As you know people have been wondering what the set is Steve Weston is bringing to OTSN. People have been speculating and wondering. People having been checking with contacts to see what they know. It was figured that the set is new Engineer Bassevitch, but what?
Well we have the answer. It is Yugoslavian Partisans. The set has 12 different figures. This set looks like another winner. I am sure Steve will sell out.
We like to thank our very good friend Brian Johnson for his hard work in finding this information.
The box cover shows both Chetnik and Partisan flags and leaders of both groups but the English language print just says Partisans so maybe there is a Chetnik set in the future??Glad to see a lot more “action” figures than usual in Bassevitch sets.
I think some of the figures represent Chetnik by clothing and long beard faces. Less common in the communist and or Tito’s partisan army.
EB had tendency of doing so far most communist troops/figures not the opposite band with exception of mix Finland war , Jews and Castro’s rebels that were not communist back them but eventually turn in to it after take over 1960
So I will think they will probably go for more communist forces before doing the foes
It could be used very well as for the real (guns of navarone ) playset that Marx did with out any partisan as should had been made base on movie.
Also as any Slav partisan army too and post WW2 Greek civil war too .Least it has very well amount of nice action poses ,that is a plus.
Just the over done MP40 and MG 42 is not historical x me unless used in last month of war .Thanks EB x another awesome set.
And thanks Brian x resolving the ” mystery set” a week or so before Chicago
A truly great set, like we’re all starting to expect from Engineer Bassevitch. If Steve Weston hasn’t sold out by the time I get there Friday morning, I’m going to acquire a box. The only offset in costs you get by buying these things at the shows is to avoid what have become very expensive postage charges.
Too bad they didn’t do a Bald figure so you could do a “Battle of Neretva” with Yul Brynner,LOL.
I think the sculpting of these Eng. Bassevicth figures is especially well done. Even the bearded Chetnik(?) who is simply standing “at ease” has to be one of the best sculpted, most natural-looking pose in a simple standing position. It really couldn’t be better. seen.
And the choice of subject matter (Cuban Castro Revolutionaries, Ancient Hebrews, Crimean War, Russian Civil War, Female Soviets) is really original.
And of course now, WWII Tito Partisans. But I’m inclined to agree with Erwin — I think the bearded figures are intended to represent anti-Partisan Chetniks.
So Steve isn’t releasing a set of his own?
I was all excited knowing ENG BASS was releasing and WESTON was too?
Bummer!
I’ve been saying for years, TITO’S PARTISANS!
Christian
If you look at Steve’s comment, he did not say it was from him. I am glad to see the new set.
SUPER HAPPY with the new set!
Wanted partisans my whole life, now we have 2 sets in 2 years!
French Resistance next?!
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/guest-bloggers/nazis-needed-almost-1-million-soldiers-to-fight-partisans-in-yugoslavia.html
The entire link is taken almost word by word all written in Wikipedia that is not a historical correct source at all. It is taken from most 70’s communist propaganda I had read before.
Two third of the army forces were used in occupation-not engage in any type of ant partisan action at all.
Any way any conventional army in order to take any guerrilla army insurgency need overwhelm superior forces ,least in numbers and also scout air recognizance and air force to attack before they scape.
Sample US army in Vietnam operation against south Vietnamese communist forces (often very inferior in forces) have to keep superior south Vietnamese regular army and US army forces in field to cover the territory occupied and all around plus chasing operation that required more soldier to cover extend territory and else.
Guerilla tactics are hit and run. Attack weak points, then run and spread in different direction divided in small groups often avoiding major engagement as would not survive any if try.
Castro rebel army in CUBA were less than 4000 in the high pick and the gob army sent against them was more than 35 000.Still when engaging no more than equal or smaller number were facing each other because of partisan/guerrilla tactics that often eliminated the superior factor on the foes.
At 2nd battle of Fallujah in Iraq the US and allied combined forces were far superior in numbers and of course tec/weapons ;still and with the city been surrounded that eliminate the possibility of best guerrilla tactic but with many civilian used as human shield it took month to clean and eliminate and cost many lives.
In the Yugoslavian 1941-1945 the German army used no more than 20% Germans, rest were Italian, Rumanian, Bulgaria ,serv in the side of them and others. Most of those as per own Yugoslavian account did not fight as well aggressive as German and that weakest was used by Tito to often broke to encirclement during battles.
Tito army was massive supplied by URSS and Britain .
Britain along supplied them with 125 000 rifles ,14000 sub machine gun,1852 mortars.1 million grenades,46 motorcyles,2500 bykes,125 small cannon,115 AA guns and by 1944 place two permanent airfields to support with airstrikes near by all operation. After 1943 Italy surrender, almost all Italian army weapon were hand free to TITO by Italian as per agreement,included artillery,airplane and light tanks.
Tanks were not a very suitable weapon as the land is very heavy. Very few and most light were used during the conflict.
Tito army by 1943 late was over 450000 strong and made of many former Yugoslavian former soldiers.
Soviet supplied them with over 1 million hand weapons, over 2000 mortars and 3000 heavy machine gun plus many more.
In the end the German army lack sufficient good trained forces to combat and cut or eliminate them; most operation ended in failure not because of AXIS defeat but because TITO and other scape ,often at risk and loosing most of the men in the battles or combats.
About the German division used such as 113 ,it was under power to less than 10 000 when was used as it come from Easter front over wasted used .It was plagued with new conscript not adapt to battle and was not to full strength till 1944 according to HERR time account reported by German staff.
The 342 was a understrength occupation division but of a bad reputation as “murder division”-it was used in France in anti partisan 1940/42 cleansing and were notable for being use as such in brutal repression against civilian-it was the one direct involved with Gestapo and police operation as well against Jews .Even some high command German officer complain of such atrocities.
It was not till 1944 that German start using more best trained forces, but is was a littler too late by them as war was in them lost side by them
Ironical most or none of these Soviet -allied weapon are represented in the figures. Wonder why!?
Erwin
I have corrected you mistake, no worries sometimes we write to fast.
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/guest-bloggers/know-richard-burton-played-tito-movie-sutjeska.html
Any domestic (US) source for these figures? Thanks.
Eddie W
I am going start a post which has a list of dealers in the U.S. and Europe who are carrying Engineer Bassevitch
Already on eBay in two colors :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151843534330
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151843539622
Close-up photos showed and some prototypes reviewed.