12th SS Panzer Regiment at Rots - Normandy 1944

We have released 4 x new WW2 German SS figures just in time for the anniversary of the Normandy Campaign fought in the summer of 1944. With this latest release based on the famous pictures SS Panzer grenadiers in La Villeneuve du Rots.

These figures include:
SS-Schütze Klaus Schuh with his MG-42 machine gun, he was killed 26th June 1944
SS-Sturmmann Otto Funk, with a box of ammunition for MG 42 machine guns slung over his shoulder. He was wounded on 26th June 1944 but survived the war. Otto Funk died in 2011 aged 85
Our smiling Knights Cross officer cannot be seen in the original photos below, but we felt this would enhance the set as well as the SS Grenadier with the MP40. There were over 100 x SS in Rots at the time of the photo, we sincerely hope you enjoy this new release based on original photographs and also our use of artistic licence for 2 of these figures.

Here is the story behind that historic day on June 9th 1944. At around 0900 hours, the 3rd Company of the 12th SS-Panzer-Regiment rumbled through Rots towards la Villeneuve on the Caen-Bayeux highway. They were ordered to assault Norrey en Bessin, with the support of a small number of infantry from SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25.
The attack was to be in conjunction with infantry attack from the Ist Battalion of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 south of the village.
Twelve Panthers fanned out in a single line at a right angle to the rail embankment. Approaching the village the company swung left keeping in a solid line with their fronts towards the village in anticipation of confronting the Canadian anti-tank guns. Nine Sherman tanks from the 1st Hussars including several 17pdrs Fireflys were moving towards the front to reinforce the Reginas position in Norrey. The majority of the Sherman tanks were navigating through the village, but one Firefly, commanded by Lt G. K. Henry, worked his way around the village to the front where he spotted the advancing Panthers. The 3rd Panzerkompanie, swung to the left, to protect themselves from the 6-pounders in Norrey, but exposed their flanks to Lt Henry at not more than 1000 metres distance. The Canadian tank opened fire hitting the tank nearest the rail-line first. Incredibly Lt Henry fired five shots and knocked out five Panthers. A sixth was accounted for by another C squadron tank.
The surviving Pather crews, along with their supporting infantry retreated back to an underpass where Canadian artillery began to pound the area inflicting even more casualties. The attack of the Ist Battalion, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25 never materialized leaving the assault a complete failure.