Chinese Eighth Route Army Soldiers Collection WWII – Custom Printed Brick Block Figure

English Title & Specific Name

• Figure Title: Chinese Eighth Route Army Soldiers Collection WWII – Custom Printed Brick Block Figure
• Historical Era: Second Sino-Japanese War, within the wider World War II period.
• Faction / Military Branch: Chinese Eighth Route Army-themed soldier collection; no exact unit, rank or named person identified.

Collection Introduction

A six-figure Chinese Eighth Route Army-themed collection containing one each of the Cross Strap Soldier, Holster Strap Soldier, Mustached Pouch Soldier, Red Collar Pouch Soldier, Tan Chest Rig Soldier and Wide Strap Soldier. Each is a separate complete bare-headed figure, with blue-gray uniform artwork and a distinct printed carrying arrangement.

Historical / Thematic Background

The Eighth Route Army was created in August 1937 when Communist Red Army main forces were reorganized within the National Revolutionary Army during the full-scale Second Sino-Japanese War. The initial force comprised the 115th, 120th and 129th Divisions. It was formally redesignated the Eighteenth Group Army in September, while the Eighth Route Army name remained closely associated with its wartime identity.

After deploying toward Shanxi, its forces helped establish resistance behind Japanese lines across North China. Mountain bases developed alongside local recruitment, civilian mobilization and guerrilla operations. The Jin-Cha-Ji and Taihang regions became important settings for these efforts. Maintaining resistance meant connecting scattered groups, sustaining communications and organizing areas from which soldiers could continue to operate.

The wider network included headquarters and public liaison offices that supported contacts, supplies and personnel movement. Together, these activities show an army functioning through field forces, base areas and links with the surrounding population. The six unnamed soldiers offer a human scale for displays about that history: a village assembly, a marching group or a camp between movements can explore wartime service beyond a single battle scene.

1. Cross Strap Soldier

Character Identification

An unnamed Chinese Eighth Route Army-themed soldier distinguished by crossing shoulder-strap and pale bandolier artwork.

Detailed Character Description

The bare head has heavy eyebrows, cheek creases and an open, gritted-teeth expression. A narrow tan diagonal strap crosses a broad pale pink bandolier illustration with tied-flap details over the blue-gray tunic.

Outlined tunic pockets, buttons, a brown waist belt and pale buckle add detail. Blue-gray trousers continue into gray-purple striped leg-wrap printing and black footwear. Purple and white arm patches are visible. The carrying gear and clothing details are printed artwork; both hands are empty.

Historical / Thematic Background

The Eighth Route Army’s move toward Shanxi in 1937 connected its formation with the developing North China campaign. This unnamed soldier gives an ordinary serviceman’s presence to a marching or assembly display about that wider movement.

2. Holster Strap Soldier

Character Identification

An unnamed Chinese Eighth Route Army-themed soldier with a printed hip holster, diagonal strap and pale suspenders.

Detailed Character Description

The pictured figure stands at a slight angle, with a bare head, downturned mouth and cheek creases. A narrow tan strap crosses the blue-gray tunic, while pale pink suspenders run down toward the brown waist belt. A brown holster illustration sits at the hip.

Printed buttons, four tunic pockets, purple and white arm patches and fabric creases complete the clothing. Gray-purple leg-wrap artwork sits above black footwear. The holster and straps are printed details, not removable equipment; the hands are empty and no separate pistol is shown.

Historical / Thematic Background

City liaison offices helped connect the Eighth Route Army with supplies, communications and the wider wartime coalition. A headquarters or office courtyard display offers historical context for this holster-pattern figure without assigning it an officer’s rank.

3. Mustached Pouch Soldier

Character Identification

An unnamed Chinese Eighth Route Army-themed soldier identified by a thin black moustache and three printed brown waist pouches.

Detailed Character Description

The bare head has thick eyebrows, a thin black moustache and cheek lines. Brown and tan straps cross a pale pink tied-flap bandolier design on the blue-gray tunic. Three brown pouch illustrations with round pale fasteners sit beside the belt buckle.

Tunic pocket outlines, purple and white arm patches and dark fabric-fold artwork continue the uniform. Blue-gray trousers have gray-purple striped lower-leg wraps and black footwear. The pouches, straps and bandolier are printed artwork, with no separate carrying components or loose ammunition.

Historical / Thematic Background

The development of bases in North China connected regular troops with local recruitment and civilian support. The moustached soldier adds an individual face to a village assembly or marching group exploring that relationship.

4. Red Collar Pouch Soldier

Character Identification

An unnamed Chinese Eighth Route Army-themed soldier distinguished by bright red collar tabs and a broad row of brown pouch artwork.

Detailed Character Description

The bare head has dark eyebrows, a firm downturned mouth and reddish cheek markings. Red collar-tab artwork contrasts with the blue-gray tunic. Brown vertical harness straps, a narrow diagonal strap and gold-tone buckle details lead to a closely spaced row of brown pouches across the waist.

Blue-gray trousers carry dark fold lines and gray-purple striped leg-wrap artwork. The footwear is tan, contrasting with the black footwear on the other five designs. Purple and white arm patches are visible. Collar tabs, harness, belt and pouches are printed details rather than separate components.

Historical / Thematic Background

The army’s creation was part of a wider 1937 political and military coalition against Japan. Public mobilization and organization accompanied field service, providing context for a group assembled around this red-collar design.

5. Tan Chest Rig Soldier

Character Identification

An unnamed Chinese Eighth Route Army-themed soldier with a broad tan chest-rig illustration and four front pouch shapes.

Detailed Character Description

The bare head has angled eyebrows, cheek creases and a gritted-teeth expression. Tan bib-like carrying-rig artwork covers much of the blue-gray tunic, with four large rectangular pouch shapes and darker angled flap details across the front.

Blue-gray sleeves carry purple and white patches and printed creases. Matching trousers continue into gray-purple striped leg wraps and black footwear. The chest rig, pouches and straps are printed on the figure; they are not separate fabric equipment or removable accessories. Both hands are empty.

Historical / Thematic Background

Transport routes and communications were central to resistance behind Japanese lines. A scene of soldiers preparing to move between settlements can connect this printed carrying-rig design with that wider wartime geography.

6. Wide Strap Soldier

Character Identification

An unnamed Chinese Eighth Route Army-themed soldier with broad crossing tan strap artwork and a head turned away in the supplied presentation.

Detailed Character Description

The supplied view shows the plain back of the bare head above the front of the blue-gray tunic; no face is visible in this prepared individual image. Broad tan carrying-strap and tied-flap bandolier illustrations cross the torso above a brown waist belt and pale buckle.

Four outlined tunic pockets, buttons, purple and white arm patches and dark fold lines finish the upper body. Blue-gray trousers carry gray-purple striped leg-wrap artwork above black footwear. All straps and carrying details are printed artwork. The empty-handed figure remains one complete member of the collection.

Historical / Thematic Background

The Taihang region linked dispersed field activity with headquarters planning and coordination. This wide-strap figure can join a camp or assembly scene about that organization; its supplied head presentation is retained without an invented face.

Included Contents

Six complete bare-headed brick figures: one Cross Strap Soldier, one Holster Strap Soldier, one Mustached Pouch Soldier, one Red Collar Pouch Soldier, one Tan Chest Rig Soldier and one Wide Strap Soldier. Straps, pouches, bandoliers, holster, chest rig, leg wraps and uniform details are printed artwork. No separate headgear, weapons or loose accessories are included. Additional photographs show the same six members, not extra figures.