FoW: Slovak Motorcycle Troops

... welcome back to the shrine to all things Slovakian before 1944!

This time we are going to dip into the Slovakian Motorcycle Reconnaissance troops... and I say dip for a reason!

There is almost nothing out there at all written in English on these guys. Its possible to pick apart tables of organisation and equipment that Axworthy and Kliment & Nakladal give but unless you are prepared to tunnel through stuff in the Czech language it seems that this may be somewhat of a mysterious force... a bit like a really nasty fart in a crowded work van... you cant miss it but you know its there!

So, we are going to have a look at as much as I can determine. Where and when they were, and what they used... and then of course we will have a look at how I put them together...

So, there were two types of motorcycles that the Slovak army managed to procure for itself through the course of the Second World War. The CZ 175 and the Jawa 250. Later on the army procured a load of DKW 350 cc motorcycle and sidecars from Germany to replace the almost total losses that the Mobile Division suffered in the Crimea as well.

Frantisek Janecek was born on 23 January 1878 in Klaster, a small village in Bohemia. Growing up he stuidied mechanics in Prague receiving his degree from the Berlin College of Engineering.

While serving on the Italian front during World War I, he developed a flurry of designs, patenting over 60 inventions, including an improved hand grenade which became standard armament for the Czechoslovakian Army.

After the First World War the demand for weapons fell, and so the skilled workforce and factories around Europe directed their efforts on precision manufacturing techniques, with many focusing on the nascent world of motorcycles.

In 1929 Janecek was lured in...

He started the JAWA company after working for several years in the armaments industry. Although he didn't have any experience with motorcycles, he was familiar with large scale production techniques. Janecek chose between the Austrian double piston two-stroke motor of Puch, the Berlin two-stroke of Schliha and the new Wanderer 500 cc. 

Janecek chose the Wanderer. Because of the collapse of the German motor industry, Wanderer had already decided to cease production. This is because they didn't think it would be profitable to directly compete with BMW. The first model was introduced on 23 October 1929. This was a 500 cc 4 cylinder engine with 12 kW of power (18 hp) and fuel consumption of 6 litres per 100 km. Janecek bought the company and its tooling outright and then took the first two letters of both names JAnecek and WAnderer and combined them to form the name of this new motorcycle company; JAWA. 

Production of Wanderer's 500 cc motorcycle began in earnest being marketed as the JAWA 500 OHV. Although highly priced through the first years and with several constructional fixes along the way, this motorcycle proved to be successful and was considered a reliable model.

Due to the global economic recession of the early 1930's it was recognised that a cheaper and simpler motorcycle was needed. 

To serve the masses, Janecek knew that he needed a lightweight and economical motorcycle. He recruited G.W.Patchett, a renowned British engineer with prior racing experience, to lead the initiative. From 1930 until the outbreak of the Second World War Patchett served as the chief designer for JAWA.

Patchett's first step towards a universal motorcycle was by utilising a 175cc Villiers two-stroke engine.

The year of 1932 was marked with the introduction of the JAWA 175 with its 3.6 kW Villiers engine. This light weight (70 kg) machine was capable of speeds of up to 80 km/h and a fuel consumption of 3.5 litres per 100 km. The first year of production was an immediate success, selling over 3000 of the JAWA 175, almost three times as many as the sales of the 500 cc model over the years of production. The production of this model was finally stopped in 1946. In 1938 JAWA was the first to offer test rides during exhibition shows. This test motorcycle was a custom JAWA 175 equipped with dual handlebars with the second pair being installed in the rear for the instructors use. Over the years a total of 27,535 units of the JAWA 175 were built and was always in demand.

Between 1932-35 under Patchett the JAWA research and development team began designing engines in house. Additional motorcycle models were introduced, mostly based on the 250 cc and 350 cc two-stroke engines. The factory also made sophisticated four-stroke racing machines with overhead cams in very limited numbers through this period. It was these machines that helped establish JAWA's reputation for brilliant engineering and exceptional handling.

Following the occupation of Czechoslovakia and the beginning of the Second World War the continued manufacturing and production of new JAWA motorcycles was brought to a halt... but not their development though. That carried on in secret.

Even though the JAWA factory was forced to make the armaments for the Nazi war machine. Janecek kept working in secret, driven by his passion for innovation. His next line up of motorcycles would famously go on to be called the JAWA 'Perak'

This line would be continued after the end of the Second World War under his son Karel though because on 4 June 1941 Frantisek Janecek succumbed to a long term illness and died.

The Czechoslovakian 3rd Rapid Division that was stationed on Slovak territory before the collapse of the state included the 3rd Motorcycle Company in the Reconnaissance Group.

It doesn't take a genius to guess that the Slovakian army had many motorcycles within their tables of organisation and equipment. They were predominantly used for communications between the different units but not as assumed, for reconnaissance purposes. 

In March 1939 the Armoured Regiment for example included a total of 73 motorcycles on its rostas, of both JAWA CZ 175 and JAWA 250 types. 

In the autumn of 1939 the organisational structure of the armoured battalion was reordered to include a Motorised Reconnaissance Group which included a motorcycle reconnaissance platoon.

The armoured battalion was again restructured in January 1940 although the tables that I have access to make no mention of a motorcycle reconnaissance platoon although the 1st battalion contained an armoured car company alongside which organisationally speaking, any motorcycle reconnaissance troops would usually be found. 

This lack of Motorcycle reconnaissance troops may have been as a result of the Nazi restriction on the production of new JAWA's in favour of producing war materials for the Germans so the Slovaks were reordering their forces to make best use of the motorcycle assets that they still had available for use.

On 14th October 1941 the Mobile Division was at Volnovacha and attempting to claw its way through the Rasputitsa. The returns of the day however point out that 75% of the divisions motorcycles were unserviceable making a motorcycle reconnaissance force all but redundant.

On 16th October the Mobile Division was ordered to Taganrog whilst at the same time General Turanec abolished the Reconnaissance Group due to a lack of serviceable vehicles.

This situation barely seems to have improved noticeably over the next year because by the end of 1942 the Rapid Division had lost over 1000 of its vehicles due to wear and tear.

By 2 March 1943 the Mobile Division had retreated at speed back to the Crimea and had lost all but seven of a total complement of  84 motorcycles. It was soon after this that the Mobile status was recognised as a redundant description and the Rapid Division was renamed the 1st Infantry Division.

At some point in mid 1943 the Slovak Ministry of Defence brokered a deal with the Reich and purchased 20x DKW 350 motorcycles and 20x DKW 350 motorcycle and sidecars. These went to equip the 1st Infantry Division which on 14 September 1943 is listed as having a motorcycle reconnaissance company.

When the rest of the field army was renamed the Security Division on 1 September 1941 had only its organic supply of motorcycles to call on. By July 1942 it still only had a total of 24 motorcycles and 4 motorcycle and sidecars in the entire division.  It is, at this time however, listed as having a combined reconnaissance group which did have motorcycles... only four though. Two singles and two motorcycle combos, so maybe a sections worth of reconnaissance?

...and that my friends is as much information on the Slovak motorcycle troops as I can find!

Now lets take a look at how I put this platoon together eh?

Before we go any further I should point out that every single miniature in this platoon was a Battlefront 15mm Italian until I nipped off their heads and replaced them with Peter Pig heads to turn them into Slovaks. Either the ones with the Slovak Helmets or else the ones with the Soviet Pilotka Caps which fulfil a good proxy for the Slovak field caps.

So, where painting all of the infantry is concerned its a relatively simple affair. They are done the way that I do them to look good from about 5ft away. Scrutinise them from up close and all of the flaws in the painting will probably slap you in the face but from arms length away they look splendid!.

The first step is to prime, and as with most of my other historical stuff, I prime with a black etch primer. You can buy these from any hardware store but the 'etch' in the primer ensures an exceptionally strong substrate to the acrylic layers that will go over the top, the etch actually referring to a micro dilute acidic content that eats microscopically into the surface of the model creating an uneven surface for the paint to clutch to whilst providing a nice and smooth top layer as the paint levels out and dries.

The lions share of the work done on WW2 miniatures is the main uniform and where the Slovaks are concerned after a somewhat lengthy research period I decided to ditch the (re)coloured photos from the past and go with the uniform colours that all of the re-enactors in Czechoslovakia are using at the moment. In my experience all of these re-enactment guys are anal about accuracy so I would trust their opinions a lot more than raggedy old photos with amateur enthusiast recolour treatments.

My base coat was done with Vallejo's 887 Brown Violet for the deepest layers of the uniform. The first highlight, which presents the largest overall surface area that will be seen at the end was done with MIG's 113 Khaki Green No3 (Brit 1939-1942) with the final highlights along all of the raised edges being completed with MIG's 058 Light Green Khaki. This covers all of the cloth uniform and the puttees.

The helmet has a single coat of 50/50 mix of Vallejo's 897 Bronze Green and Vallejo's 887 Brown Violet with the blue helmet band having a basecoat of Vallejo's 925 Intense Blue, highlighted with a 50/50 mix of Vallejo's 925 Intense Blue and Vallejo's 943 Blue Grey. The little Slovak crosses are all hand painted with thinned down Vallejo's 820 Offwhite.

Everything else is all gravy after painting the uniform.

All of the Canvas bags and straps have a basecoat of Vallejo's 921 English Uniform applied with block highlights of AK Interactives 3072 M-44 Uniform Green Ochre Khaki whilst the leather belts and ammo pouches are basecoated in Vallejo's 045 Charred Brown and highlighted with Vallejo's 983 Flat Earth.

The boots are any matt black whilst the Gas Mask Tins are basecoated with Vallejo's 980 Black Green and highlighted with Lifecolor's UA224 Olive Drab Faded Type 2.

The rifle bodies are basecoated with Vallejo's 826 German Camo Medium Brown with the highlighted grain lines painted with Vallejo's 981 Orange Brown. All metal work is painted black firstly and highlighted with Molten Metals Steel. The rifle straps are basecoated with Vallejo's 880 Khaki Grey and highlighted with a 50/50 mix of Vallejo's 880 Khaki Grey and Vallejo's 819 Iraqi Sand.

Where the skin is concerned you can paint it how you please but personally I use one of AK Interactive's paint sets for 'Flesh and Skin Colours' and I've never looked back!

Where the motorcycles and sidecars are concerned the painting is pretty simple. They are primed black as usual. After the prime is cured the bikes are all done with a Tamiya Olive Green by airbrush followed by a highlight. An AK Interactives Filter for NATO camo vehicles is applied next and the n once it is mostly dry the excess is wiped off. 

Once the filter is dry a layer of varnish is applied to prevent the rest of it being rubbed off. The engine block, handlebars, wheels, saddle and packs are all undercoated white again. The wheels are highlighted with Lifecolors Tire Black, the engine block and handle bars with Molten Metal Steel whilst the saddle is painted with Vallejo's Flat Earth. The exhausts are painted with Molten Metal Blackened Bronze and headlights are painted with GW's Spacewolf Grey and then three diagonal stripes of white (and white will do) are applied. All of the number plates are left matt black (and matt black).

All of the bases are actually really simple. I buy all of my bases from Tony at East Riding Miniatures. Hes a bit of a legend and REALLY helpful. They are all laser cut MDF which allows for easy scoring of the base surface.

I then apply a thin layer of tile grout over the top and sculpt the grout to look like a dirt road going through the centre of the base. Once this is dry I glue a layer of one of my sand mixes over the top of the parts of the base that isn't dirt track. Generally speaking I create my own mixes for base coverings as I REALLY don't like a lot of the crap you buy from the shops. Its generally speaking far too gaudy in colour or uniform in texture for my tastes.

I like the generally fine sand BUT I like to have lots of the little stones in there so I can create some colour contrasts with the dirt on the bases.

Once dry the whole base is given a basecoat of Vallejo's 826 German Camo Medium Brown and given a heavy drybrush of Vallejo's 814 Green Ochre.

All of the little stones on the bases are then given a basecoat of Vallejo's 995 German Grey and roughly highlighted (to create a jagged uneven texture) with any lighter grey of your choice but personally I go with Vallejo's 992 Neutral Grey.

The sides of the bases are now painted Matt Black. I never used to bother with this BUT I've really gotten into the clean precise look this lends to the bases. I love it now.

Now we come to the final stage of the bases which is the covering. The static flock that I use is my own mix. I go for something that approximates the dead and dry grass you find on the Steppes with perhaps a little more green in it than usual. This allows an overall base aesthetic that can be used the length of Europe in my opinion.

To provide the final textural boost to the bases though I use a variety of clumps. I had a LOT of problems finding ones that I felt were suitable but after a couple of years I came across a company called Tajima Miniatures whose self adhesive tufts are without a doubt the best I have ever found. I use their stuff by the bucket load now, in great variety. 

These all add to the final colour and texture of the bases of this army. 

Once the painting on the bases is dry the finished motorcycles and troopers can be glued to the top of the bases using superglue!

...and there we have it. 

Bosh! Job Done!

FIX  BAYONETS!!!!