Operation Veritable - Kleve February 1945

[Matt P]

Calling this one done now although not 100% happy with the result. I was inspired to make this one after reading this excellent book recently:

 

 

Having lived in the Weeze/Kleve area for 7 years during the pre internet late 1970's - early 80's I was absolutely ignorant of this campaign other than there had been 'some fighting' in the area! So it came as some surprise to find out just how bloody and hard the battle actually was.  The battle was characterised by flooding and mud, lots of it, after the Germans deliberately destroyed dams causing massive flooding.

 

Diorama depicts infantry of the Scottish 51st Division marching into Kleve under the watchful gaze of Scots Guards tankies. Not sure how Private Pike managed to get himself conscripted into a Scottish regiment though.....

 

Churchill tank is the venerable old Tamiya item. Infantry figures are mostly Gecko items with Hornet heads, with a couple of resin figures added. The tank crew were part of a cheap ebay job lot and appear to be dodgy resin copies of Miniart figures (buyer beware!) that needed new heads. Building is a MIniart vac form modified with more damage. to the top section and balcony.

 

Groundwork/mud is filler and AK mud mix.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 20 by Matt P

[Fred piket]

I love it! A beautiful realistic diorama. Well done

[Beard]

That's splendid, and I see Private Pile got called-up.

[StephenB]

On 20/03/2025 at 16:06, Matt P said:

Calling this one done now although not 100% happy with the result. I was inspired to make this one after reading this excellent book recently:

 

 

Having lived in the Weeze/Kleve area for 7 years during the pre internet late 1970's - early 80's I was absolutely ignorant of this campaign other than there had been 'some fighting' in the area! So it came as some surprise to find out just how bloody and hard the battle actually was.  The battle was characterised by flooding and mud, lots of it, after the Germans deliberately destroyed dams causing massive flooding.

 

Diorama depicts infantry of the Scottish 51st Division marching into Kleve under the watchful gaze of Scots Guards tankies. Not sure how Private Pike managed to get himself conscripted into a Scottish regiment though.....

 

Churchill tank is the venerable old Tamiya item. Infantry figures are mostly Gecko items with Hornet heads, with a couple of resin figures added. The tank crew were part of a cheap ebay job lot and appear to be dodgy resin copies of Miniart figures (buyer beware!) that needed new heads. Building is a MIniart vac form modified with more damage. to the top section and balcony.

 

Groundwork/mud is filler and AK mud mix.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tank crew member with pipe was that actually bought like that or did you make it.

what material is it, if possible.

it is really good and the extra thick mud around the tracks also.

[Matt P]

10 hours ago, StephenB said:

The tank crew member with pipe was that actually bought like that or did you make it.

what material is it, if possible.

it is really good and the extra thick mud around the tracks also.

I think the tank crew figures are poor quality resin copies of miniart plastic figures, bought as part of a job lot from eBay. The heads were swapped for Hornet items as the originals were very poorly molded.

[Retired Bob]

Nice diorama Matt.  I too lived in the Weeze/Goch area until RAF Laarbruch closed in 1999.  I was aware of Op Veritable and the heavy fighting in that area at the beginning of 1945, and visited the military cemetery in the Richswald  near Kleve.  So much history in that area, it's sad that the military connection to that area has now ended.

[GourmetPigeon]

Nice diorama I love the posing of the figures, very natural! Thank you...my Uncle was in the 51st Highland with the Black Watch

[Adrian B]

Hello Matt P,

 

This is just a message from Adrian & Dawn L. Bridge, who wrote the Forgotten Battle book that led you to develop your lovely diorama. We´re both very impressed with your efforts, and joined the Britmodeller.com group once your diorama had been drawn to our attention. I particularly liked your Private Pike character (with scarf) moving through Kleve. My father was an 18 year old with the 15th Scottish Division, and advanced through Kleve during the battle. He subsequently was hospitalised with frostbite and pneumonia, so he could certainly have done with such a scarf!

 

Very best wishes to you, and keep on modelling!

 

Adrian & Dawn LB.

[Matt P]

On 4/29/2025 at 1:52 PM, Adrian B said:

Hello Matt P,

 

This is just a message from Adrian & Dawn L. Bridge, who wrote the Forgotten Battle book that led you to develop your lovely diorama. We´re both very impressed with your efforts, and joined the Britmodeller.com group once your diorama had been drawn to our attention. I particularly liked your Private Pike character (with scarf) moving through Kleve. My father was an 18 year old with the 15th Scottish Division, and advanced through Kleve during the battle. He subsequently was hospitalised with frostbite and pneumonia, so he could certainly have done with such a scarf!

 

Very best wishes to you, and keep on modelling!

 

Adrian & Dawn LB.

wow thank you Adrian & Dawn  The book was excellent b ythe way.

[Pete in Lincs]

Matt, very nicely done. I was at Laarbruch '83 to '86. Living in Weeze. I knew there had been been battles there but there wasn't a lot of info about back then. 

On the tube is an excellent series of films covering the route taken by the Sherwood Rangers from D day to the end. It includes film and stills of the journey. There is a section that covers Kleve and Weeze. Highly recommended. 

[stevehnz]

That is a beaut looking dio, it has a very convincing look to it. It is also a time of interest to me, my Dad was a RAMC doctor with 53rd Welsh at this time. I will be on the lookout for the book in your 1st post. I was certainly interested to see your work given a big tick by the book's authors, @Adrian B, 3 above this post.  It gets a ✔️ from me too.  

Steve.

[Pete in Lincs]

BTW, for those who may be wondering, 

Kleve. Yes, Anne of Cleves, aka  wife of Henry VIII

Kleve is pronounced something like klayver. Weeze is Vaitzer. Though the Troops in WW2 called it wheezy 

[Retired Bob]

1 hour ago, Pete in Lincs said:

 Weeze is Vaitzer. Though the Troops in WW2 called it wheezy 

i always pronounced it as Veetzer.  I had a married quarter at 75 Nachtigallenweg, which is Nightingales Way in English.  I miss the ice cream parlours in Weeze. 

[Matt P]

On 5/2/2025 at 2:24 PM, Retired Bob said:

i always pronounced it as Veetzer.  I had a married quarter at 75 Nachtigallenweg, which is Nightingales Way in English.  I miss the ice cream parlours in Weeze. 

We were in Stettiner Strasse (after being in private flats in Wemb and Walbeck first). Don't know about ice creams but definitely miss the Little City takeaway currywurst and schnitzels 😋

Edited May 8 by Matt P

[Bullbasket]

That's an excellent diorama, Great all round, especially the figures.

 

John.