Dragon Armor - King Tiger - Henschel Turret - Fall of Berlin
No. 60552, Vintage year - 2012, Scale - 1:72
Unit - Pz.Abt. 503 - Schwere Panzer Abteilung 503 was actually the Schwere SS
Pz. Abt. 503 (as there was a regular Army Schwere 503rd as well). Originally
named the 103rd, it was formed in November 1943 and fought as infantry in
Yugoslavia until January 1944 when it was sent to Holland. It was refitted with
Tiger II (King Tigers) in September 1944 and redesignated Schwere SS - Panzer
Abteilung 503. It was attached to Heeresgruppe Weichsel and sent to the Eastern
Front (Army Group Vistula) in January 1945. The unit received 4 King Tigers on
19 October and 35 between 27 December and 25 January 1945. By late March it was
in the Danzig/Gotenhafen area and then pushed into Berlin by late April.
Campaign - Berlin 1945 - The 503rd dug in amid Walther Mohnke's SS
Leibstandarte infantry. The unit joined in the breakout over the Havel River
with the Muncheberg, 18th Panzergrenadier Division. The Havel River bridges
became crucial lifelines for both any help that could arrive from outside or
escape of High Command from the city. Hitler Youth were also heavily involved
in the fighting for Pichelsdorf Bridge as defense was largely a motley
assortment at this stage. Heavy fighting broke out near the Westkreuz and
Halensee train stations and on the Kurfurstendamm. By May 1 the division had
been pushed back to the Tiergarten and was fighting to defend the Zoo Flak
Tower. The Muncheberg's last operating panzer, a Tiger I, was abandoned on the
Unter den Linden Strasse 100 meters from the Brandenburg Gate.
Markings - Tan, dark brown and green (with white) camouflage pattern with No.
100 in black outline on the turret.
Condition - new with minor wear on box.
Thank you for your interest.