July 22, 2026

MiniArt's new 35th scale "Luftwaffe Field Regiment - Ardennes 1944-45"

MiniArt's new 35th scale "Luftwaffe Field Regiment - Ardennes 1944-45" features four figures & three sprues of weapons & equipment. See about the soldiers & the set in our preview...

MiniArt's new 35th scale "Luftwaffe Field Regiment - Ardennes 1944-45"

Luftwaffe Field Regiment - Ardennes 1944-45
From MiniArt Models
1/35th scale
Kit No: #35479
Four figures, weapons & equipment on seven sprues...
The Subject: German infantry in the Battle Of The Bulge in WWII
By the winter of 1944, the unique experiment of Luftwaffe field regiments operating under independent air force command had completely ended. Hermann Göring's private ground army, originally formed from surplus ground crews and anti-aircraft personnel, had suffered devastating casualties on the Eastern Front due to a severe lack of infantry training and competent tactical leadership. Recognising these fatal flaws, the German High Command stripped the Luftwaffe of these units in late 1943, transferring the remaining personnel directly to the regular army (Heer). Consequently, during the Ardennes Offensive, these men no longer wore their distinctive air force insignia into battle as independent regiments but were instead integrated into newly formed, army-controlled Volksgrenadier divisions.
The primary legacy of these former air force personnel in the Ardennes is tied to the 18th Volksgrenadier Division, an army unit built directly from the remnants of the 18th Luftwaffe Field Division. Positioned on the northern sector of the frontline, this heavily rebuilt division achieved one of the most significant German tactical successes of the entire winter campaign. Navigating the dense forests and snow-covered terrain of the Schnee Eifel, these soldiers successfully bypassed and encircled the green American 106th Infantry Division. The manoeuvre resulted in the capture of over 6,000 American servicemen, proving that despite their troubled organisational history, the integrated Luftwaffe veterans could execute highly effective tactical operations when placed under experienced army command.
Military historians frequently confuse these standard Luftwaffe ground-combat regiments with the prestigious Fallschirmjäger (paratrooper) units, both of which fought in the Ardennes but shared very little in common regarding training and capability. While the field regiments were essentially re-roled mechanics and clerks fighting as defensive line infantry, the paratroopers remained under the tactical umbrella of the Luftwaffe as elite shock troops. 
During the Battle of the Bulge, while the former field regiments secured flanks under the Seventh Army, elite paratroopers of the 3rd and 5th Fallschirmjäger Divisions spearheaded assaults alongside SS armour and even launched Germany's final, desperate combat drop of the war during Operation Stösser.


The Kit:
This set features four German infantry figures with weapons, designed for Battle of the Bulge dioramas and late-war winter scenes. The figures are shown in useful poses with cold-weather clothing and equipment, accessories, gear, and weapons to accessorise your soldiers.

There are four small sprues that each hold one figure, moulded in light grey styrene. These features easily distinguishable faces, fingers, and sunken detail for their accessories to fit more neatly into their bodies.
Although this is not a special edition kit, the set comes with three sprues of weapons and equipment to suit German late WWII soldiers. One sprue houses just the equipment, with the M43 helmets, gas mask canisters, flasks & entrenching tools, bayonets, bread bags and ammo pouches.
It includes a plethora of weapons and ammo – MP-40s, Kar.98s, a Walther & flare pistols, pistols in pouches and open pouches to show a removed pistol, ammo for all of these, map pouches, knives and an ammo box. 
There is also an interesting choice of captured US weapons and ammo storage, with an M1 Garand and M1 & M2 carbines.

Pretty much everything a German WWII soldier would carry on these five extra sprues.

This kit is due for release in a month's time
See more about all of MiniArt's kits on their website...