Barcode: 0 89195 86742 1
Case Pack: 48 Pieces Per Master Carton
Box Size: 6.4" x 10.2" x 1.5"

Operation Mercury, the Battle of Crete, was joined on 20 May 1941 when German airborne troops parachuted onto the Mediterranean island. The bloody battle lasted eleven days, but at last it resulted in the German capture of the Allied-controlled island. Crete had offered valuable harbors for the Royal Navy and airfields for RAF bombers, so its loss was keenly felt. What is perhaps not so well known is that German Gebirgsjager (mountain troops) played a significant part in the operation alongside their airborne brethren. The 5th Gebirgs-Division had a force of 15,000 men in three infantry regiments (85th, 100th and 141st) and an artillery regiment (95th), and it was inserted by air and sea as a follow-up force. This task was made easier by the capture of Maleme airfield on the second day of the battle. The Gebirgsjager were ideal for the task as they had light weapons, were easily moved by air, and could handle the mountainous terrain of Crete.

Dragon’s latest 1/35 scale figure set features four Gebirgsjager soldiers from the Battle of Crete. The plastic German soldiers are sharply molded and their uniforms and personal equipment are accurately depicted. To suit them for summer combat in the Mediterranean, they are all wearing cotton shorts instead of their usual battledress. These shorts give the soldiers a unique appearance. On their heads are distinctive caps with the edelweiss emblem, while their feet are shod in typical mountain boots. They carry a complement of light weapons such as Kar98k rifles and an MP40 submachine gun. The poses of these Gebirgsjager are lifelike, with two taking a brief rest from combat, while another two prepare to move further over the rough terrain. These versatile German figures from Dragon are ideal for a Crete scene, or even for some other warm-weather battle elsewhere.

Review:

Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6742; Gebirgshjaeger Crete 1941

122 parts in grey styrene

pre-order price US$16.95 via Dragon USA Online

Advantages: nice, new mountain troops with proper uniforms

Disadvantages: no major items noted

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: for anyone covering specific operations by the Wehrmacht

Other than the 10th Mountain Division, the US Army never worried much about mountain warfare. This was not true in continental Europe, where every one of the major countries had mountaineers trained for combat. The Italians had the Alpini, the French the Alpinists, and the Germans the Gebirgsjaegern. These troops were trained in mountaineering and climbing as well as some use of skis for winter patrolling and raiding.

The Germans used them in the Balkans among other places as well as the invasion of Crete in 1941. These troops as presented in this set wear the lightweight reed green jackets with sand colored shorts as their basic uniform. The kit presents four figures in two pairs: a major talking to a seated private, and an NCO and private preparing to move out on patrol.

All come in the normal six parts (head, torso, arms and legs) and use what would be termed DML “Gen 1 ?” kit for their basic fittings. No etched brass is included for slings and straps.

Some modelers were excited when this set came out as they felt they could easily be converted to Afrika Korps, but it should be noted they are correctly molded wearing birgsteiflen or mountain boots. These have thicker soles and steel cleats reinforcing them – they were after all designed to increase footing on ice and snow. However, the headgear is pretty generic and does not have the conspicuous“Edelweiss” badge on the left side.

Overall these troops make a nice set of pairs for vignettes.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

-Cookie Sewell-