French Army “Trench Hunters” WWI – Custom Printed Brick Block Figure

These figures represent a squad of World War I French Army Trench Raiders, and they are all compatible with major standard building blocks.

1. Trench Hunter with Thatch Camouflage & Splatter Mask (Left Figure)

• Character Identification: WWI French Trench Hunter with Improvised Straw Camouflage and Chainmail Mask (Nettoyeur de Tranchées).

• Detailed Character Description: This figure stands out with its highly detailed, 360-degree custom printing. The torso is covered in a heavily textured printed vest made of woven straw or thatch, simulating improvised battlefield camouflage over his uniform. Over this vest sits a printed brown leather combat belt with two fragmentation grenades tucked in for quick access. In his right hand, the figure holds a physical black trench knife/dagger accessory. The headpiece is a light blue M1915 Adrian Helmet featuring the infantry flaming bomb insignia. Under the helmet, the figure’s face is obscured by a printed protective mask made of leather and dangling chainmail, giving him an intimidating, heavily armored look. His legs feature wrap-around printing of mud-splattered Bleu Horizon trousers, dark blue puttees (cloth leg wraps), and muddy brown leather boots. Printed NCO chevrons are visible on his arms.

• Historical Background: During the brutal stalemate of WWI, the French Army formed elite shock troops known as Nettoyeurs de Tranchées (Trench Cleaners). Their job was to follow the main assault wave and ruthlessly clear surviving enemies from captured trench dugouts. Because trenches were narrow and chaotic, standard rifles were useless; these soldiers relied on grenades and trench knives for brutal hand-to-hand combat. The thatch camouflage acts as an early “ghillie suit,” used by raiders and snipers to blend into the devastated terrain of “No Man’s Land.” The chainmail splatter mask was a real historical adaptation used by assault troops and early tank crews to protect their faces and eyes from the deadly rock splinters and metal shrapnel kicked up by relentless artillery bombardments.

2. Trench Hunter with Canvas Musette Bag (Middle Figure)

• Character Identification: WWI French Trench Hunter with Canvas Cross-Body Bag and Face Wrap.

• Detailed Character Description: This figure showcases the quintessential look of a frontline French infantryman adapted for trench raiding. The torso features the iconic Bleu Horizon (Horizon Blue) uniform tunic. Slung diagonally across his chest from the right shoulder is a brightly printed yellow canvas musette bag, essential for carrying extra gear. He wears a standard brown leather infantry belt supported by Y-straps, featuring multiple printed rectangular ammunition pouches. His face features standard brick eyes, but the lower half is concealed by a printed tan cloth wrap. He wears the standard light blue Adrian Helmet. His lower half is heavily weathered, with printed mud caking his trousers, dark blue puttees, and brown combat boots, reflecting the miserable, waterlogged conditions of the Western Front.

• Historical Background: To effectively clear enemy trenches, the Nettoyeurs de Tranchées required massive amounts of short-range ordnance, far more than standard pouches could hold. The canvas musette bags were heavily utilized to carry dozens of extra hand grenades (such as the F1 or “citron” grenades) to flush out deep underground bunkers. The cloth face wrap represents the improvised masks soldiers wore to protect their lungs from choking dust, cordite smoke, and mild tear gas before the widespread issue of modern gas masks. The Bleu Horizon uniform itself was a major technological shift, introduced in 1915 to replace the deadly, highly visible bright red trousers French soldiers wore at the start of the war, helping them camouflage against the overcast skies and muddy terrain.

3. Trench Hunter Grenadier with Assault Vest (Right Figure)

• Character Identification: WWI French Trench Hunter Rifle Grenadier with Canvas Assault Vest and Combat Goggles.

• Detailed Character Description: This figure highlights the heavy ordnance carriers of the raiding squads. Over his Bleu Horizon uniform, the figure wears a prominent light tan canvas assault vest printed with deep, heavy-duty front pockets. Tucked securely into the center of this vest is a highly detailed print of a wooden-handled combat dagger. The figure’s face printing tells a story of intense, gritty combat: he wears protective combat goggles with dark lenses, and the lower half of his face is heavily soiled with printed mud, dirt, and trench grime, giving him a rugged, battle-hardened expression. He shares the same mud-splattered leg printing (puttees and boots) and the standard M1915 Adrian Helmet as the rest of the squad.

• Historical Background: As trench warfare evolved, armies needed ways to project explosives across the battlefield safely. The French Army utilized soldiers equipped with Viven-Bessières (VB) rifle grenades. These specialized grenadiers required custom canvas aprons or vests with deep pockets to carry the heavy, cylindrical explosive payloads. The combat goggles were crucial for these soldiers, protecting their eyes from the constant spray of dirt and debris caused by both enemy artillery and the backblast of their own weapons. The prominently placed trench knife on his chest serves as a stark reminder that if enemy soldiers breached the line, combat would immediately devolve into desperate, close-quarters melee.