The Battle of Crete...Fallschirmjäger Edition
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The Battle of Crete...Fallschirmjäger Edition

(Signatures)

Artist : Nicolas Trudgian

(Dimensions)

25" x 17" approx  Unframed Print
Price £50.00

Description

OVER TWENTY YEARS IN THE MAKING, for the discerning collector, Nicolas Trudgian , Legends Aviation Gallery and Fine Arts Autographs have created a superbly atmospheric print depicting one of the most spectacular aspects of German tactics in World War Two, SIGNED BY KNIGHTS CROSS VETERANS WHO WERE ACTUALLY THERE...German paratroopers have long been a fascination for military enthusiasts and yet they are a subject rarely tackled by artists, perhaps because of the complexity of the subject-matter. In ‘The Battle of Crete’, Nicolas Trudgian displays his talents to the full and puts the viewer at the heart of the action. This is surely the best and also the last print to depict this historic event which is signed by the veterans. The Fallschirmjäger, Germany’s elite parachute force, had already proved itself in smaller-scale operations during the ‘Blitzkrieg’ in the Low-Countries in May 1940; seizing bridges in front of the main German advance and capturing the supposedly impregnable fort of Eben-Emael in Belgium. When, in 1941, the Germans overran Greece, it became necessary to consider the capture of Crete. Hitler was very aware that the Royal Navy would repel any attempt to land troops on Crete using a seaborne invasion. However, Kurt Student, the head of the Fallschirmjäger, convinced Hitler that his paratroop units could capture Crete from the air. The main drops were to seize the vital airfields at Maleme and Heraklion, to enable supplies and additional troops to be flown in. However, German planning had completely underestimated the number of Allied troops on the Island, forcing the Fallschirmjäger to fight a much larger force than originally planned. Some 50,000 Allied troops awaited 15,000 paratroops. Despite heavy losses, the German paratroops achieved their objectives and Crete was taken. The Fallschirmjäger never again dropped in such large numbers but were used as elite ground troops in North Africa, Sicily and France and it was for their determined defence of Monte Cassino that they earned their fame as the ‘Green Devils’. Having seen the effectiveness of the Fallschirmjäger forces, particularly in the Battle of Crete, Allied commanders began to form dedicated paratroop units of their own, which later proved so vital in the Normandy Invasion of June 1944...Legends are proud to offer a selection of limited editions of this print : The Fallschirmjäger Edition Limited to 200 numbered prints worldwide signed by the Artist Nicolas Trudgian...priced @ £50.00...Printed in light fast inks on acid free archival paper...The CANVAS GICLEE EDITION Limited to 30 numbered reproductions worldwide. A full-size reproduction of this stunning original painting on canvas signed in paint by Nicolas Trudgian...Each canvas Giclee Edition is supplied rolled and will require stretching by a picture framer...Overall Canvas Size : 36" x 24". Rolled (unstretched) priced @ £325.00...Stretched priced @ £375.00...REMARQUE EDITION : Please contact Nicolas Trudgian Direct regarding the availability of Remarque Editions ...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.

Legends Aviation Gallery

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