The JS-II (Josef Stalin) was a development of the earlier KV series of Russian tanks. It was a lighter tank than the KVs with an improved transmission and suspension and a re-designed hull and turret. The first examples appeared in 1944, helping to exploit the strategic initiative which the Red Army had achieved by that stage of WWII on the eastern front. A massive vehicle, the tank was well-armed and armored, the only drawback of the early versions was a slow rate of fire using separate charges and shells. This was remedied by the time the JS-III entered production. Symbolically, Josef Stalin tanks were at the head of the advance to Berlin in 1945, and remained in production after the war being the world's most powerful tank for well over a decade.

Pictured here is a limited edition 1:48 scale replica of a Soviet JS-II heavy tank that was attached to the 29th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment, 4th Guards Tank Corps, 1st Ukrainian Front, then deployed to Wislica, Poland, during January 1945. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 7-1/2-inches
Width: 2-1/2-inches

Release Date: December 2008

Historical Account: "The Bread Basket Region" - On October 20th, 1943 the Voronezh Front was renamed to the 1st Ukrainian Front. This name change reflected the westward advance of the Red Army in its campaign against the German Wehrmacht, leaving Russia behind and moving into Ukraine. The front participated or conducted battles in Ukraine, Poland, Germany, and Czechoslovakia during 1944 and 1945.

During 1944, the front participated with other fronts in the battles of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyy, and the battle of Hube's Pocket in Ukraine. It conducted the Lviv-Sandomierz Offensive, during which the Front was controlling the Soviet 1st Guards Tank Army, 3rd Guards Tank Army, 4th Tank Army, 3rd Guards, 5th Guards, 13th, 38th, and 60th Armies. It then took part in the battle for Ternopol.

In 1945, the front participated in the Vistula-Oder offensive, and conducted the Silesian and Prague Operations, and the siege of Breslau. It also participated in the Berlin operations in Germany and Poland. The front also conducted the major part of the Halbe Encirclement, in which most of the German 9th Army was destroyed south of Berlin. By this time the Polish Second Army was operating as part of the Front. Finally 1st Ukrainian Front provided the defense against the counter-attacks by Armee Wenck which aimed to relieve Berlin and the 9th Army.

The front was victorious in all of its operations over the opposing forces of the Wehrmacht. The Prague Operation was the final battle of World War II in Europe. Following the war, the Front headquarters formed the Central Group of Forces of the Red Army in Austria and Hungary, guarding the Iron Curtain.