At this site we’ve mostly looked at weapons and weapon systems of the Second World War. But every now and then its fun to look at the more mundane, yet essential machines every military had in substantial numbers.
So let’s take a look at a less glamorous Wehrmacht truck.
GM’s Opel division, based in Germany, introduced a new medium duty truck in 1930. A public naming contest led to it being called “Blitz” (German for “lightning”) and the stylized lightning bolt on the grill has been an Opel company symbol ever since.
The first version was rated as a one ton truck, but that was upped to two, two and half, then three through the 1930s. The vehicle was chosen by the Wehrmacht as one of the cornerstones of their expending mechanized forces. Trucks were rated as light, medium or heavy; the Blitz was the dominant medium through the War years. Most were rear wheel drive, although 4 x 4 and half-track were options. Over 130,000 of the basic chassis were built.
The company was shut down and investigated at the War’s end for its use of slave labor, those parts of the company in East Germany were broken up into the Soviet way of doing things; while in the west the Company managed to reorganize, presumably with much help from parent company General Motors. Eventually Opel resumed production of the Blitz in West Germany, until it was redesigned in 1952.
This example was attached to a Panzer Division in the Polish Campaign. I don’t have any information on how long it endured.
This is the Tamiya kit.
I haven’t exactly built a lot of trucks! Clearly the Blitz looks a step more modern than the Soviet Model A.
Plane Dave 
Beautifully rendered.
Thank you!
Love the drums in the back. One has a stain on it.
Hey, sometimes they leak…
I see the Deuce and a Half appeared in your “On My Workbench” list. Not a coincidence I’m guessing.
I did not know Opel was a GM subsidiary.
I do try to pair vehicles some. I find the comparisons interesting. Just this afternoon I was noticing how similar the parts breakdown is on the two kits! The Deuce and a Half seems bigger, even if its cargo weight is listed lower? I’ll have to dig into that more before I post.
Opel and Vauxhall (and truck label Bedford) were GM Europe from 1925-2017. So GM was building product in the US, UK and Nazi Germany (and others). Not the only company with convoluted ties!
Ironically, in 2017 they sold to PSA, who just recently merged with FCA. So NOW, Opel is Chrysler.
Of course my (gravatar) Dodge is a Mercedes legacy frame. So convoluted ties continue!
It’s ironic that some of your best modelling work (so far) is the back of a truck! Have you ever thought of some kind of exhibition of your work in a local hall or gallery, perhaps?
Funny! Yes, my best gift is making a mess of junk!
I have shown models to groups of kids, and once at a meeting of the Yankee Air Museum. But for now I’m content with this format. I like being able to chat about each subject in turn. And honestly, I’m more comfortable with people seeing my text than actually getting a good look at the models!
Very nice, love the softskins!
Yes, they are surprisingly fun to build!
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