The true Forces of Valor...the men that fought the battles, the men behind the machines, and the men that paid the ultimate sacrifice. These men came from every nation and every creed to battle on their countries' behalf. Unrecognized acts of heroism occurred every hour of every day across every battlefield all over the world.

The battles of World War II raged all over Europe and the Far East. From the harsh desert climate of North Africa to the rain soaked Western European Theatre to the extreme cold at the heart of Germany and Eastern Europe, the men of World War II fought bravely wherever they were and no matter what they faced.

This set consists of five 1:32 scale Wehrmacht soldiers in various poses from the 716.Infanterie-Division. Comes with sandbags and a variety of battlefield equipment. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Height: 2 inches

Release Date: 2008

Historical Account: The 716.Infanterie-Division was formed as an occupation unit from units of the Replacement Army on May 2nd, 1941. After formation and transfer to Occupied France, it took part in coastal defense operations, security duties, training, air raid protection, construction of defensive fortifications, and alert exercises along the coast of France and Belgium, mainly in the regions of Saint-Lo, later at Soissons, and still later in and around Caen where it was stationed when the Allied forces invaded the Normandy Coast on June 6th, 1944.

The 716 Infanterie-Division first fought against the Allied air drops at Breville, Ranville and Bavent, and took part in the defense of the artillery batteries at Merville. The 716.Infanterie-Division also fought in fierce defensive combat at Villers Bocage, along the Caen-Bayeux road, and in the region of Caen. After being heavily engaged for the duration of the Allied invasion, the 716.Infanterie-Division suffered very high losses, which forced it, along with the rest of the German forces in the region, to withdraw.

Moving into southern France, the Division took up coastal security positions in the region of Salses-Perpignan-Elne to the French-Spanish border. Thereafter, the 716.Infanterie-Division retreated through Languedoc, over the Cevennen, and through the Rhonental to the region of Lyon. After this movement, the Division was engaged by French partisan units before later arriving in the area of Schlettstadt.

In October of 1944, the 716.Infanterie-Division was in the region of Oberrhein near Kolmar where it fought at Neunkirch-Obenhein, very nearly getting destroyed in very heavy fighting. The remains of the Division became "Kampfgruppe 716.Infanterie-Division" near Todtmoos and withdrew through the southern portion of the Schwarzwald before surrendering to American units at Kempten.