Assault on Voronezh, Russia, 2nd - 7th
July 1942 by David Pentland DHM1218 Sturmgeschutz IIIF of Stug Battalion
Grossdeutschland, and supporting
infantry from GD Regiment 1 battle against Soviet forces defending the
strategically important city of Voronezh on the Don. Combined arms
operations such as this proved the value of the assault gun, which took a
terrible toll on enemy armour and men alike.
Escape to the Elbe, Berlin, 3rd May 1945 by David Pentland
DHM1293 Following Hitler's death, the decision was taken by the officers and
men of Sturmartillerie Brigade 249 to break out of the doomed capital.
Shortly before midnight on the 3rd, what remained of the unit fought to
the edge of the city at Spandau. By this time the brigade had been
split into two elements, the first under Hauptmann Herbert Jaschke
successfully punched their way out to the west. The second group
was not so lucky, and it's survivors fell into Soviet captivity.
Anzio Annie, Italy
29th January 1944 by David Pentland. DHM1225 Sturmgeschutz IIIg and Paratroops of the 4th Fallschirmjager
Division, driving to the front line, pass one of the two giant 28cm K5 (Eisenbaum)
railway guns responsible for shelling the Allied beacheads at Anzio
and Nettuno.
Counter Attack at Konigsberg by David Pentland
DHM578 German forces encircled in the fortress town of Konigsberg by 3rd
Ukranian front prepare to break through the besieging Soviet lines to
re-establish a supply line to the Baltic. Here some Stug III assault
guns move up to their assembly area next to the town's World War One
memorial. From here the attack was launched on February 18th 1945 and
successfully opened a supply corridor which remained in place until 8th
April.
Operation Winter Tempest by David Pentland
Depicting Panzer IVF2 tanks of the 6th Panzer Division attempting to
fight their way through to the beleaguered Sixth Army at Stalingrad,
12th December 1942.
Dash to the Sea, November 1944 by David
Pentland ."Dash to the Sea" by David Pentland. As
allied forces pressed inland towards Caen, the 21st panzer Division
launched a counterattack along a narrow three mile corridor between the
Canadians on Juno beach and the British on Sword. the charge led by
fifty tanks of 22nd panzer regiment and supporting Panzer grenadiers was
engaged on its eastern flank by heavy British anti tank fire and the
bulk of the force was pinned down or destroyed. ultimately only six PZ
IV's and a company of infantry mannered to reach the coast at lion sur
mer. their stay however was short lived and within a few hours the
arrival of the transports and gliders of the British 6th Airborne
directly overhead forced the entire division to pull back for fear of
being trapped.
"The Falaise Gap" Normandy 12-20th August 1944 by David
Pentland After almost two months of continuous fighting in the front line,
remnants of the 12th SS Panzer Division, "Hitler Jugend", fall
back under incessant air attacks by allied fighter bombers for their
final battles in France. In their defense of the northern flank of what
is to become the Falaise Gap the new Jagdpanzer IV in particular is to
prove a formidable foe to the attacking British and Canadian tanks.
Battle of Gazala by David Pentland Panzer II's and III's of the African
Korps, 15th Panzer Division
drive towards Arcoma during the epic battles for the Gazala line.
THE BATTLE - Battle of Gazala The most convincing defeat of the British forces during the whole desert campaigns
of World War Two. The front line ran south from the coastal town of Gazala,
about 95 km west of Tobruk, to the oasis of Bir Hacheim. In May 1942 Field
Marshal Rommel launched an attack against Gazala using two diversionary Italian
corps at the north end of the line while the two other corps (the Afrika and
Italian corps) corps veered towards Tobruck from the southern end of the line.
Although surprised the British forces fought well, inflicting heavy casualties
on the German forces and cornering them. Finding himself trapped between a minefield
and the British defences, Rommel was on the verge of surrender. The Italian
Trieste Division, however, were able to create a supply route through the minefield
to the cornered German forces allowing them to be take on supplies. Helped by
British indecision, Rommel managed to break through the Cauldron area and overwhelm
the British defences. The British counter attack was confused and useless, easily
defeated by the German forces who then continued onto Tobruk. Rommel defeated
many British forces on the way and eventually the British abandoned their positions
and retreated to the El Alamein line.
Blitzkrieg, Northern France, May 1940 by David Pentland
General Major Erwin Rommel leads the vanguard of his vaunted 7th
Panzer (Ghost) Division past an abandoned French Char B tank on its epic
drive from the Ardennes to the English Channel.
The
Panzer Count by David Pentland. Generalleutnant
Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zeuche und Camminetz, (nicknamed The Panzer Count), in the vanguard of Panzer Regiment Gross
Deutchlands thrust towards Belogrod. One of the most spectacular armour
commanders of all time he led his mixed force of PzIVs and Tiger 1s on a
series of successful battles to form a northern pincer around Kharkov,
vital to the retaking of the city. For his exploits he was awarded the
swords to his Knights Cross.
Preparing for the Day, The Reichswald, February
1945 by David Pentland Sturmtigers of Sturmmorser Company 1002, commanded
by Lieutenant Zippel, take on ammunition in preparation for the battle
to come. These fearsome monsters 38cm rocket projectors could penetrate
up to 2.5m of reinforced concrete. Luckily for the Allies only 18 were
completed by the war's end.
