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A tribute to the tank crews who fought in the great battles of Normandy
HOLDING THE LINE
by Richard Taylor
Skillfully led by their mercurial commander, SS-Hauptsturmführer Michael Wittman, the Tiger Tanks of s.SS-PZ. Abt. 101 blaze through a shattered French Village in the days following D-Day, June 1944. Their destination – Normandy!
Wittman, holder of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords was one of the most successful German tank commanders in history, destroying more than 138 enemy tanks and over 140 artillery pieces.
A veteran of Kursk, he is particularly famous for his actions in Normandy when, on June 13th, 1944 during the Battle of Villiers-Bocage, his small company halted the advance of the British 22nd Armored Brigade, destroying 30 British tanks, 14 half-tracks and 16 Bren-gun carriers. He was killed in action on August 8th.
THESIGNATURES
This print is personally signed by the artist, Richard Taylor , together with THREE veterans of German Panzer units during WWII:
Obergefreiter HENRY METELMANN - Called up in 1941, he joined the 22nd Panzer Division as a tank crew member serving in the Crimea during the winter of 1941, the first of many tank battles including the battle of Stalingrad. After evading capture in 1944 he joined a Panzer Division in the west, defending the Rhine against Patton's US 3rd Army.
Feldwebel HEINZ FELLBRICH - A veteran of the German Normandy campaign, he served as a Paratrooper providing ground support for the various armored Panzer Divisions including Tiger Tank units.
Sturmann KARL-HEINZ DECKER - Joining the German Army in 1943, he trained as a tank crewman and transferred to the 12th Waffen SS Panzer Division in Belgium in 1944. Staying with this elite unit in France during the Allied Invasion he fought throughout the Normandy campaign, on D-Day, at Falaise and was eventually taken POW.
This powerful print carries historic and collectible autographs making it a real collectors piece!
THIS PIECE CAN ALSO BE SUPPLIED FRAMED & SHIPPED– please ask fordetails.
