Pz IV of the 1 Divisione Corazzata M, 1943

[Jesse]

Long since I posted... This is a scene depicting a Pz IV of the Italian Black Shirt armoured unit 1 Divisione Corazzata "M". It was a unit created in 1943 and supplied with some German tanks (Pz III and IV) and assault guns (Stug III). It never saw combat and I believe it was dispanded after the coup against Mussolini. If somebody has more info about the unit and what happened to their vehicles, please pass it forward! The tank is the old Esci/Italeri which I have made some improvements on. Figures Waterloo 1815. I have painted the unit markings by hand with a tiny brush. Photos not the best, but here you go.

[loken32]

[giorgio]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/136th_Armo ... entauro_II

Italian Wikipedia says: "Nei primi giorni di settembre la Divisione venne integrata nel Corpo d'Armata Motocorazzato, comandato dal generale Giacomo Carboni, dislocato nell'ambito della cintura difensiva predisposta a protezione di Roma dal possibile attacco da parte delle truppe tedesche. A seguito dell'armistizio dichiarato l'8 settembre 1943, nonostante i combattimenti che seguirono tra truppe italiane e tedesche a difesa della Capitale, la Divisione, ritenuta inaffidabile dal punto di vista politico dal suo stesso comandante venne lasciata inattiva fino al 10 settembre, giorno della resa delle truppe italiane." that means that the Division put in defense of Rome from the German 3rd Panzergrenadierdivision, never saw combat because it was believed politically unreliable.

"Il 13 settembre iniziò il disarmo della Divisione da parte dei tedeschi, assieme a quello delle altre unità italiane già assegnate alla difesa di Roma (con l'eccezione della divisione "Piave"). I materiali di origine germanica, ovvero i 36 carri, 24 cannoni e gli automezzi forniti dalla Wehrmacht ed inquadrati dalla divisione, furono tutti rilevati da unità tedesche e successivamente utilizzati sul fronte di Anzio e di Cassino." On 13th september, after the fall of Rome to the Germans, the 36 tanks and 24 guns were taken from german units and used on the Anzio and Cassino fronts.
Thanks

[giorgio]

http://www.zimmerit.com/zimmeritpedia/i ... NT_II.html

[giorgio]

it could be a good idea for a "what if"...

[Mai Strac]

Great work, the subject is very unusual even for an italian!!

[santifernandez]

Nice scene.
Santi.

[Jesse]

Thank you very much giorgio for the additional info!

[Bluefalchion]

Gorgeous modeling on the tank, and thanks for the interesting history lesson.

[Peter]

Nice little scene! Love it!

Also thanks for the background information!

[Lobowwe]

The Germans gave the Italian MSVN several Pz III Ns, Tigers, Pz IVs, and halftrack/88 mm combinations. When Mussolini was overthrown, the Germans took back their equipment as fast as possible
This is a great diorama!

[Wiking]

Clean nice build.
I like the way you bring to the today standard (Revell, Dragon) outclassed Esci P4 to live.
You paint the unit marking great!
An unusual theme you take. Can`t remember to see that before in 1/72 or 1/35.
Your chosen Waterloo figures fit quite well for that. And you have done they very good.

[panzerman]

Cool to see a Panzer IV in different markings. Nicely built and painted. Figures compliment the scene. Bill