{"product_id":"ga-58-the-second-world-war-german-armour-german-king-tiger-311","title":"GA-58 THE SECOND WORLD WAR,  GERMAN ARMOUR,  German King Tiger #311","description":"\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"16yq72c\" data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"30\"\u003eTiger Ace Heinz Mausberg\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"31\" data-end=\"130\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"31\" data-end=\"63\"\u003eCommander of King Tiger #311\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"63\" data-end=\"66\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"66\" data-end=\"100\"\u003e3.\/Schwere Panzerabteilung 505\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"100\" data-end=\"103\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"103\" data-end=\"130\"\u003eEast Prussia, Fall 1944\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"132\" data-end=\"345\"\u003eHistorically, King Tiger #311 was commanded by \u003cstrong data-start=\"179\" data-end=\"220\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eHeinz Mausberg\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of the most successful Tiger tank commanders of the Second World War, credited with more than 50 enemy tanks destroyed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"347\" data-end=\"820\"\u003eMausberg entered military service in 1940 and began his armoured career in the Czech-built \u003cstrong data-start=\"438\" data-end=\"479\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003ePanzer 38(t)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e with \u003cstrong data-start=\"485\" data-end=\"526\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003ePanzer Regiment 27\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e of the \u003cstrong data-start=\"534\" data-end=\"575\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003e19th Panzer Division\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e. 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 \u003cstrong data-start=\"778\" data-end=\"819\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eSchwere Panzerabteilung 505\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"822\" data-end=\"1366\"\u003eAfter achieving numerous successes in the formidable \u003cstrong data-start=\"875\" data-end=\"916\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eTiger I\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, Mausberg had become a platoon leader by the autumn of 1944 as the battalion deployed to \u003cstrong data-start=\"1006\" data-end=\"1047\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eEast Prussia\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e. He distinguished himself during the relief of \u003cstrong data-start=\"1095\" data-end=\"1136\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eGoldap\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e and the bitter defensive fighting surrounding the \u003cstrong data-start=\"1187\" data-end=\"1228\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eBattle of Königsberg\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e. In recognition of his leadership and combat achievements, he was awarded the \u003cstrong data-start=\"1307\" data-end=\"1348\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eGerman Cross in Gold\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e on 15 March 1945.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1368\" data-end=\"1750\"\u003eDuring the evacuation from Königsberg to Samland, Mausberg commanded two of the last four operational \u003cstrong data-start=\"1470\" data-end=\"1513\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eTiger II\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1752\" data-end=\"2334\"\u003eThe fighting reached its climax near \u003cstrong data-start=\"1789\" data-end=\"1832\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eTenkitten\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, 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 \u003cstrong data-start=\"2290\" data-end=\"2333\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003ePillau\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2336\" data-end=\"2613\"\u003eAlthough 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2615\" data-end=\"3295\"\u003eTransferring to a \u003cstrong data-start=\"2633\" data-end=\"2676\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003ePanther\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, 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 \u003cstrong data-start=\"3202\" data-end=\"3245\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eMoscow\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e before being released and repatriated to Germany.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3297\" data-end=\"3470\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eToday, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Military Workshop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52310141403418,"sku":null,"price":706.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/0154\/0890\/files\/GA58.jpg?v=1780489564","url":"https:\/\/themilitaryworkshop.com\/products\/ga-58-the-second-world-war-german-armour-german-king-tiger-311","provider":"The Military Workshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}