1:35 Sudeten Freikorps (Czech border 1938)

The Sudeten German Freikorps of 1938 in 1:35 scale

The subject of the item is set unambiguously by its name: the armed formation that operated in the Czechoslovak borderland in 1938. The 1:35 scale matches the usual standard for dioramas with ground subjects, so the figures can be combined with vehicles and with structures built in the same size.

Historical context

The Sudetendeutsches Freikorps was formed in the autumn of 1938 from Sudeten German volunteers and operated in the Czechoslovak border region in the weeks before the Munich Agreement was signed. The formation was not part of the regular army, and its members wore civilian or half-military dress with armbands and improvised equipment; their weapons varied. It is precisely this lack of uniformity that makes them interesting for the modeler, because every figure can look different without becoming historically questionable.

Recommended approach

Given the civilian character of the clothing, it pays not to work with a single palette. Give each figure a different shade of coat, trousers and headgear, and keep the coloring muted and rather earthy. Bring out the fabric by darkening the folds and set the leather items apart with a warmer tone. An autumn setting suits the scene - damp soil, fallen leaves and wet patches that match the season given in the background.

Who the figures are for

• builders of dioramas from the borderland of 1938
• anyone interested in the history of the Czechoslovak border at that time
• modelers working in 1:35 scale
• makers of scenes with figures in mismatched dress