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GA-58 THE SECOND WORLD WAR, GERMAN ARMOUR, German King Tiger #311
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Tiger Ace Heinz Mausberg
Commander of King Tiger #311
3./Schwere Panzerabteilung 505
East Prussia, Fall 1944
Historically, King Tiger #311 was commanded by Heinz Mausberg, one of the most successful Tiger tank commanders of the Second World War, credited with more than 50 enemy tanks destroyed.
Mausberg entered military service in 1940 and began his armoured career in the Czech-built Panzer 38(t) with Panzer Regiment 27 of the 19th Panzer Division. He served with distinction until August 1942, when he was seriously wounded by anti-tank fire while serving as a tank commander. Following his recovery in Dresden, he was assigned to the newly forming Schwere Panzerabteilung 505.
After achieving numerous successes in the formidable Tiger I, Mausberg had become a platoon leader by the autumn of 1944 as the battalion deployed to East Prussia. He distinguished himself during the relief of Goldap and the bitter defensive fighting surrounding the Battle of Königsberg. In recognition of his leadership and combat achievements, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 15 March 1945.
During the evacuation from Königsberg to Samland, Mausberg commanded two of the last four operational Tiger II tanks remaining in the battalion. As his small armoured group covered the withdrawal of German civilians, he reportedly carried two mothers and their three daughters aboard his tank while shielding refugees from advancing Soviet forces.
The fighting reached its climax near Tenkitten, where the four surviving King Tigers faced relentless artillery bombardment, attacks from Soviet ground-attack aircraft, and assaults by overwhelming numbers of enemy tanks. Despite knocking out numerous Soviet tanks at ranges exceeding 2,000 metres, the battalion's losses mounted. Two heavily damaged King Tigers were destroyed by their crews, while Mausberg withdrew with the remaining pair for emergency repairs before successfully breaking through to Pillau.
Although their firepower temporarily slowed the Soviet advance, both surviving King Tigers were eventually crippled by damage and ammunition shortages. Mausberg's own tank suffered a transmission failure, forcing both vehicles to be destroyed by their crews to prevent capture.
Transferring to a Panther, Mausberg continued fighting until artillery damage rendered the tank inoperable. With no recovery vehicles available and the front collapsing, he ordered the Panther destroyed. Witnessed by an infantry unit whose commander accused him of sabotage, Mausberg was subjected to a summary field trial, convicted, and sentenced to death amid the chaos of Germany's final days. Before the sentence could be carried out, the war ended. He was subsequently taken prisoner by Soviet forces and spent three years in a prison camp near Moscow before being released and repatriated to Germany.
Today, Feldwebel Heinz Mausberg is remembered as one of Schwere Panzerabteilung 505's most accomplished Tiger commanders and among the most successful Tiger aces of the war.
Brand: The Military Workshop
