opens up the all-plastic M5 Stuart kit recently released.
Hitlerjugend Platoon (GE827)
The Hitlerjugend ('Hitler Youth') was the youth organization of the Nazi Party, a paramilitary organization for boys aged 14 to 18. As the Soviets approached Berlin, Hitlerjugend were organised into fighting units.
Designed by Evan Allen
Painted by Aaron Mathie
A brigade of Panzerfaust-armed Hitlerjugend was even sent out from the city to take part in the Battle for the Seelow Heights. Members were stationed behind the lines in tank-hunter teams to intercept Soviet tank breakthroughs. Hitlerjugend tank-hunting teams proved very effective, destroying large numbers of Red Army tanks.
During the Battle of Berlin, the Hitlerjugend were under the command of Reichsjugendführer Artur Axmann. Although the city commander, General Helmuth Weidling, ordered Axmann to disband the Hitler Youth combat formations, in the confusion this order was never carried out. They formed a part of the last line of defence for the city, and were reportedly among the fiercest fighters, at the cost of extremely heavy casualties.
