Hobby Master 1/48 Tech Power Series HT0108 - King Tiger (Henschel), # 213, sSSPzAbt 501 La Gleize, Ardennes, 1944 "Oberst Helmut Dollinger"
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Authentic Detailing
Die-Cast Model
Fully assembled
True to Scale (1:48)
Size: 150mm not including cannon - 210mm including cannon x 70mm x 69.88mm ( 6.0in.
not including cannon - 8.25in. including cannon x 3.25in. x 2.75in. )
Highly detailed features
Weathering, cables, tools and insignia ·
Professionally painted
Markings tampo applied
Turret turns
Main gun can elevate
Commander's hatch opens
HOBBY MASTER
1/48 TECH POWER SERIES
These highly detailed tanks come with turrets that can turn, the main gun can be
elevated. All items such as tow cables and shovels are molded separately and added
once the professional painting has been completed.
Battle of the Ardennes: Best known as the "BATTLE OF THE BULGE"
Hitler's last gamble was to try an all out offensive that would catch the Allies unprepared.
Three German armies would attack the weakest part of the Allied defensive line, then
split the Allied forces capturing 30 companies of soldiers and drive north to Antwerp.
Hitler named the operation "Wacht am Rhein [Watch on the Rhine]." He had hoped by
doing so there would be a negotiated peace. It seemed like all was going well until the
Germans came to a small town called Bastogne. Here American GI's stopped their
advance and for several days, against great odds, they held on until reinforcements
could reach them. Once the Allies were relieved Peipers forces came under attack and
with his fuel and ammunition running out and several attempts to resupply him failed, he
was forced to abandon his vehicles and retreat. Some records say about 75 vehicles,
some say as many as 130 were left behind.
Kampfgruppe Peiper consisted of Peiper's own 1st SS Panzer Regiment, the III Abteilung
of the 2nd SS Panzergrenadier Regiment and the sSSPzAbt 501 (with King Tigers).
This Konigstiger (King Tiger) #213, commanded by "Oberst Helmut Dollinger", belonged
to schwere SS Panzer Abteilung (101) 501, which was part of Kampfgruppe Peiper
during the German offensive in the Ardennes in the Winter of 1944.
Today # 213 tank is preserved near La Gleize in Belgium as a tourist attraction as part of
the December 1944 Historical Museum La Gleize.
Historical Background of 501 Commander
The commander of sSSPzAbt 501 was Sturmbannfuhrer Heinz von Westernhagen. He
was a great tactician and commander who had an unrelenting desire to do the best for
his men. He was the main reason sSSPzAbt 501 became such a formidable force, so
when orders came relieving him of command he shot himself March 20 1945. There
never was an official reason given for replacing him at such a critical point in the war.
Some say it was because he started to question continuing to fight on and the needless
slaughter of his men when everyone knew the war was lost.
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