1/48 Sd. Kfz. 2 Kettenkrad 20th Panzer Division Russia 1944

Hobby Master 1/48 Sd. Kfz. 2 Kettenkrad 20th Panzer Division, Russia, 1944

The Sd.Kfz. 2 designation was for the Kettenkrad. Ketten means tracks and krad is the military abbreviation of Kraftrad, administrative term for motorcycle. Originally intended for use by German airborne troops it was designed to fit inside the JU-52 aircraft. With its amazing ability to tow 4 tons the vehicle soon was used to tow light artillery and trailers as well as aircraft to save aviation fuel. One variant was specifically used for laying communication cables. The vehicle was turned using handlebars or in tandem with track brakes.

944 found the 20th Panzer Division caught up in Operation Bagration, the Soviet codename for a campaign fought from June 23 to August 19 1944. The Soviet intent was to encircle German forces and destroy their main units. Operation Bagration inflicted the heaviest losses in German military history by destroying twenty eight of the thirty four divisions belonging to Army Group Center and completely ruining the German front line. Late in August 1944 the 20th Panzer Division was sent to Romania for refitting and eventually in 1945 surrendered to Soviet forces.

Features:
- True 1/48 scale
- Professionally painted
- Great attention to detail
- All markings are Tampoed (pad applied)
- Rubber wheels roll
- Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic
- Highly collectable