Introduction

Planning for propaganda activities by the German Army began in 1938 by Joseph Goebbels to produce and disseminate propaganda materials aimed at the German troops and the population. In a few years, Germans had numerous propaganda companies of Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS, attached to the fighting troops. At its peak in 1942, the propaganda troops included 15,000 men.

The propaganda companies were the only news-reporting units in areas of military operation, as civilian news correspondents were prohibited from entering combat zones. The troops produced the written, audio and film materials from the front and sent them to a processing center in Germany, where they were reviewed by censors, mostly for security purposes. The filtered materials were then forwarded to the Ministry of Propaganda for immediate dissemination.

In additon to four German war reporters - Kriegsberichter series single figure kits , BRAVO*6 lately released a three figure kit B6-35131 PropagandaKompanie depicting a Wehrmacht propaganda team.

Review

Inside company’s standard cardboard box, kit content is inserted into five small transparent zip-lock bags. Three bags for the figures and two for the camera and accessories.

This is another very crisp and clean cast by Vladimir Demchenko and casting is higher than usual. No need for a cleaning or filling, only a few slightly visible seamlines on the arms.

All figures wear German Army M36 field uniform which was the most commonly issued uniform in early years of the World War II. It was worn by all Heer units and some Waffen SS unit in early and mid-war battlefields. Uniform consists of tunic in Feldgrau/ field gray-green - Feldbluse with 5 front buttons, two breast and two waist patch pockets with scalloped flaps and pleats secured with metal buttons, dark bottle green shoulder boards and collar and trousers in stone grey - Feldhose with two slash, one rear and one wrist pockets. Trotters are tucked inside knee-high marching boots - Marschstiefel. Cloth folds on jacket and trousers, details like BeVo woven breast eagle, collar tabs, pleated pockets, shoulder boards and metal buttons, baggy look of the trousers are well defined. Soldiers have belts with metal buckle and officer has open claw buckle belt.

Heads are given as seperate parts with nice defined facial features. Officer has short visor/peaked cap - Schirmmützen and soldiers wear M40 sidecap - Feldmütze. Details on the headgear like national cockade, eagle emblem and Waffenfarbe piping (white for infantry) are well represented.

FIGURE-A Officer
- Body with right arm on waist
- Head
- Left arm pointing forward
- P38 Walther Hardshell Leather Holster

FIGURE-B Soldier 1 - Cameraman
- Body
- Head
- Arms

FIGURE-C Soldier 2 - Kneeling
- Body
- Head
- Arms

Camera & Accessories
- Arriflex 35 II - reflex 35mm production motion picture camera.
- Battery packs - 2 pieces , one closed and one with open lid
- 2 film cases, 1 magazine and a Leica - 35 mm rangefinder camera
- Tripod plate to attach camera
- Tripod wooden legs - 3 pieces
- Wooden case

A waterslide decal sheet for 2 types PropagandaKompanie cufftitle carried on left forearm.

conclusion

This kit really deserves to be named as a FULL kit.3 figures carefully sculpted in realistic uniform details and cast in very crisp details with no need for a serious cleanwork. Very well detailed Arriflex camera and tripod. Many extra parts to make a create a full scene for a German Propaganda team.

Well done Vladi and BRAVO*6.