Academy 13299 1/35 German Tiger I "Gruppe Fehrmann, Essel 1945"

World War Two
German
w/ Zimmerit decal
w/ Photo-Etched Parts
New tooling of asymmetric turret, 88mm cannon, mantlet, engine deck & accessory

History of the Gruppe Fehrmann

In the beginning of 1945, Kampfgruppe Schulze and Oberleutnant Fehrmann formed a division of six Tiger I and five Panther tanks with the intention of going into the Ruhr area. The Tiger tanks were commanded by Oberleutnant Ferhmann and were designated with 'F' to denote their 'Gruppe' commander hence F01, F02, F05... F13.

On 6th April 1945, Gruppe Fehrmann reached the river Aller near Rethem when one Tiger was lost (remaining 5 Tigers & 5 Panthers ) due to a mechanical failure. In the following days, Gruppe Fehrmann reached Nienburg and a Grenadier Division was attached to them.

On 9th April 1945, 5 Panthers (commanded by Schulze) entered the town of Wiethesheim where they engaged in a fierce battle with the allies. Only 1 Panther survived with Schulze. (remaining 5 Tigers & 1 Panther)

On 11th April 1945, Tiger "F01" was hit by PIAT on the right side of the turret and another that damaged the gun mantlet. Tiger "F01" returned to Fallingbostel for repair. (remaining 4 Tigers & 1 Panther & 1 Tiger returned)

The remaining 4 Tigers and Schulze's Panther clashed with U.S. 5th Armored Division near Buckeburg, losing 2 Tigers, Schulze's Panther G (Red "S"). Schulze escaped and jumped into one of the 2 surviving Tigers (? "F05"), but Oberleutnant Fehrmann became POW(prisoner of war). Later, another Tiger "F13"(commanded by Feldwebel Bellof) was knocked out.

Apart from "F01" back at Fallingbostel, the last Tiger "F05" (commanded by Kampfgruppe Schulze), was still behind enemy lines now retreating to Achum. Though sustaining numerous hits in the process with the gunner slightly wounded too, it broke through the U.S. roadblocks and released 200 German POWs, But the Tiger ran out of fuel and was abandoned near Bad-Nennoff.

On 12 April 1945, The repaired Tiger "F01" (commanded by Franzen) went into action again with "Kampfgruppe Grossan" (Tigers) . It advanced toward the British 11th Armored Divsion near the Essel , encountering 3 Comets. Tigers destroyed 1 Comet and an armoured car. In the next morning, Tiger "F01" was hit in the left rear side from about 100 yards by the Comet of Sgt.Harding of C Squadron (received the Military Medal for this action). All crew managed to bail out from the burning Tiger and returned to Fallingbostel.