bases more of his German artillery tractors.
Eureka are continuing to release 15mm World War Two ranges that cover some of the less-common troop types not yet provided by other manufacturers.
This time Mike Broadbent has sculpted some fine-looking Italian paratroopers (Folgore) in the late 1942 camo smock and magazine pouch waistcoat; and not content with that, he's added a range of Bersaglieri in tropical uniforms for your North African campaign units.
The fact that misconceptions regarding the fighting qualities of the Italian soldier of World War Two remain to this day is probably a tribute to the long-term effectiveness of allied wartime propaganda. Yet any Australian who experienced the vicious close quarter fighting at Bardia will quickly attest to the falseness of that myth. Burdened by indifferent leadership, poor equipment and crippling logistic problems, the Italian soldier was frequently asked to perform near miracles against daunting odds. It is a tribute to them that despite these difficulties they faced up to the ordeals imposed upon them by their leaders with such courage. Fittingly, an Italian monument at El Alamein reads "Luck was missing, not valour."
Designed to fit in with other 15mm ranges of World War Two miniatures, our Bersaglieri and Folgore paratroopers include the figure types and support weapons required for all the current popular wargames systems.
The Folgore are depicted in the Italian paratrooper uniform introduced in 1942, with their German style para smocks, helmets, and distinctive waistcoats containing integral pouches (both front and back) for storing submachine-gun magazines. The majority are armed with the Beretta M38A SMG but we've included some rifle armed paratroopers for variety. You can also liberally sprinkle your Folgore units with German Panzerfausts and Molotov Cocktails. The Molotov was a popular improvised anti-tank weapon for the Italians, and later the Germans ensured that Repubblica Sociale Italiana units loyal to the Fascist cause were well supplied with Panzerfausts.
The Bersaglieri, in their famous cockerel plume helmets, provided the various Italian 'Mobile' (Celere), Armoured and Motorised Divisions with their mobile infantry components. Our Bersaglieri are intended for North African campaigns, and are wearing tropical kit with appropriate pith helmet.
We have enjoyed developing these figures, and would like to acknowledge the assistance we have received from friends in Italy and Australia – many of the latter being of Italian decent. Large numbers of Italian POWs were incarcerated in Australia for the duration of the war. Many of them liked the country so much they returned after the war and settled here.
Here are the catalogue details of the new miniatures -
15mm WORLD WAR TWO: ITALIANS
Designed & sculpted by Mike Broadbent
Number in parenthesis denotes the number of variants
300WWT30 Folgore with SMG (7)
300WWT31 Folgore with LMG and No. 2 (2)
300WWT32 Folgore light mortar and two crew (1)
300WWT33 Folgore MMG and two crew (1)
300WWT34 Folgore gun crew – for artillery; machineguns etc (3)
300WWT35 Folgore with Panzerfaust (2)
300WWT36 Folgore officer (1)
300WWT37 Folgore heavy mortar and three crew (1)
300WWT38 Folgore with rifle (4)
300WWT39 Folgore with Molotov cocktail (1)
300WWT40 Bersaglieri with rifle (7)
300WWT41 Bersaglieri with LMG and No. 2 (1)
300WWT42 Bersaglieri light mortar and two crew (1)
300WWT43 Bersaglieri MMG and two crew (1)
300WWT44 Bersaglieri gun crew – for artillery; machineguns etc (4)
300WWT45 Bersaglieri officer (1)
300WWT46 Bersaglieri heavy mortar and three crew (1)
300WWT47 Bersaglieri with SMG (1)
NEW RELEASE SPECIAL OFFER – ITALIAN STRONG-POINT DEAL
For a strictly limited time (until our next new release) if you order $75.00 AUD* or more of our Italians you will receive a free five piece Sandbagged Trench Set for your figures to take cover in (includes – 1 x 100mm straight trench section; 1 x 50mm straight trench section; 2 x 50mm trench end pieces; and 1 x corner trench section. Resin plastic – supplied unpainted).
*Excluding 'Goods and Services Tax' (payable by Australian customers) and exclusive of shipping.