'PEIPER'S LAST ADVANCE' By Nicolas Trudgian
'PEIPER TRIBUTE EDITION' - MULTI-REMARQUED
What became known as the 'Battle of the Bulge' was Hitler's last attempt to win back the initiative in the West by smashing towards the Allied lines by the unlikely and difficult route through the Ardennes. Five armoured spearheads, one of which was commanded by the highly regarded Obersturmbannfuhrer Joachim 'Jochen' Peiper, were to penetrate these steep and wooded valleys under the cover of poor weather which had brought deep snow.
Although a battle-hardened commander, Peiper soon found the conditions most unsuitable for his heavy armour, especially his prestige but very large 'King Tigers' which were forced to hold back to give cover while more maneuverable tanks went on.
After meeting strong opposition from three US Divisons, whose engineers has also quickly destroyed vital bridges ahead of the German advance, Peiper's force soon became scattered. Now fighting a hopeless defensive action and suffering from a lack of fuel and ammunition, Peiper was eventually forced to withdraw on 23rd December leaving his King Tigers behind. For Peiper, as well as Germany, this had been the final advance in the West.
Nicolas Trudgian depicts the advance of Peiper's Kampfgruppe - Panzer IV's and Panthers move up on one of the vital roads through the Ardennes, closely watched by a King Tiger '204' Commanded by Unterscharfuhrer Eduard Stadler. Above Messerschmitt Bf109K fighters stave off an Allied P-47 Fighter-bomber intent on delaying the advance.
The 'Peiper Tribute Edition' was Limited to just 5 Prints worldwide and was signed by 13 Knights Cross holders:-
Otto CARIUS - KCO - Panzerwaffe (Tigers)
Otto SCHULTZ - KC - Luftwaffe
Wilhelm WEIDENBRUCK - KC - Panzerwaffe
Hugo BROCH - KC - Luftwaffe
Erwin KRESSMANN - KC - Panzerwaffe
Kurt DAHLMANN - KCO - Luftwaffe
Heinz Gunther GUDERIAN - KC - Panzerwaffe
Hans-ekkehard BOB - KC - Luftwaffe
Norbert KUJACINSKI - KC - Panzerwaffe
Erich RUDORFFER - KCOS - Luftwaffe
Albert KERSCHER - KCO - Panzerwaffe (Tigers)
Gerhard FISCHER - KC - Panzerwaffe
Willy BACHOR - KC - Panzerwaffe
This Edition also comes with an ORIGINAL Wartime Signature of Joachim PEIPER!
Nicolas Trudgian really does justice to this edition by crafting an absolutely STUNNING MASSIVE REMARQUE depicting the King Tigers of Peiper's spearhead, along with a Panther, taking a short stop after passing a Belgian village. The detail in this is amazing!
THIS IS A TOTALLY 'ONE OFF' PIECE FOR (VERY) SERIOUS COLLECTORS!
