MovieChat Forums > Battle of the Bulge (1966) Discussion > The tiny table-top German + American tan...

The tiny table-top German + American tanks

posted 19 years ago by jloper
7 replies | jump to latest

Early in the movie before the Germans attacked, there was a scene at German headquarters where in the foreground you see a table with dozens of little plastic German and American tanks facing each other, a couple of the tanks with with Nazi and American flags on them. Did the Germans really use such props when planning for battle? (P.S. I noticed that the toy tanks looked like the full-sized ones, i.e., the "German" tanks were M-47s and the "American" tanks were M-24s.) ;)

[–] zeroalias 16 years ago

No, I believe those toy tanks were manufactured by Roco/Minitanks circa 1960's. The models are HO (1/87th) scale Tiger II's and M4 Shermans (I collected them as a kid). If you are interested, they may still be available at your local hobby shop. Yes I know, my response might be almost four years late but I just discovered this message board recently and there may be others who might be interested as well.

[–] johnathompson63101 9 years ago

Good eye!

[–] Zipper69 9 years ago

Based on standard table-top procedures elsewhere it's more likely the Germans would have used single markers with unit numbers painted on with each representing a battalion.

Come on lads, bags of swank!

[–] johnathompson63101 9 years ago

An unrealistic anachronism, sure. But seeing my Minitank Tiger IIs on that table gave me a thrill. My friends and I wargamed with these in the Sixties. I had more Tiger IIs with the "Porsche" turret then the Germans actually had. Also unrealistic, but an unstoppable force on the flat terrain of our basement floor.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] johnathompson63101 9 years ago

That's what brought me here as well. Gotta love TCM.

[–] rambler241 16 years ago

Wouldn't have been much use after the battle started - The German High Command didn't know exactly where some of their OWN forces were, to say nothing of the American forces.

Give me five years and you will not recognise Germany again - Adolf Hitler