In the fall of 1942, the German Waffenamt issued an order to develop a heavy assault gun to combat the growing menace posed by Russian armored forces all along the "ostfrontier" or eastern front. What resulted was the Sd. Kfz. 173 Jagdpanther tank destroyer, arguably the best long-range tank destroyer of the war. The Jagdpanther mounted a powerful 8.8cm Pak L/71 cannon within a fixed turret, which was situated atop a standard Panther V chassis. Although production of the tank was begun at MIAG in January 1944, it took another ten months before the larger NMH plant could expand the production run in time for the Wacht am Rhein ("Watch on the Rhine") winter counteroffensive. By war's end only 392 vehicles had entered service with the Wehrmacht, but these had a telling effect on the prosecution of the war.

Dragon Armor is pleased to offer a fine 1/72 scale model of a late production Jagdpanther. The vehicle is produced in stunning and full detail. The sleek profile is accurately represented and the models finished in a distinctive camouflage scheme. This consists of a sand-yellow base coat with green bands. Although the unit operating this particular vehicle cannot be identified, it is known that it fought in the fierce fighting in Hungary as the war drew to a close in 1945. The fully built-up model also carries a suitable amount of weathering to give it just the right air of authenticity. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 5-1/2-inches
Width: 2-1/4-inches

Release Date: July 2012

Historical Account: "Death Throes" - At the end of 1944, Hungary remained Germany's only satellite state, and was therefore necessary both in a political and economical sense - German industry needed the Hungarian oil wells located around the lake Balaton. On October 16th, 1944, Hungarian leader Miklos Horthy was destitute by the local nationalist party, Crossed Arrows. Any hope of a peaceful outcome for Hungary was lost - the battle would be a fight for death.

In late October, the Red Army started its offensive on Budapest. More than 1,000,000 men split into two operating maneuver groups rushing towards the city, planning to cut it off from the rest of the German and Hungarian troops.

On November 7th, 1944, Soviet troops entered Budapest's eastern suburbs, 20 kilometers from the city's old town. Curiously, very few inhabitants wanted to leave the city. On December 19th, after a necessary break in the action, the Red Army resumed its offensive. By December 26th, the road linking Budapest to Vienna was seized by the Soviet Troops, therefore encircling the city.

Budapest was a major target for Stalin. Indeed, the Yalta Conference was approaching and Stalin wanted to display his full strength to Churchill and Roosevelt. Therefore, he issued a directive to General Rodion Malinovsky, ordering him to seize the city as quickly as possible.

On December 29th, 1944, Rodion Malinovsky sent two emissaries in order to negotiate the city's capitulation. The emissaries never came back. This particular point is widely disputed by the Soviet Union, with some German and Hungarian historians arguing that the emissaries were deliberately shot down. Others believe that they were in fact shot by mistake on their way back. In any case, Soviet commanders considered this act as a refusal and ordered the start of the siege.