fox or the Viscount of Alamein? Maybe not.

I've brought up an old thread that has some good books for reading. I suggest reading the Bierman and Smith book first as it's quite a good introduction. It may have been republished in the US in paperback under the title War Without Hate.

 

[damian]

I would agree with Brad and Rob. In the desert there were no Eistengruppen, no shooting of prisoners no mass rapes or deportations. That for me is why I prefer it to the Eastern Front and Waffenn SS.
Regards
Damian

 

[OzDigger]

I've been interested in the North African theatre since my preteens, and when I think about it I guess the main attraction back then was the cool caps the Afrika Korps guys wore together with their Palm Tree emblem and the mystic of Rommel v Monty.

Of course the following was also an influence:

1) First land encounter between Aussies and Germans together with Brits and Americans.

2) A relatively chivalrous theatre with few Civilian casualties and minimum Nazi influence.

3) The actions of special raiding forces such as the SAS and LRDG.

4) The romance of the desert plus the numerous movies and Commando comics on the subject.

5) The impartiality of the desert ensured battles were more even than most theatres.

But I think the AK caps were the initial attraction

 

[binder001]

I've been interested in the North African theatre since my preteens, and when I think about it I guess the main attraction back then was the cool caps the Afrika Korps guys wore together with their Palm Tree emblem and the mystic of Rommel v Monty.

Of course the following was also an influence:

1) First land encounter between Aussies and Germans together with Brits and Americans.

2) A relatively chivalrous theatre with few Civilian casualties and minimum Nazi influence.

3) The actions of special raiding forces such as the SAS and LRDG.

4) The romance of the desert plus the numerous movies and Commando comics on the subject.

5) The impartiality of the desert ensured battles were more even than most theatres.

But I think the AK caps were the initial attraction

Yup, it's those darned caps!

I second your list and add the amount of and importance of armor and mechanized warfare in that theater. The tank carried a mystique in the first part of the desert war. Unfortunately a number of false lessons were learned that ill-suited both sides for later tank combat, but the Germans tempered their lessons with the experiences in Russia. Besides the importance of tanks, you had some very interesting early types in the desert - pre-war British cruisers, the Italian tin cans and tankettes, the Grant, etc. Finally don't forget Erwin Rommel. Rarely in WW2 was a large field unit so closely identified with its commander as was the AK and Rommel.

Gary

 

[sceic2]

I would agree with Brad and Rob. In the desert there were no Eistengruppen, no shooting of prisoners no mass rapes or deportations. That for me is why I prefer it to the Eastern Front and Waffenn SS.
Regards
Damian

Yep, ditto, I concur, I agree, and I like all the gear too. Plus, Rommel was one of those who was murdered by Hitler. He was a soldier doing his duty but when he saw the reality, he joined the plot to kill the ring leader. How many Generals did that and had the war record that Rommel did. Plus the gear looks really good.

 

[h.hammer]

Would agree with all the positives that have been expressed.The fascination with the desert as a force that treated both sides in an equal fashion,the bridge between WW1 and WW2 both in vehicles and arms,but perhaps above all the relative absence of atrocities that followed this period of time.
Strongly suggest The Imperial War Museum's book on the desert war.
Read somewhere that somewhere around El Alamein veterans from both sides who had fought in the desert and survived the war,erected a small monument with the simple words:"Niemals Vergessen,Niemals Vergeben".

Says it all
h.hammer

 

[amhuff1]

Yep, ditto, I concur, I agree, and I like all the gear too. Plus, Rommel was one of those who was murdered by Hitler. He was a soldier doing his duty but when he saw the reality, he joined the plot to kill the ring leader. How many Generals did that and had the war record that Rommel did. Plus the gear looks really good.

I was under the impression the plot to kill Hitler was mentioned to Rommel and he did not support it. He was killed because his name was linked to it. Either way he was still killed by Hitler. It is Rommel that makes the AK so popular.

 

[Capitolron]

For me - it was the RAT PATROL !

As a kid - I use to watch this series and really loved it. Today looking at back at it - its a little corny - but, hey - it was cool in my childhood.

There is something about the desert and North Africa in general that draws you to it. Having been there a few times - its really interesting.

I also agree with everyone else on the Honor on The Battlefield thing. Rommel was a class act.

 

[damian]

For me - it was the RAT PATROL !

Rommel was a class act.

Not as class as Monty who kicked his booty.
Damian

 

[binder001]

Not as class as Monty who kicked his booty.
Damian

I'm usually the LAST person to say anything nice about Monty, but the desert in the fall of 1942 was his best moment. He was the right man in the right place with the right tool. He was smart enough not to "fence" with Rommel, he hit him with a sledgehammer and hit him hard. There was no recovery for the AK after Alamein, just a steady withdrawal.

Gary

 

[vandilay]

I guess I like this theatre of war because of
involvement of kiwis in this part of the world in
both world wars, In terms of dioramas Europe
itself offers a lot more scope with ruined buildings etc.
But as Upham put it in the following recording
"we have a great little army up here in the sandhills"


http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/Sound_window.asp?EssayID=5U2

 

[Rob]

I'm usually the LAST person to say anything nice about Monty, but the desert in the fall of 1942 was his best moment. He was the right man in the right place with the right tool. He was smart enough not to "fence" with Rommel, he hit him with a sledgehammer and hit him hard. There was no recovery for the AK after Alamein, just a steady withdrawal.

Gary

I think thats a very fair post,Gary.Monty had a lot of faults no doubt about it.But he really did the business on Rommel and sent him fleeing from NA,no easy task.He's alright in my book.

Rob

 

[Vezzolf]

I have collected both AK and WS both are great subjects............. but lately too much AK subjects IMO....... would like to see more WS items with less empasis on winter "white" camoflage...........For me the Panzer IV fields of battle due out in March is a much welcomed break from AK and the white-wash of recent WS.......

 

[Currahee Chris]

.... Rarely in WW2 was a large field unit so closely identified with its commander as was the AK and Rommel.

Gary

Agreed, as well as I think Monty got his recognition with 8TH Army as well- not only did you have one commander but you had both in a theater as well.

Me, I'm a Waffen SS guy. Not to say I don't like AK or nothing- my first plastic accumulation as a kid were atlantic (?) AK's.

My completely biased WW2 collection pecking order would be something like this:

1.) US DDay 82nd, 101st
2.) USMC
3.) British Forces- Normandy
4.) Waffen SS
5.) Eighth Army- though I know we all wish there was more selection here.
6.) Russians
7.) Japanese

The Battle of the Bulge figures are like number 1.5- between USMC and USA

Right now though, I am not buying any of the desert war stuff- still in a wait and hold pattern- the other theaters I have jumped into- Normandy, Bulge, Pacific and Eastern Front just got me way too tied up. I'll catch them again later on, if not, then I don't