In the same way the colourful fighter pilots of the Luftwaffe were revered, so were the elite tank commanders of the fearsome armoured units of the Waffen-SS Panzer divisions. Acting as fire brigades and crack assault units, manned by crews made up from specially selected troops, these fearsome combat machines fought on all fronts during the long years of World War Two. Among the greatest of all WWII tanks was Germany’s renowned Tiger Tank —one of the deadliest fighting machines ever built.

Heavily armour-plated, powered by huge engines, armed with fearsomely powerful guns, and manned by courageous and determined soldiers, tank crews went into battle knowing a single shell or rocket landed accurately could blow their tank to pieces. More often than not, they fought to the death.

No better example of the clash of these titans came as SS Panzer divisions fought to repel the onslaught of the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944. SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101, with its
45 Tigers, located at Beauvais, north-west of Paris, were ordered to defend Villers-Bocage and Caen. 2nd Kompanie, led by Obersturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann, attacked the 22nd Armoured Brigade of the British 7th Armoured Division — the famous Desert Rats. In the short ensuing engagement, Wittmann’s company destroyed 30 Allied tanks, 14 half-tracks, 16 Brengun Carriers, and 2 anti-tank guns. Wittman’s tank took hits from a Cromwel IV, and was then immobilised by shells from a British 6-pounder anti-tank gun. He and his crew managed to escape on foot to fight another day.

Nicolas Trudgian’s fine study depicts Wittmann's Tiger advancing towards Beauvais in June 1944. Awarded the knight’s Cross with Swords and Oak Leaves, Michael Wittman was the most successful and highly decorated tank commander of WWII but, together with his entire crew, lost his life on August 8 in the battle for Cintheaux when his Tiger received a direct hit from a rocket fired by an RAF Typhoon ground attack fighter

THE SIGNATURES
Each print in this superb edition has been personally signed by the artist along with rare signature of a highly regarded Panzer crew member:
Obergefreiter HENRY METELMANN Called up in 1941 when he reached 18, Henry Metelmann was posted to join the 22nd Panzer Division and was in training as Operation Barharossa commenced in June. Shortly after the Division was sent to the Crimea for the winter of 1941 as part of Mannestein’s 11th Army, fighting the first of many tank battles in the early spring of 1942. He took part in the push to the River V, and the approach to Stalingrad. Wounded, he spent time in hospital before rejoining his unit for the Battle of Stalingrad. Detached from his unit during the chaos of the fighting, he walked west for days before crossing hack into the German lines. Wounded again, he was captured but escaped, and in early 1945 was sent to join a Panzer unit in the West defending the Rhine from the advancing US Army under General Patton.

Overall print size 27" x 18.25"

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