During World War II, the Don Cossacks mustered the largest single concentration of Cossacks within the German Army, the XVth SS Cossack Cavalry Corps. A great part of the Cossacks were former Russian citizens who elected to fight not so much for Germany as against the Soviet Union. The XVth SS Cossack Cavalry Corps included the 1st Cossack Division and the 2nd Cossack Division.
Mars just released a set of Don Cossack soldiers that served in the German Army during World War II. I recently picked up a set from Kent Sprecher. Here is the link for Kent on eBay, 32023 Mars 1/32 WWII Don Cossacks (German Allies) toy soldiers 15 in 8 poses. You get 15 figures in 8 different poses in 1/32 scale.
Let’s start the review. I was very happy to get this set. Mars hit a home run in my opinion. I was surprised to find out that the scale of this set about the same scale as the Conte Germans. Now my German forces finally have some Axis Allies in the same scale. They also look nice when compared to Marx Germans too. Even the Plastic Platoon figures are about the same scale. The only flaw that stands out to me is the flash that cuts down most of the figures faces.
The scale is one of the major drawbacks to most of the other Mars sets. Previous Mars World War II sets really didn’t compare that well with most sets. Unless you were a big collector of MPC figures then you were out of luck. Most collectors will pick a scale that they like to collect. You have 1/35 scale which is what most “Models” are. Then the classic scale of 54mm or the original 1/32 scale which most Marx figures are. Then the “Big” 1/32 scale which came along with Conte & TSSD figures. My favorite is the Conte Scale.
As I was writing my review a few days ago I was sent some pictures of the new Mars WW II German Elite Infantry in Winter Dress. These figures look really nice. I hope that these new figures are also a little bigger than the previous sets. Kent should have them in stock in a few weeks.
The East Coast Toy Soldier Show is this Sunday. I will be there and will have a review of the show most likely on Monday. That is it for now. Thank you for reading.
Where will you be at Hackensack?
I would like to meet you in person
I very much enjoy your reports
Cheers
Art Etchells
Hi Art. I will be walking around the show. I will probably be selling some things at the show next year though. I will be wearing a orange Harley Davidson baseball cap and might have a camera. I going to be in the mid 50’s so I properly will be wearing a jacket too. So look for a guy with a grayish beard and an orange Harley Davidson Motorcycle hat. Take Care, Mike
I never knew that the German Army used Russian Cossack troops in their army.
We’re they mainly used in the SS. units ?
I’m not an expert on any of this. But from what I read they were used behind lines mostly to fight Partisans. At some point the organized most of the Cosscks under the SS command. It is interesting to read up on them.