Artist David Pentland with the original painting Defenders of the Reichswald
Personal notes on this painting from the artist :
Following the battle of Normandy and Arnhem, Fallschirm Sturmgeschutz-Brigade XII was rearmed and attached for the duration of the war to 7th Fallschirmjager Division. Known as the Green Devil Brigade it fought a tenacious delaying action against the Allied push into northern Germany. One of the stars of the unit was Leutnant Heinz Deutsch and his crew, Oberjager Lappe, Feldwebel Strangassinger and Oberfeldwebel Berndl.
Their success was all the more remarkable in that they used a Stug III assault gun and not a turreted tank, and operated along with just one or two other guns and supporting paratroops against overwhelming odds.
I decided to portray the gun in this sort of action, attacking out of the forest with some Para's in attendance. I opted for a late version Stug with a low profile MG mount and Saukopf mantlet on the 75mm gun. The colour scheme is based on a profile of Deutsch's vehicle found in Tanks of WWII by Jean Restayn, (a great tank artist). I included the Brigade insignia of a Parachute on the assault guns bow plate. It may or may not have been present, but was the usual location of such badges when they did appear.
A photo of an edition of the print : |