Forces of Valor 85036 German Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. G Assault Gun with Schurzen Side Armor - 12.SS Panzer Division, Normandy, 1944 (1:72 Scale)
"If the tank succeeds, then victory follows."
- Major-General Heinz Guderian, "Achtung Panzer!"
The German Sturmgeschutz was one of the most successful armored fighting vehicles of the Second World War. It arose from an original concept of the pre-war panzer divisions, whereby a special vehicle for infantry support work was planned. During the war years, the Sturmgeschutz was rapidly developed and upgunned, and was used both in its original role as an assault gun and also as a tank destroyer.
Pictured here is a 1:72 scale diecast replica of a Sturmgeschutz III (StuG III) Ausfuhrung G assault gun that was attached to the 12.SS Panzer Division, then deployed to Normandy during 1944.
Sold Out!
Dimensions:
Length: 3-1/2-inches
Width: 1-1/2-inches
Release Date: June 2012
Historical Account: "Heroes Road" - Formed from volunteers of the Nazi youth movement, the average soldier in the SS Panzer Division Hitler Jugend was barely 18 years of age when it was constituted in 1944. Led be such veteran field commanders as Kurt Meyer and Fritz Witt, 12.SS Panzer was sent to France in April 1944 where it was stationed south of Paris when the Allies landed in Normandy that June. It was quickly sent north where they first saw action at Caen and then again at Le Capiquer. It withdrew from the front on July 11th, after suffering grievous losses at the hands of Allied units.
It next saw action at Falaise, where it was tasked with keeping the exit to the Falaise pocket open as long as possible so that other German units could withdraw in good order. While it achieved its objective, the Division was almost completely destroyed and had to be re-formed in Germany with new volunteers. The unit fought in the Ardennes during the bitter Battle of the Bulge, and again in Hungary before ending the war in Austria in May 1945.