Minifigure – German Army (Heer) Infantryman from the early stages of World War II (LEGO Compatible)

This image displays a toy minifigure representing a German Army (Heer) Infantryman from the early stages of World War II (circa 1939–1940).

Here is a detailed breakdown of the figure and its historical significance:

The Figure: Wehrmacht Rifleman (Schütze) This figure depicts the standard German foot soldier during the “Blitzkrieg” era.

• Uniform (The M36): He wears the iconic M36 Field Tunic (Feldbluse). This is identifiable by the Dark Bottle-Green Collar, which contrasts with the lighter field grey (Feldgrau) of the rest of the jacket. This distinct style was worn during the invasions of Poland and France but was phased out later in the war to save materials.

• Headgear: He wears the M35 Stahlhelm (steel helmet).

  • Decals: The helmet features accurate early-war decals. The right side displays the National Tricolor Shield (Black, White, Red), while the left side features the silver Wehrmacht Eagle (Heeresadler). The tricolor shield was ordered to be removed in 1940 for better camouflage, dating this figure to the early war.

• Trousers: He wears Stone Grey (Steingrau) trousers. In the early war, trousers were a slightly different shade of grey than the tunic, a detail accurately captured here.

• Combat Gear:

  • Belt & Pouches: He wears a black leather belt with the standard “Gott mit uns” buckle print and triple ammunition pouches (Patronentaschen) for the Kar98k rifle.

  • Y-Straps: He wears black leather combat suspenders.

  • Backpack/Kit: The back print details the standard “marching pack” setup, including a rolled Zeltbahn (camouflage tent quarter) or blanket, a mess kit (Kochgeschirr), and a canteen (Feldflasche).

• Boots: He wears tall black leather Jackboots (Marschstiefel), the symbol of the German infantryman before ankle boots became common later in the war.

Historical Background: The rank of Schütze (Rifleman) was the lowest enlisted rank in the German Army. These soldiers formed the bulk of the Wehrmacht. In 1939 and 1940, the German infantry was the best-trained and best-equipped force in the world. This specific figure represents a soldier at the height of Germany’s military success, participating in the rapid conquests of Poland, Denmark, Norway, and France. The high-quality wool uniforms and leather boots shown here would later be replaced by inferior materials as the war dragged on.