The German army that crossed into Belgium in August 1914 was trying to beat France before Russia could finish mobilising, and the whole plan ran on legs. Men like these walked it. By the time the French counterattacked on the Marne on 5 September, the German 1st Army had been on the march for over thirty days, and the Imperial War Museum puts its combat units down by around half — not mainly from bullets, but through battle, fatigue, hunger and exhaustion. The heavy artillery had fallen far behind. The leading troops were operating well beyond the railheads feeding them. They reached the decisive battle without the strength left to fight it.

Eight pieces — an officer with his sword drawn, a bugler, and six privates with rifles at the slope and bayonets fixed. Bare Pickelhauben, field grey piped in red, and the hide-covered Tornister on every back. It is a column on the road, so build it as one: run it past the Old Contemptibles for the Mons matchup — both sets are 54mm gloss on flat bases and will share a diorama without a seam. German Infantry 1914 gives you the same army standing still, and German Infantry 1916 shows what two years did to it.

Tradition of London model 809. 54mm, white metal, hand-painted in gloss enamel. An officer, a bugler and six privates, 1914. Supplied in the Tradition Classic Red Box. Allow 2–3 weeks delivery.