With binoculars raised and a stick planted beside him, FW024 presents the first commander of the British Expeditionary Force in a moment of observation. It is an effective headquarters figure because the pose points beyond itself.
FW021 brings the consequence of combat into a range full of marching men and polished command figures. The fallen soldier lies beside his rifle, with his helmet displaced and his pack still on his back.
The prone gunner gives FW019 its low outline, but the kneeling man with binoculars explains the team. This is a compact study of observation and sustained fire, with the weapon positioned between two different jobs.
An open passenger compartment, a military driver and a standing guard make FW013 a complete little scene. The empty rear seat is also an invitation to think about headquarters transport, rather than just another vehicle to park behind the infantry.
FW008 is more than a bugler with a horn. The miniature also carries a drum, turning a single marching musician into one of the most visually busy figures in the early German FW group.
The large black, white and red flag makes FW007 easy to find in a cabinet. Its over-the-shoulder carry gives the figure movement, while the long staff creates a much wider footprint than the small base suggests.
FW005 depicts a saluting officer on a dark horse. The original description identifies him as a major of the 13th Bavarian Rifles—a useful reminder that a mounted figure is not automatically a cavalry trooper.
The open coat is the first thing that catches the eye on FW004. Its red lining frames a substantial, moustached figure with a cane: a portrait of Paul von Hindenburg that invites a closer look at how military reputations were carried into politics.
FW002 is deliberately less theatrical than the Kaiser it accompanies. Gloved hands gathered in front, a slim silhouette and a sheathed sword make this a waiting staff officer rather than another anonymous rifleman.
Wilhelm II enters the FW range in immaculate uniform, with a spiked helmet, decorations and a walking stick. FW001 makes a useful starting point for a display about the people who commanded armies—and the distance between their public image and the war their soldiers experienced.
