Imperial German Army Tankabwehr, Sentry & Stormtrooper WWI – Custom Printed Brick Block Figure

Please note that these brick figures are all compatible with major standard building blocks.

1. WWI German Anti-Tank Soldier (Left Figure)

• Character Identification: WWI German Anti-Tank Assault Soldier (Tankabwehr Soldier)

• Detailed Character Description: This figure is designed to showcase the terrifying and heavily burdened reality of late-war trench combat. The most prominent feature is the headgear: the figure’s face is entirely obscured by a printed early WWI German gas mask (resembling a Gummimaske), characterized by its metallic eye-lenses and front breathing filter. Over the helmet and mask, the figure wears a custom-molded tan protective cloth hood that drapes down to the shoulders. The torso features the classic Feldgrau (field grey) tunic with traditional red piping. The chest is heavily heavily laden with an intricate web of oversized brown leather bandoliers designed to hold massive anti-tank ammunition. The legs continue the field grey uniform with red piping, ending in printed brown leather marching boots with subtle dirt and wear details.

• Historical Background: When British forces introduced the first tanks on the Western Front in 1916, it forced the Imperial German Army to rapidly develop Tankabwehr (anti-tank) squads. These specialized troops were armed with heavy, high-caliber weapons like the Mauser 13.2mm Tankgewehr M1918, requiring the oversized ammunition pouches seen on this figure. Because these soldiers operated in the most contested sectors of the front, they were constantly exposed to chemical artillery shells. The gas mask and the specific anti-gas hood were absolute necessities to survive attacks involving blister agents like mustard gas, which severely burned any exposed skin.

2. WWI German Trench Sentry / Support Trooper (Center Figure)

• Character Identification: WWI Imperial German Trench Sentry / Support Trooper

• Detailed Character Description: This figure represents a heavily armored frontline defender. The standout piece is the custom-molded field-grey Stahlhelm (steel helmet) equipped with a Stirnpanzer—a heavy, elongated steel brow plate that drops down over the soldier’s forehead and nose. Beneath the armor, the figure bears a stern expression with a period-accurate mustache. He wears the standard Feldgrau tunic adorned with distinctive red piping along the collar, cuffs, and trousers. Over the uniform, he wears standard infantry webbing consisting of brown leather Y-straps and a waist belt supporting triple-pouch ammunition rigs for a standard-issue rifle. A diagonal green canvas strap crosses his chest to secure a heavy marching pack or satchel on his back. His lower legs feature wrap-around printing of mud-splattered brown leather boots (Knobelbecher).

• Historical Background: Introduced in 1916, the M16 Stahlhelm drastically reduced head wounds from artillery shrapnel. For troops who had to hold static positions and peek over trench parapets (such as sentries and machine gunners), the German army issued the Stirnpanzer. This was a 5mm thick steel brow plate that hooked directly onto the helmet’s ventilation lugs. While it was highly effective at stopping direct sniper bullets, it was incredibly heavy and uncomfortable, meaning it was primarily used for defensive support roles rather than by troops actively charging across “No Man’s Land.”

3. WWI German Stormtrooper (Right Figure)

• Character Identification: WWI German Stormtrooper (Sturmtruppen / Sturmmann)

• Detailed Character Description: This figure highlights the elite, late-war infiltration units of the German Army. The figure wears a highly distinctive M16 Stahlhelm featuring a custom-printed Buntfarbenanstrich (geometric camouflage pattern), combining blocks of tan, brown, and green separated by thick black lines. The face features a calm expression with a subtle mustache. He is outfitted in a slightly darker variant of the Feldgrau uniform. Unlike the earlier war troops in brown leather, this figure wears black leather Y-straps and black ammunition pouches, reflecting the shift in equipment manufacturing later in the war. The legs showcase another late-war adaptation: instead of tall leather marching boots, this figure features printed olive-green puttees (cloth leg wraps) that transition into standard black ankle boots, designed for better mobility in the mud.

• Historical Background: By the later years of WWI, the German High Command realized that massive frontal assaults against machine guns were futile. They formed the Sturmtruppen (Stormtroopers), elite units trained in stealth, speed, and brutal close-quarters combat. Their goal was to bypass strongpoints and infiltrate deep into enemy trenches. In 1918, to help these assault troops blend into the ruined, cratered landscapes, General Erich Ludendorff officially ordered helmets to be painted in the geometric camouflage patterns seen on this figure. The shift from tall leather boots to cloth puttees was both a practical choice for mobility and a result of severe leather shortages crippling the German war economy.