'Bavaria Dreaming'...Korsun, Ukraine. Jan. 1944

[spanner570]

Despite the intense cold Ernst Lensen was day dreaming.....


"Ernst, you're miles away. What are you thinking about?" enquired his tank Commander.


"Sorry, sir. It's all this snow. I can't help thinking about my home and family back in the Bavarian mountains."


From his tunic pocket he produces a picture of his wife and two children playing in the snow.


"Very nice, I can see why you are home sick. Don't worry, you will see home again. Once Fatty Goring gets off his fat arse, he will send supplies. Then we can arm up, fuel up and get some food in our bellies. Then I bet you we will have an orderly withdraw west to a defensive position which even the Popovs can't break!.....You are the best gunner I know Ernst, but we need to keep alert. Go below, get warm and give that big gun of yours a cuddle, we don't want it freezing when we need it do we?.


Lensen disappears through the hatch. The Commander stares at the Eastern horizon.


A few days later news would come that no further supplies could get through. The Russian Air Force was blasting everything out of the sky.


Hitler had issued an 'Order of the Day'...."No retreat, stand and fight to the death."


The Russian Army had launched a two pronged attack trying to pinch out the salient......


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Weeks later, the Russian soldiers in their trucks didn't even glance at the wrecked German tank they passed, they'd seen dozens littered about....Much less notice the lone hastily dug grave by the machine.


Had they have looked closer, they would have been curious as to what the piece of paper was pinned to the makeshift cross. The 'paper' was a charred photo of a young woman with two children playing in the snow..........


Thanks for looking,


Ron

 

[Alan 45]

That's brilliant Ron top marks mate


You know I've been practicing with winter camo , well you've just ruined what I wanted to do ! I have been practicing so I could do very much the same thing , I have a tiger and I've bought loads of tamiya wall sets to do a broken ruined house ( some of us can't build a house out of pizza bases :D )


I'm going to have to think of something else now

 

[spanner570]

:P :p:p:p ....tough mate!


Thanks for great post too Al'


Ron

 

[Alan 45]

:P :p:p:p ....tough mate!
Thanks for great post too Al'


Ron

I can't believe how close it was to what I was thinking of doing , it really is uncanny

 

[spanner570]

I can't believe how close it was to what I was thinking of doing , it really is uncanny

Remember the old saying Alan......'Great minds.........' er, lol!


I'm sure you'll come up with something. How about one of those poll thingies people like doing or simply ask for suggestions and ideas.

 

[Doug Hughes]

Nice story, Ron, and I love you way you've weathered and distressed the Tiger.

 

[Wendall]

A beautiful piece of work Ron. A touching story as well. Reminds us that all sides were human and most were young men missing their loved ones, doing the bidding of their masters hundreds of miles away from home.

 

[Deleted member 3568]

Tremendous story and as always a great dio I love your work, and it was such a quick build.

 

[Lee W]

Ron, that is amazing!


Cracking story!


Stunning dio!


Lee

 

[Laurie]

Very nice Ron. Like the figures they look very authentic.


Laurie

 

[grumpa]

Very nice Ron! I like the photos, very dramatic with nice angels. Ground work, building, vehicle and figures up to your usual standards. Like the sky in the back round, very creative, makes me to start thinking myself about a more creative photographic approach myself in future. Cheers Jim

 

[john i am]

Cracking dioarama Ron it's very sad Ernst never made it home to his family.:eek:


I can only hope the commander faired better than his poor gunner.

 

[Tibbs]

Thats a treat..... Love the photos showing the sky from behind, very real, a first class job

 

[Gern]

Another one for the top drawer .....

 

[steve scan]

Superb Ron, excellent all round build and I like the dio, looks cold.

 

[Polux]

Brilliant work Ron!!


The story and the pics are terrific as well!! I love them

 

[papa 695]

Great work Ron.


All the love and care taken to put all the rubble, dirt and dust in the right places then you just go and cover it all up with snow. But what great looking snow top work once again Ron


Oh and a very nice and touching story to go with it.

 

[yak face]

Amazing work once again ron , the build almost takes a back seat to the touching, superbly crafted back story. They both tie together perfectly and give a great sense of humanity to the ugly business of war , great build doodah coming your way , cheers tony

 

[bazers]

Superb Ron winter wash looks great ,also photos are well done.

 

[noble]

Nice diorama like the tiger, and a very nice back story.


Scott