Tuesday 17 May 2011

20mm Painted WW2 Nun and Monks or Fifth Columnists/Spies.


20mm nun and monks from Sgts Mess for my ongoing Operation Sealion project, can be exactly what they are or possibly spies or fifth columnists?

fifth column or columnist is a group of people or person who clandestinely undermine a larger group such as a nation from within.

The term originated with a 1936 radio address by Emilio Mola, a Nationalist General during the 1936–39 Spanish Civil War. As his army approached Madrid, a message was broadcast that the four columns of his forces outside the city would be supported by a "fifth column" of his supporters inside the city, intent on undermining the Republican government from within (see Siege of Madrid).[1] The term was used as the title of Ernest Hemingway's only play, which he wrote while the city was being bombarded; the play was published in 1938 in his book The Fifth Column and the First Forty-Nine Stories.[2]
In fact, this supposed "fifth column" did not prove very effective, as demonstrated by the fact that Madrid held out until 1939 despite very heavy fighting. Nevertheless, the term caught on and was used extensively, especially by those fighting the Fascists and Nazis.
The term was in wide use in Britain in the early stages of the Second World War where the fear of the fifth Column was used as justification for the mass internment, on the Isle of Man, of German nationals who resided in the United Kingdom. The United States and Canada interned U.S. and Canadian citizens of Japanese, German, and Italian descent around the same time (early 1940s), using similar justification.

Pictures have not turned out that great but there are size comparison pictures..



L to R, Lamercraft, Grubby Tanks, SHQ and Lamercraft again?


45 comments:

  1. Well they look very nice and the fifth column back story is very interesting.

    Christopher

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  2. I never knew the origin of that term, thanks!

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  3. pictures are great and i like the history so this should be something for me

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  4. There´s also the other one, nelsons coloumn but apparently this wasn´t too common after he caught malaria in stockport..
    They look good...I´m always on the look out for more monks, clerics, nuns and the like...very usefull for vitually every period, especially medieval.
    Cheers
    paul

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  5. In addition to see great models that are nicely painted I learned something today! Hooray!

    Great idea to bring some historical background to themed models.

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  6. Well the monk on the left didn't miss many meals.

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  7. They look so at home in front of that building.

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  8. you always have interesting historical backgrounds in your posts, thanks. :)

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  9. Very nice figs. *The Fifth Column* collection was one of the first Hemingway books I read many, many years ago. As I recall, quite a good read.

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  10. Nice bit of info Fran on the origins of fifth columnists which I knew nothing about.

    Those habits that the nun and monks are wearing would be quite useful for hiding a weapon or two!!!

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  11. ah dude, these figures are awesome !!!

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  12. Did you paint these? I want some closer-up photos!

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  13. the paint you chose really detail the nuns well. good job on these sets.

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  14. these look really great, Mister Lurk!

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  15. wow i remember playing with similar little characters

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  16. That's an interesting post and no mistake. SCW is an interesting period of history. Nice job on the figs too.

    Gaz.

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  17. Nice clean painting. I agree that SCW is an interesting period - first real modern war. Regards, Dean

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  18. What with your clerics and Man Cave's thatched church, there is definately an ecclesiastical thing going on!

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  19. I know its off topic but can we see more of the building they are standing next to?

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  20. you should put them in the front lines!!

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  21. I always wondered were the term 'Fifth Columnists' came from. Do you have a massive shed to put your wargame scenarios in?

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  22. That nun looks awfully suspicious... check under her robes. I bet she's packing...

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  23. Haha....I love the suspicious nun comment above. totally. I once served a nun an Amstel Light, I though it was the funniest thing. ohh to be a nun for a day.

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  24. Nice photos Francois!!! Where's the Germans!!!

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  25. That nun looks like she can kick some serious ass!

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  26. They look like Franciscans. I bet they're friendly and like animals and stuff.

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  27. Nice. Like the terrain piece too.

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  28. Cool figures and history story.

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  29. Those are very well done! Excellent stuff sir! Also I learned a little today, which is always a good thing.

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  30. Looking fine my friend, thx for the background info on The fifth column.

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  31. lol where do u keep all of these figurines? ive probably seen about 500 up to date

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  32. I'd always wondered about where the 5th column term came from...very informative

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  33. Great history lesson, we've all heard the term before but I'm sure most people never knew the origin. Love the building and the figures are great character pieces.

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  34. ahh, i love the detail of the stones :D

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  35. Lovely paintjobs and I have to echo what everyone else says - thanks for the history lesson! I'd heard it many times but didn't know where it was from either :)

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  36. nons, spies and knights.. you do everything, dont ya^^

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  37. Very good man, keep up the hard work ;D

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  38. no, I think pictures really show everything there is to show

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