8261 WW2 German Horse Drawn Wagon

Dated: Jan 16, 2011

Although the German Army of the Second World War is often associated with tanks, trucks and mechanized warfare, much of the Wehrmacht still depended upon horses. Millions of horses were used to move artillery, ammunition, food, baggage and other supplies, especially in infantry divisions where motor transport was limited. Horse-drawn wagons therefore remained a familiar sight throughout the war.

Box

This set represents the Hf.2 Heavy Field Wagon, one of the standard German military wagons used for general transport. Larger and heavier than the light field wagon, it could carry substantial loads of supplies and equipment and was suitable for use by many different types of unit.

Line drawing

The wagon could be used for ammunition, rations, baggage, engineering stores and other military supplies. Its practical design made it useful in infantry divisions, artillery formations, headquarters and supply columns, while the removable canvas cover protected loads from rain, snow and dust.

Test shot

The Hf.2 was substantially heavier than the earlier light wagon. Fully loaded, it could weigh around two tons and was normally drawn by four horses or more. On good roads and with lighter loads, however, a two-horse team could also be used, making the arrangement represented in this set entirely suitable for many situations.

Horse transport was especially important during the campaigns in Poland, France and the Soviet Union. On the Eastern Front, enormous distances, poor roads, mud and winter weather placed severe demands on motor vehicles. Horses and wagons could often continue operating where trucks became immobilized or where fuel supplies could not keep pace with the advancing army.

The dependence on horses also created major logistical problems. Animals required large quantities of fodder and water, needed constant care and were vulnerable to disease, exhaustion and enemy fire. A supply column therefore involved not only wagons and drivers, but also an entire supporting system devoted to keeping the horses themselves fit for service.

This set contains three Hf.2 Heavy Field Wagons, six horses and six crew figures. Each wagon is supplied with a separate canvas cover and detailed harness equipment, allowing the modeller to build a moving transport column or vehicles halted behind the front line.

Two crew figures are provided for each wagon, bringing life to the vehicle and making it suitable for dioramas as well as wargaming. Additional crates, barrels, ammunition boxes, tools or other loads can be added to represent the great variety of supplies carried by German field wagons.

The set can be combined with our German infantry, artillery and other support sets to create the often overlooked logistical side of the Wehrmacht. It is suitable for campaigns throughout the Second World War, from Poland and France to the Balkans, North Africa and especially the vast battlefields of the Eastern Front.

Used alongside our WWI German Field Wagon, this set also shows the continuing importance of horse-drawn transport across two generations of German warfare. Despite the rapid development of mechanized weapons, the humble field wagon remained essential to keeping soldiers supplied and armies moving.