The 26th Volksgrenadier Division was the German infantry at the gates of Bastogne. When the Ardennes offensive swept forward in December 1944, it fell largely to the 26th, alongside armored units, to surround the crossroads town and grind down the American paratroopers dug in there. Reformed after being shattered on the Eastern Front, the division had been rebuilt as a Volksgrenadier formation and handed a heavy allotment of StG 44 assault rifles to compensate for its mix of green replacements and worn veterans. Through the freezing siege it pressed attack after attack against the 101st Airborne — and, like the whole offensive, spent itself against a defense that would not break.

The figure kneels to fire his StG 44 in a camouflage winter parka and field cap. He is the German half of a Bastogne diorama — set him attacking the very paratroopers he besieged at "Welcome to Bastogne", kept in ammunition by the Volksgrenadier with the Ammo Can and supported by the Grenadier Firing StG 44.

W. Britain model 25050. 1/30 scale (approximately 60mm), matte-painted metal. Single kneeling foot figure on a sculpted groundwork base. Boxed.