Tsuba Spartacist "uniforms" question.

[dualer]

I have always wanted to wargame the Freikorps/Spartacist conflict ever since I bought Nigel Jones book "Hitlers Hearlds" in the 80's. Now Tsuba has finally released Spartacists as opposition for my Freikorps Werdenfels, my question is, what uniform colour to paint them. Can I assume it would be a mixture of civilian and army clothing?  Looking at b/w photos, I'm guessing anything goes within reason. I'd like to paint my Rot Front Kaempfer to mark them out from the opposition.

[Inkpaduta]

Most would be in civilian clothes. Likely wearing something red.
You are also right, there would be some dressed in uniforms or,more
likely parts of uniforms.

[traveller]

Some used red armbands which could be an easy way to distinguish them from the FK

[carlos marighela]

Yes, civvies with an admixture of uniform items or even almost complete uniforms.

Some musical inspiration to paint to, some of albeit a little later:







Indeed any old Ernst Busch recordings should do the trick.

[Metternich]

Caps would be a mixture of the Army feldgrau  Mutze (the round pill box like cap, worn by the first kneeling rifleman in pack SP2, first advancing rifleman in SP 3, loader in SP4, 1st SMG and MG-08-15 in SP5 ); the Army feldgrau cap with bill (e.g. second advancing man in pack ; civilian soft caps (in some dark color, like gray, dark blue, brown, black); and even the occasional naval billed cap (I have seen pictures of Spartacists that included men in partial naval uniform marching alongside men in civies and partial ex-military clothing - this is in addition to the red naval brigade) - more rarely they would have a Stahlhelm (not unknown, but more widely worn by Freikorps). Most would have removed cockades from the ex-military caps.  Clothing would be a mix of old ex-military feldgrau jackets (mostly the Bluse - e.g. kneeling loading man in pack SP2), civilian jackets and even suit jackets (again mostly in dark colors like grays, blues, browns etc.), ex-naval jackets, and possibly even including the odd black  or brown leather jacket).  Trousers would be every variety of ex-military feldgrau and civilian pants.  Legwear a mixture of military and civilian boots and shoes, including with puttees, woolen knee socks, Stohwasser leather gaiters (see first advancing rifeman in SP3.  He seems to be wearing a civilian suit jacket with a red armband, and the Mutze - in contrast, the third rifleman of the same pack is wearing a civilian cap, suit jacket with vest and tie, and shoes with military puttees).   Few with military items of clothing would wear a full uniform.  Most Spartacists wore a single red armband.     

[huevans]

Love Paul's figures!!!! And the old student leftie in me would like to take a crack at overthrowing the establishment. But it doesn't seem that the Sparties had much of a chance. It was all over in a few days.

I'd like to have an interesting campaign and scenarios as well. Is there any way to even things up and make it a bit more absorbing??!

[area23]

Many moons ago I did these with Brigade Games miniatures

[Metternich]

I have some of the same Brigade figures (which I also bought to be Red opponents for Freikorps).  Sizewise, how do the new Tsuba figures stack up next to them and to the Great War figures ?

[dualer]

I would happily mix Tsuba and Great War figures. Brigade Games figures weapons are bigger in comparison, but I would still have them on the same table in separate units.

[Metternich]

Thank you Dualer.