FFL | Muller, Cpl Chef, 1er BEP, 1at Indochina War, ca 1952 (Redux)

[legionnaire75]

Hi guys

I have been concentrating on my Indochina guys of late, giving them a redux. Still ongoing with some, but I am building my squad up, making them individual in their own right where possible (i.e. rifleman, radio op, MG etc)

This is the Caporal Chef, Muller. He served with the Fallschirmjager during WWII, and shortly after the war, he seperated from his wife, after finding that he just could not settle into civilian life. He had spent so many years with soldiers, he did not know how to love, and live an unregimented life. So he signed up to the Legion. As he had been a para, it seemed natural for him to want to join the para section of the Legion. He passed with flying colours, and passed out as top of his pelaton. He then went on to do the NCO course, where he again came top of his pelaton, earning him the right to progress to Cpl Chef. This he did in 3 years of joining up. A highly motivated individual, Muller excels in combat. He is highly respected by his men, and also by the officers he serves.

We see him now, as the Cpl Chef, having led his men through many bloody battles. He has a respect for the Viet Minh, as he sees them as cunning and extremely dexterous as using their surroundings. However, he will not rest until he has done his part in eliminating the threat to the French colony.

He wears the standard uniform of the BEP, as it was. The trouers would perhaps be camoflage, however, I prefer this look . He wears mainly US clothing and equipment. The main differences being the locally made grenade pouches, and the splinter pattern zeltbahn, tucked into his musette pack as well as the jungle slouch hat.

Make up:
Body: Hot Toys TT Advanced
Head: DID Max Muller
Boots: Soldier Story (weathered)
Trousers: Soldier Story (weathered and modified)
Shirt: Battle Gear Toys
Cpl Chef rank: Custom, on real leather, PAD75
Webbing: Soldier Story belt and harness
Pouches: M1 Carbine pouches - DML, waterbottle pouch - Soldier Story
Musette Pack - Battlegear Toys
Colt .45 and real leather M1916 holster: Toy Soldier
Rifle: DID
Grenades: DID Marcel, repainted
Grenade pouches: Real leather, custom PAD75
Slouch hat: Custom, PAD75
Zeltbahn: Coltswold

Pictures:

[3yes]

wow nice redux and bash,...the little history is cool also

[Glidah Drivah]

Excellent figure! The only comment that I might have is that the full size rank was usually only worn with the service and walking out uniforms. In combat he would usually wear a smaller version composed or two diagonal bars; gold over green. He is technically German, however, and they certainly liked to bling up their uniforms in WWII, so....

[legionnaire75]

thanks guys. Yes, smaller rank worn primarily or not at all. I'm basing this on several photos where the normal size rank was worn. Appreciate the comments

[Socrates187]

! Excellent backstory

[SSG Felder]

NICE Chris....I believe I have to get in contact with PAD75...need some of those grenade pouches....other than that he looks like a tough legionnaire...THUMBS up....
BTW I got me another Indo Legionnaire in the makes...I hope I can finish him in the next two weeks...

[uramegak]

Great details!

[Fender2010]

Great, Chris! Thanks for sharing!

[HOWITZER105MM]

Great work. Read that former Waffen SS signed up with the Legion and fought in Indochina. The strangest thing was that a Colonial Vietnamese paratrooper was found with a Hitler Youth knive. Ain't that strange.

[legionnaire75]

Yes. There were many Germans in the legion post war, albeit not necessarily SS and a lot, I believe who wanted to sign up as they couldn't sign up for an army as such back home. I have some great pictures in one book, written by the curator of the legion uniform museum, of legionnaires wearing Oakleaf tunic and another wearing Oakleaf camo trousers, and many with mp40 pouches etc. The legion had a strong German contingent through to the army 60s. Large eastern European too.

[SSG Felder]

Which book are you talking about Chris....I am a sucker for books esp. FFL related ;-)

[legionnaire75]

Lol no worries Danny. It is this one:

Amazon



It is in French and I'm trying to source an English version, but can get by enough on the pictures and my basic French. It is fantastic, and has some excellent reference pictures in, both original photos and also colour close ups from the museums collection.

[Casual_Collector]

From what I understand, there was a significant number of ex-Wehrmacht in the FFL, but the SS portion was fairly small, estimated at a hundred or less. This was largely due to the tightening of controls on the Legion's recruitment after 1947 when the government was worried about the potential PR problem of ex-SS fighting for the French.
More on that HERE.

Looks like a solid bash, but the backstory makes it excellent. Great work

[HOWITZER105MM]

Originally Posted by legionnaire75

Yes. There were many Germans in the legion post war, albeit not necessarily SS and a lot, I believe who wanted to sign up as they couldn't sign up for an army as such back home. I have some great pictures in one book, written by the curator of the legion uniform museum, of legionnaires wearing Oakleaf tunic and another wearing Oakleaf camo trousers, and many with mp40 pouches etc. The legion had a strong German contingent through to the army 60s. Large eastern European too.

Thanks for the information. There are photos of German parachutes used in Indochina. Some troops wore German water pattern camouflage trousers too.

[8-bit commando]

nice work. i really like the wristwatch/strap combo - is that custom?

[legionnaire75]

Thanks for all the comments guys.
Howitzer105mm - I'm sure there was. I went out and bought a couple of the splinter sets for mine. Lol

8bit commando - thanks. Yes, it's the sgt wristband which came with the bbi British Harry Sinclair figure with a soldier story watch on....when I post the rest of my squad you'll see it used more

[8-bit commando]

Originally Posted by legionnaire75

Thanks for all the comments guys.
Howitzer105mm - I'm sure there was. I went out and bought a couple of the splinter sets for mine. Lol

8bit commando - thanks. Yes, it's the sgt wristband which came with the bbi British Harry Sinclair figure with a soldier story watch on....when I post the rest of my squad you'll see it used more

ah, nice! thanks for the info

[Socrates187]

All this Waffen talk has me thinking of the Casca series and Devil's Guard by George Robert Elford!

[GregT]

sweet setup, interesting story too, love those boots great work all over

[JokersWarPig]

A very nice bash and back story. The custom work is great .
I wonder what it was like for the former German troops to go from fighting in Europe to South East Asia, they're drastically different parts of the world and drastically different conflicts after all

[legionnaire75]

thanks guys Really appreciate the feedback! I have 7 more almost completed and there wll be an outdoor diorama shoot soon

[HOWITZER105MM]

Originally Posted by legionnaire75

Thanks for all the comments guys.
Howitzer105mm - I'm sure there was. I went out and bought a couple of the splinter sets for mine. Lol

8bit commando - thanks. Yes, it's the sgt wristband which came with the bbi British Harry Sinclair figure with a soldier story watch on....when I post the rest of my squad you'll see it used more

Great. Can't wait to see your Legionaire in German splinter pants.

[legionnaire75]

thanks mate but they won;t be in splinter pants..I meant splinter zeltbahns, as they were more common, but not overly so. I am waiting the new Cal Tek German, as I want to use the oakleaf pants and tunic from that figure for 2 more legionnaires..one with the pants, one with the tunic.

[HOWITZER105MM]

Originally Posted by legionnaire75

thanks mate but they won;t be in splinter pants..I meant splinter zeltbahns, as they were more common, but not overly so. I am waiting the new Cal Tek German, as I want to use the oakleaf pants and tunic from that figure for 2 more legionnaires..one with the pants, one with the tunic.

Sounds great. Please show us when you are done. I am planning to kitbash my figure into a German legionnaire wearing WW2 US Army duck pattern armed with MP40. My friend has just posted a Colonial Vietnamese Paratrooper. You can check it out. His name is Kampongbatak.

[fire03]

as Clark Grisswall would shes a butte! nice work

[dudulle.69]

Congratulations Chris
Nice story and nice work

[legionnaire75]

thanks Pascal, I am working on a backstory for each of my 8 legionnaires, and have decided on a cool outdoor photo shoot (well, its cool in my head haha)

[vietnammarine]

Legionnaire, the whole squad you made is great. Look forward to see the outdoor & squad pics