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Ramckes' Iron Men
jrutman
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Posted: Thursday, March 29, 2018 - 06:32 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Can't be fun hicking through the desert with all that ammo and stuff. We had such ammo boxes in the tank, and believe me, they will be very unpleassant to Carey.
Keep up the good work
Jacob



Yes,MG ammo is pretty heavy. That is what is cool about the modern 5.56 ammo. It is just as potent but much lighter.
The good news for these guys is the Brigade captured an unsuspecting British supply convoy and drove the captured trucks a very long way before they had to ditch them.
J
Hederstierna
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Posted: Thursday, April 05, 2018 - 01:45 PM UTC
Well Jerry, speaking of trucks, what about adding a wrecked/burned out soft skin, which they are passing by. I think it could add a little something for the desparate atmosphere.
Just a thought
Jacob
southpier
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Posted: Thursday, April 05, 2018 - 04:50 PM UTC
this is a great thread; the information - and inspiration - is timeless.
jrutman
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Posted: Thursday, April 05, 2018 - 06:14 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Well Jerry, speaking of trucks, what about adding a wrecked/burned out soft skin, which they are passing by. I think it could add a little something for the desparate atmosphere.
Just a thought
Jacob



Good idea buddy but I am wrapping this one up ! I think they kept away from the roads as much as possible to keep un noticed. That is what I would do. But since we know they did in fact capture a supply convoy they had to get close to a road at one point ? Thanks for checking in buddy.
J
jrutman
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Posted: Thursday, April 05, 2018 - 06:15 PM UTC

Quoted Text

this is a great thread; the information - and inspiration - is timeless.



Thanks buddy,I appreciate the comments,
J
jrutman
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Posted: Thursday, April 05, 2018 - 06:20 PM UTC
OK,it is stick a fork in it time gents.

The remnants of the Ramcke Brigade,made up of Paras,has been left behind during the general retreat after the battle of El Alamein. Being light Infantry,they are without transport and have to leg it across the empty harsh terrain.

A squad leader pushes on,desperate conviction keeps him going.


Lack of sleep is the first thing to start to break down the troops. The guys take turns linked together so contact is not broken.




A young replacement gets a gentle warning from the NCO "Passauf Pimpfe" ! Hey boy ! You dropped your "brain bucket".



The Leutnant scans the near horizon for threats,which are many at this point,far behind the lines. He gets ready to shoot a check azimuth on his service compass.



You still didn't pick up your helmet boy !




A locals' animal has been pressed into water carrying duties.



Training and comradeship will pull them through.



The number 2 MG gunner is lost in a stupor of thirst and fatigue,but still puts one foot in front of the other.


The long ordeal on foot comes to an end when the Brigade surprises and ambushes a British supply convoy and gets to ride in style most of the way back to friendly lines. Almost the entire group made it through and are greeted with surprise because they had been written off by the brass.




But waiting for them in Tunisia is......





Hope you enjoyed the show and on behalf of the band I hope we passed the audition,
J



justsendit
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Posted: Thursday, April 05, 2018 - 10:38 PM UTC
Very nice, Jerry! You've done a wonderful job of making these guys look hot, sweaty and fatigued. Nice work on the desert tan skin-tones. ... And that mule is choice!☀️

Cheers!🍺
—mike
jrutman
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Posted: Friday, April 06, 2018 - 01:10 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Very nice, Jerry! You've done a wonderful job of making these guys look hot, sweaty and fatigued. Nice work on the desert tan skin-tones. ... And that mule is choice!☀️

Cheers!🍺
—mike




Thanks Mikey for the very kind words. I appreciate your incite. Does this mean you like filet of donkey ? LoL
J
justsendit
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Posted: Friday, April 06, 2018 - 07:00 PM UTC
Can you recommend a good whine to go with that? 🍷
—mike
jrutman
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Posted: Saturday, April 07, 2018 - 08:08 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Can you recommend a good whine to go with that? 🍷
—mike



I recommend a dry red. Your choice.
Looks like this build went over like a fart in church. I suppose I better try harder on the next one.
J
justsendit
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Posted: Saturday, April 07, 2018 - 09:10 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Looks like this build went over like a fart in church. I suppose I better try harder on the next one.


Jerry, Don’t become discouraged at the slow response. It’s nearly impossible to keep up with your production rate.🤪 Lol!

Off topic: The grammatically correct apostrophe in your title (Ramckes') will most certainly sever e-mail subscription notifications. It’s a little known issue that I really wish Admin would fix.

Cheers!🍺
—mike
jrutman
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Posted: Saturday, April 07, 2018 - 09:46 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Looks like this build went over like a fart in church. I suppose I better try harder on the next one.


Jerry, Don’t become discouraged at the slow response. It’s nearly impossible to keep up with your production rate.🤪 Lol!

Off topic: The grammatically correct apostrophe in your title (Ramckes') will most certainly sever e-mail subscription notifications. It’s a little known issue that I really wish Admin would fix.

Cheers!🍺
—mike



My sister(who is an English lit. major with almost perfect grades) and I lament over this all of the time. spelling auto-correct will not let you use that correctly ! I still lumber on though.
Thanks for your encouragement brother.
J
Stickframe
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Posted: Saturday, April 07, 2018 - 10:44 PM UTC
Ahh - the perils of grammar and model building - so many rules to follow! Haha - You've taken on a challenge here indeed - conveying a complex story without too many props - let the situation tell the story. I think easier said than done - except, as always you let your work tell the clear story. Excellent work, Jerry! I suppose parallels could be drawn with all sorts of other arts - be it a theater group doing something with a small cast not relying on complicated sets - or art exhibits that show the "piece" alone. I admire your willingness to go for it, and to always deliver such high quality work.

Keep building good stuff!

Nick



jrutman
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Posted: Sunday, April 08, 2018 - 08:31 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Ahh - the perils of grammar and model building - so many rules to follow! Haha - You've taken on a challenge here indeed - conveying a complex story without too many props - let the situation tell the story. I think easier said than done - except, as always you let your work tell the clear story. Excellent work, Jerry! I suppose parallels could be drawn with all sorts of other arts - be it a theater group doing something with a small cast not relying on complicated sets - or art exhibits that show the "piece" alone. I admire your willingness to go for it, and to always deliver such high quality work.

Keep building good stuff!

Nick







Thanks Nick for taking the time from your prodigious modeling output to type those incite full and generous comments !
I was just thinking this whole build started because I wanted to show a guy with his thumbs under his straps,to help with the weight he is carrying. It kind of grew from there. I am happy I finally finished it though as I am really trying to wrap projects up now instead of putting them on the shelf of doom.
J
SF-07-18D
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Posted: Sunday, April 08, 2018 - 08:42 PM UTC


I love this pic!!! I also like the old fashioned "chicken wing" shooting position

You have passed the audition so far!
jrutman
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Posted: Sunday, April 08, 2018 - 09:14 PM UTC

Quoted Text



I love this pic!!! I also like the old fashioned "chicken wing" shooting position

You have passed the audition so far!



LoL good to know buddy. Thank you,
J
Yankasippi
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Posted: Tuesday, May 08, 2018 - 04:29 AM UTC
Ramche ended up in prison in Clinton, Mississippi. After the war was "over" (it was not really considered over until 1950 or so due to denazification, veterans from 1949 are considered WW2 vets believe it or not. But by mid 45 when it became known that the Germans had mistreated US POWs and all the concentration camp news was out, certain US pow commandants took away all privileges including putting German POWs on starvation rations whereas before they had been Kindly treated. Such was the case in Clinton. But Ramche had met a senator from a state that had a lot of Germans who had immigrated to American before who told Ramche that if he ever needed anything to write to him. Well, mail was suspended at Camp Clinton so Ramche escaped, hitched a ride to Jackson, went to the main post office and mailed a letter to the Senator explaining what was going on. Then he broke back into prison and none of the guards ever knew he had escaped and broken back in. A short time later a mission from the U.S. Army arrived, relieved the commandant on the spot and restored all privileges. This was in January, 1946.
Kevlar06
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Posted: Tuesday, May 08, 2018 - 04:53 AM UTC
Hey Jerry, I'd like to know your technique for the "hide" on the donkey-- it looks very realistic, and I have several "horse subjects" I'd like to try that on.
VR, Russ
JPTRR
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RAILROAD MODELING
#051
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Posted: Tuesday, May 08, 2018 - 06:57 AM UTC
Jerry,

Outstanding work!

That donkey tail is wonderful.

I know of Ramcke's Iron Brigade but no details. Thanks for the narrative.
BootsDMS
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Posted: Tuesday, May 08, 2018 - 02:19 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Ramche ended up in prison in Clinton, Mississippi. After the war was "over" (it was not really considered over until 1950 or so due to denazification, veterans from 1949 are considered WW2 vets believe it or not. But by mid 45 when it became known that the Germans had mistreated US POWs and all the concentration camp news was out, certain US pow commandants took away all privileges including putting German POWs on starvation rations whereas before they had been Kindly treated. Such was the case in Clinton. But Ramche had met a senator from a state that had a lot of Germans who had immigrated to American before who told Ramche that if he ever needed anything to write to him. Well, mail was suspended at Camp Clinton so Ramche escaped, hitched a ride to Jackson, went to the main post office and mailed a letter to the Senator explaining what was going on. Then he broke back into prison and none of the guards ever knew he had escaped and broken back in. A short time later a mission from the U.S. Army arrived, relieved the commandant on the spot and restored all privileges. This was in January, 1946.



Not entirely unrelated but my late uncle (9th SS Panzer) was taken prisoner by the British Army in Normandy 1944; he too ended up in the US and was quite harshly treated by the prison guards at the camp he was incarcerated in. He was neaten up, robbed (badges, photos etc) and generally given a hard time. Not entirely unexpected perhaps given the revelations of the Nazi regime and its war crimes.

He was eventually relocated to the UK but could not go back to what had been his home town in East Prussia, as obviously it no longer existed, and was under Soviet control; if he had gone back then he was looking at 10 years or so in a labour camp, should he even survive the initial Soviet vengeful tendencies.

He worked on a succession of farms in the UK and eventually decided to apply for UK nationality. I'm not too sure when this actually was. Anyway, come 1955 when a German Army was re-established, he was summoned to return to Germany (Muenster) to officially demobilise! One can only imagine the scene at the respective offices:

"Right Sturmmann, in 1942 you signed for the following items of kit...where are they?!"

Off topic a fair bit but I though this insight into the German military mind-set might be of interest.

On topic: Jerry, I forgot to congratulate you on this superb vignette; my shoulders and feet hurt just looking at it!

What's next..?

Brian
jrutman
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Posted: Tuesday, May 08, 2018 - 06:30 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Ramche ended up in prison in Clinton, Mississippi. After the war was "over" (it was not really considered over until 1950 or so due to denazification, veterans from 1949 are considered WW2 vets believe it or not. But by mid 45 when it became known that the Germans had mistreated US POWs and all the concentration camp news was out, certain US pow commandants took away all privileges including putting German POWs on starvation rations whereas before they had been Kindly treated. Such was the case in Clinton. But Ramche had met a senator from a state that had a lot of Germans who had immigrated to American before who told Ramche that if he ever needed anything to write to him. Well, mail was suspended at Camp Clinton so Ramche escaped, hitched a ride to Jackson, went to the main post office and mailed a letter to the Senator explaining what was going on. Then he broke back into prison and none of the guards ever knew he had escaped and broken back in. A short time later a mission from the U.S. Army arrived, relieved the commandant on the spot and restored all privileges. This was in January, 1946.



Thanks Cliff,for jogging my poor memory about this colorful incident in this paras life. I remember reading about this in the dim recesses of my youthful mind.
The POW camps run by us in Germany were way worse. Hundreds of POWs died from malnutrition. I went to NCO school at a place were several dozen died. We had,and still have a problem separating the common WSS soldier from the camp guards and I firmly believe this was the reason for this.
Another common misconception is that the Germans deliberately gave our POWs starvation diets but the simple truth was,they were giving our guys pretty much the same low quality food that the rest of the war torn population was getting. I am sure there were exceptions but that was the general rule.
Thanks for the great input.
J
jrutman
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Posted: Tuesday, May 08, 2018 - 06:32 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hey Jerry, I'd like to know your technique for the "hide" on the donkey-- it looks very realistic, and I have several "horse subjects" I'd like to try that on.
VR, Russ



Pretty simple really. After the gaps are filled and sanded smooth,I use mu number11 to scribe and slightly gauge out tiny lines going with the grain of the donkeys' coat. Then paint,
Thanks for the nice words buddy,
J
jrutman
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Posted: Tuesday, May 08, 2018 - 06:33 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Jerry,

Outstanding work!

That donkey tail is wonderful.

I know of Ramcke's Iron Brigade but no details. Thanks for the narrative.



Thanks for the kind words man !
J
jrutman
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Posted: Tuesday, May 08, 2018 - 06:42 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Ramche ended up in prison in Clinton, Mississippi. After the war was "over" (it was not really considered over until 1950 or so due to denazification, veterans from 1949 are considered WW2 vets believe it or not. But by mid 45 when it became known that the Germans had mistreated US POWs and all the concentration camp news was out, certain US pow commandants took away all privileges including putting German POWs on starvation rations whereas before they had been Kindly treated. Such was the case in Clinton. But Ramche had met a senator from a state that had a lot of Germans who had immigrated to American before who told Ramche that if he ever needed anything to write to him. Well, mail was suspended at Camp Clinton so Ramche escaped, hitched a ride to Jackson, went to the main post office and mailed a letter to the Senator explaining what was going on. Then he broke back into prison and none of the guards ever knew he had escaped and broken back in. A short time later a mission from the U.S. Army arrived, relieved the commandant on the spot and restored all privileges. This was in January, 1946.



Not entirely unrelated but my late uncle (9th SS Panzer) was taken prisoner by the British Army in Normandy 1944; he too ended up in the US and was quite harshly treated by the prison guards at the camp he was incarcerated in. He was neaten up, robbed (badges, photos etc) and generally given a hard time. Not entirely unexpected perhaps given the revelations of the Nazi regime and its war crimes.

He was eventually relocated to the UK but could not go back to what had been his home town in East Prussia, as obviously it no longer existed, and was under Soviet control; if he had gone back then he was looking at 10 years or so in a labour camp, should he even survive the initial Soviet vengeful tendencies.

He worked on a succession of farms in the UK and eventually decided to apply for UK nationality. I'm not too sure when this actually was. Anyway, come 1955 when a German Army was re-established, he was summoned to return to Germany (Muenster) to officially demobilise! One can only imagine the scene at the respective offices:

"Right Sturmmann, in 1942 you signed for the following items of kit...where are they?!"

Off topic a fair bit but I though this insight into the German military mind-set might be of interest.


On topic: Jerry, I forgot to congratulate you on this superb vignette; my shoulders and feet hurt just looking at it!

What's next..?

Brian




Thanks Brian for the nice comments and also for the very interesting and cool story about your relative.
We can never really run out of stories about that huge war,can we? Millions of participants=millions of cool stories.
I am in the middle of reading about the II SS PzKorp in Normandy. Any Idea where he was captured ? Maybe around Hill 112 ?
Actually I have already begun my next vignette. It is called "Unsung heroes of the Panzerwaffe".

J
BootsDMS
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Posted: Tuesday, May 08, 2018 - 08:10 PM UTC
Jerry,

I know he was captured in the August so could well have been towards the end of that piece of fighting. He was in one of the Artillery Regiments of Hohenstaufen - but the towed one (I understand the other regiment was SP). He was on the crew of a 10.5cm leFH 18 towed by an SdKfz 11, which he told me he used to enjoy driving. His job on the gun position was as the fuse setter (artillery members here forgive me if my terminology is awry).

He was called up in 1943 aged 18 and I imagine selected for the Waffen SS as he was a big strapping chap. After training he deployed to the Ukraine where, as he put it, he helped lob some shells in the general direction of the Russians. Then of course, 6th June happened and together with Frundsberg they deployed to Normandy as 2nd SS Panzer Corps - as I'm sure you know

He was wounded prior to capture in the foot; he recalls sheltering under a door during an artillery bombardment.

In August at some juncture, he said his position was just over-run; he remembers Tommies with camouflaged faces and helmets peering at them through a hedge and basically that was that.

Just one final comment:

Fast forward a million years or so and I - as a serving soldier myself - was assisting in conducting a Battlefield Tour for a coachload of British junior officers in Normandy. One of the stands was at Hill 112. The briefing officer, who knew of my Uncle's history, at the end of his brief, said "And of course gentlemen, in that direction (gesturing) Mr Stoddart's uncle was deployed."

Cue much scratching of heads and studying of maps; at a break in the proceedings, a couple of the officers came up to me and enquired, "Sergeant Major, I can't quite work out who your Uncle was with; 9 RTR, 5th Wiltshires perhaps?"

"No Sir" quoth I, "9th SS Panzer division".

Anyway(!), 'have tracked down (no pun intended) the "Panzerwaffe" dio and, needless to say, am hooked. Once again, inspirational.

Brian