Description

THIS PRINT IS A COMPLETE ONE OFF , WITH AN AMAZING COLLECTION OF 92 SS/PANZER , HEER/PANZER AND LUFTWAFFE BATTLE OF KURSK VETERANS...IT HAS TAKEN MANY YEARS TO COMPLETE...On 5 July, 1943 over 6000 German and Russian tanks clashed near the town of Kursk, just 300 miles south of Moscow. It was the beginning of what became the greatest tank battle in history. In the skies above this conflagration, an air battle of monumental proportions raged, with the German and Russian air forces locked in combat. This was war on a scale hitherto never imagined. A full week later the Battle was still raging, reaching a crescendo on 12 July when Hoths 4th Panzer Army met head-on with Rotmistrovs 5th Guards Tank Army near the village of Prokhorovka. With the Russian T34s electing to fight at close quarters, so desperate was the fighting that opposing tanks resorted to ramming each other. As the battle moved across the landscape all became utter confusion. Playing a major role in the air were the Luftwaffes Ju-87 Stukas, equipped with massive 37mm cannons slung under their wings. Led by Hans-Ulrich Rudel, the legendary Stuka pilot, these formidable tank-busters made a significant contribution to the Battle of Kursk. Nicolas Trudgians painting records the dramatic events at Kursk in a spectacular rendition that captures the very essence of this mighty land and air battle. Dominating the scene are a pair of Ju-87s. Having knocked out two T34s, they weave over the landscape as they try to avoid the attentions of Russian Yak 9s, the gunner of Rudels aircraft - in the foreground - blazing away with his machine gun. A pair of Fw190s have entered the fray, and the air is filled with smoke and cordite. In a typically detailed Nicolas Trudgian landscape, below the aerial contest Russian and Panzer tanks are seen in close combat, desperately maneuvering to gain some advantage. The old farm buildings show the ravages of war; tank tracks crisscross the fields, stretching into the distance where the battle extends to the horizon. A masterpiece in military art ..signed by : Nicolas Trudgian , Oberfahnrich Heinz Meyer , Major Fritz-Rudolf Schultz and Unteroffizer Josef Werth...This particular print has been additionally signed by an amazing 89 Battle of Kursk Veterans...48 Panzer Aces many Knights Cross Holders , 29 being from the 1st SS Panzer Division Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler , 20 of these served with the great SS Panzer Ace Michael Wittmann in the 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion Panzer Regiment 1 "LSSAH" : Rolf Schamp , Hubert Heil , Hubert Hartmann , Helmut Heinke , Fritz Jager , Heinrich Ritter , Fritz Belbe , Eduard Stadler , Max Wosnitza , Leopold Aumuller , Walter Linke , Willi Schenck , Albrecht Reusch , Gerhard Muckl , Waldemar Warnecke , Ernst Kufner , Walter Lau , Dr.W. Barkhausen , Alfred Lasar and Werner Wendt...6 served in the SPW-Battalion "Joachim Peiper" 1st Panzer Division "LSSAH" : Franz Achathaller , Gerhard Schulze , Gunther Gaul , Otto Fischer , Willi Micheluzzi and Wener Kindler...3 served in the 7./ SS Panzer Regiment 1 "LSSAH" : the infamous Hans Siptrott , Wolfgang Muller-Zantop , Rudolf Hoffrichter...1 served in the 2nd SS Heavy Panzer Tiger Das Reich Division : Paul Egger...1 served in the 12th SS Hitlerjugend Division : Otto Funk...4 served in the 503rd Heavy Panzer Tiger Battalion : Clemens Graf von Kageneck , Walter Scherf , Dr.von Diest-Koerber and Richard Freiherr von Rosen...3 served in 502nd Heavy Panzer Battalion : Albert Kerscher , Otto Carius and Willi Jahde...2 served in the 507th Heavy Panzer Battalion : Rolf Gebhardt and Fritz-Paul Schock...1 served in the 505th Heavy Panzer Battalion : Werner von Beschwitz...1 served in the 5th Panzer Regiment Gross Deutschland : Bernard Klemz...1 served in the 2./ schw Heavy Panzer Jager Abt 635 : Heinrich Teriete...1 served in the 116th Panzer Division : Heinz-Gunther Guderian...1 served in the 1st Panzer Regiment 35 : Fritz-Rudorf-Schultz...1 in the 4th Panzer Regiment 1 :Ernst Philipp...1 in the 2nd Panzer Regiment 27 : Horst Ramsch and 1 in the 2nd Panzer Regiment 2 : Hannibal von Luttichau... The other 40 signatures are Luftwaffe Knights Cross Holder Battle of Kursk Fighter/Stuka and Ground attack pilots...Freidrich Lang Stuka KCOS , Helmut Bruck Stuka KCO , Erhard Jahnert Stuka KCO , Alexander Glaser Stuka KCO , Franz Kieslich Stuka KCO , Ernst Orzegowski Stuka KCO , Hendrik Stahl Stuka KCO , Frank Neuberth Stuka KC and awarded the First Air Victory of WWII , Karl Bleckl Stuka KC , Karl Spreitzer Stuka KC , Arthur Pipan Stuka KC , Leopold Hackl Stuka KC , Gunther Kilian Stuka KC , Dieter Pekrun Stuka KC , Otto Schmidt Stuka KC , Jakob Jenster Stuka KC , Heinz Meyer Stuka KC , Werner P. Roell Stuka KC , Konrad Fechner Stuka KC , Paul Diekwisch Stuka KC , Walter Stimpel Stuka KC , Wener Honsberg Stuka KC , Willi Noller Stuka KC , Hans Trummer Stuka KC , Hans Krohn Stuka KC , Hans Klaus Stuka KC , Hans-Jurgen Klussmann Stuks KC , Heinz-Georg Kempken Stuka KC , Helmut Fickel Stuka KC , Heinrich Meyering Stuka KC , Josef Weerth Stuka KC , Hermann Buchner Stuka/Schlachtflieger KCO , Wolfgang Schenck Stuka/Schlachtflieger KCO , Johann Stollnberger Stuka/Schachtflieger KC , Johannes Lutter Stuka/Schachtflieger KC , Richard Czekay Schlachtflieger KCO , Kurt Dahlmann Schachtflieger KCO , Herbert Kutscha Schlachtflieger KC , Erhard Nippa Schachtflieger KC and Franz Oswald Schachtflieger KC... These signatures are very rare and are now impossible to obtain...priced @ £3995.00 for this one off unbelievable Multi signed never to be repeated print of the titanic Battle of Kursk...To complement the purchase of your fine art print, we are now able to offer a professional Picture Framing service. For further details please contact us by phone or email.