The German Waffenamt issued an order to design the VK4501(H) (as the PzKpfw VI Ausf. E was then known) in May 1941, just one month prior to the commencement of Operation Barbarossa. Interestingly, Henschel und Sohn of Kassel was charged with building the heavily armored chassis while Krupp, by far the largest munitionwerks in Germany, was given the task of developing the turret. The PzKpfw VI Ausfuhrung E (type E) was one of the first German tanks to feature a torsion bar with eight interleaved wheels, which was designed to support the weight of the mammoth 57-ton tank. The Ausf. E mounted a huge 8.8cm KwK36 L/56 cannon and featured two MG34 machine guns for close support against enemy infantry. By war's end, 1,354 vehicles had been produced, some rolling off the Wegmann assembly line.

Now Forces of Valor has crafted a marvelous 1:32 scale diecast replica of the late version PzKpfw VI Tiger Ausfuhrung E heavy tank. This stunning recreation features a rotating turret, elevating gun, opening hatches, and vinyl tracks! Comes with four additional soldiers. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 10-1/4-inches
Width: 4-1/2-inches
Height: 3-1/2-inches

Release Date: June 2007

Historical Account: "The Uprising" - The Warsaw Uprising (Powstanie Warszawskie) was an armed struggle during the Second World War by the Polish Home Army (Armia Krajowa) to liberate Warsaw from German occupation and Nazi rule. It started on August 1st, 1944, as part of a nationwide uprising called Operation Tempest. The Polish troops resisted the German-led forces until October 2nd (63 days in total). Losses on the Polish side amounted to 18,000 soldiers killed, 25,000 wounded and over 250,000 civilians killed, mostly in mass executions conducted by advancing German troops.

Casualties on the German side amounted to over 17,000 soldiers killed and 9,000 wounded. During the urban combat -- and after the end of hostilities, when German forces acting on Hitler's orders burned the city systematically, block by block -- an estimated 85% of the city was destroyed.

The Uprising started at a crucial point in the war as the Soviet army approached Warsaw. The Soviet army had reached a point within a few hundred meters from the city across the Vistula River on September 16th, but failed to make further headway in the course of the Uprising, leading to accusations that Stalin did not want the Uprising to succeed.

There is no evidence that the Home Army coordinated its struggle with the Soviet army. According to Russian memoirs (for example Konstantin Rokossovsky who led the Warsaw liberation) the Home Army tried to liberate the city before (and without) the Soviet army. (courtesy: Wikipedia)