Von Abt Gallery


		Bridge Capture	July 2010
		Poor co-ordination resulted in parachute troops arriving late to capture bridge at the same time as the armour. The commander on the spot orders the advance across the undefended bridge.


		The Overnight Refuge Part 2	June 2010
		A US unit in hot pursuit takes advantage of the facilities when the previous occupiers left in a hurry.


		The Overnight Refuge	June 2010
		Fighting a defensive battle and retreating from the advancing Allies, a small German Kampfgruppe seeks overnight refuge in old Castle ruins.


		Ferry Evacuation	Feb 2010
		Ferry evaculation


		Scorched Earth	Nov 2009
		German troops retreating on the Russian Front carry out a policy of Scorched Earth as ordered by Von Manstein in an effort to slow down the advancing Russian army.


		D-day. Operation Tonga - taking of Peg Bridge	July 2009
		5th June 1944, the 1st strike on D-Day, Major John Howard from the Ox and Bucks light infantry leads a specially trained gliderborne unit to secure two canal bridges (codenamed Ham and Jam) over the River Orne to allow allied invasion forces a foothold in Normandy. Their mission was to secure and hold the bridges until relived by the invasion forces.


		Air lift to Stalingrad	July 2009
		Essential ammo drop and shipping out the wounded from the Eastern Front.


		Dora Construction images	July 2009


		D Day landings Utah Beach	June 2009
		A US forces land at Utah Beach.


		Normandy Street Fight & Ambush	June 2009
		As the allied advance moves in land in Normandy a column made up of mispalced airborne, rangers and infantry enters a small Normandy Town not expecting to find any resistance and runs into a German Ambush with a Tiger and an 88 in waiting resulting in a close fought street fight.


		Skirmish on the Eastern front	May 2009
		A small contingent of German Troops fight a rear guard action from a well prepared Dugout but all to no avail and are destroyed.


		V1 Launch	January 2009
		As the Allies advance across Northern Europe the permanent Launch sites are destroyed or captured. This leaves the Launch Crews no option but to resort to portable ski ramps in primative conditions in secluded forests to keep up the momentum of attack.


		V2 Unloading	October 2008
		This shows the unloading sequence from the improvised railhead to the awaiting Technical Troops for checking out all Systems. The Warhead which was carried seperately in a special container during transit is also mounted and then the Rocket was handed over to the Launch Crew.


		V2 Preparing to fire	January 2009
		Gale force winds have forced the Rocket Troop to take refuge in the Market Square of a North European Town in a desperate move to be in range of London before the Allies over run the launch site. Meanwhile a Lancaster bomber turned back from a raid on the Ruhr with engine problems receives an escort of fighters for the journey home. However,a target of opportunity comes in sight. Will the V2 be launched before it is destroyed?


		Firefight	January 2009
		It is D + 10 and misplaced American Airbourne have linked up with Allied ground forces clearing out stiff German resistance in yet another Town in the Carentan Peninsula in their endeavours to capture the Port of Cherbourg.


		Pointe du Hoc	October 2008
		The US Rangers scale the Cliffs from a seabourne landing and attack the German Gun Battery and Observation Post at the top of the Pointe du Hoc to prevent their use against the Landings at Omaha Beach.


		The Escape	October 2008
		A collection of mixed units from various Divisions desperately try to escape from the encircling Russians over the last remaining bridge to freedom.


		Class 52 and Morser Karl	April 2007
		The Class 52 Kondenslokmotiven & Morser Karl train was one of the mightiest forms of mechanised Axis weaponry. Our diorama features a 60' (18 meter) train built by Peter Shaw with night shots of the Karl Morser firing.


		Mörser Karl - Gerät 040 "Ziu"	March 2007
		The mighty 154 ton 60cm Mörser Karl - Gerät 040 "Ziu" - guaranteed to strike fear into the hearts of the enemy. Firing a massive 60 cm 2 ton shell up to 4 km, it was capable of piercing a 3 meter thick reinforced concrete bunker. This diorama sees one such beast, "Ziu", being prepared for a fire mission on the Eastern front.


		Zurück von der Front	February 2007
		A cold winter's morning. Tired and weary from long hard months on the front, a few soldiers stir themselves to watch the scene outside. A few guards on the ground keep a watchful eye on the troops loading supplies onto the train. A lucky few men enjoy a hot cup of Ersatz coffee to try and warm their freezing bones.


		Winter Defense	December 2006
		A cold winter evening on the Eastern front. As the light fails a shot rings out. Desperately the men of Kampfgruppe Saar run to their defensive positions. As the snow fall changes to sleet, the cold and tired troops fight to hold off another tide of Ivans.


		Winter March	October 2006
		The warm days of Autumn have passed. A troop of weary men from Kampfgruppe Saar are moving towards the front line, cursing the savage Russian winter weather. They pass a small team of fellow soldiers preparing a secondary defensive line.


		Typhoon Airstrike	October 2006
		The Germans learned the hard way just how destructive an air strike from a Rocket armed Hawker Typhoon could be, armed with four "60 lb" RP-3 rockets under each wing, they earned the suitable nickname "Rocketphoons". The Class 52 has suffered 3 direct strikes, one of which has knocked the train off it's tracks.


		Luftflotte von Abt	September 2006
		A busy airfield somewhere in Western Europe. Pilots get their daily briefing, whilst messengers deliver orders from HQ. All around the camp men go about their normal business, unaware of what lies ahead.


		Class 52 Locomotive	August 2006
		A German Class 52 locomotive stops briefly on it's journey eastwards to offload troops and supplies. A solder stumbles in the hot midday sun, and is caught by his compatriots. An Opel Blitz loaded with troops, prepares to drive off.


		Siebel Ferry	July 2006
		A small Siebel ferry carries it's valuable cargo across the Mediterranean. A few crew and managed to escape wonder how different life will be once - if - they land safely in Italy. Updated album 04/03/07


		Machine Gun Team	May 2006
		A two man MG42 team wait patiently for the enemy to show itself. Updated album 10/03/07


		Maintenance Stop	April 2006
		Tiger 332 undergoes a much needed maintenance stop.Two members of the maintenance crew enjoy a short and well earned rest, whilst all around them others work. The Tiger crew undertakes the heavy task of cleaning the deadly 88.


		Tank Riders	March 2006
		A cold winter morning finds a troop of Panzer Grenadiers commandeering a ride on top of a war weary Panzer IV.


		8.8cm PaK 43/41	March 2006
		Under the watchful eye of their commander, men from Kampfgruppe von Abt position their PaK 43, ready to hold off the advancing enemy.


		Defence of the Motherland	March 2006
		A troop of young Soviet solders nervously await their first encounter with the invaders of their homeland. Under trained and poorly armed, their love for Mother Russia is their greatest weapon.


		Stuck in the Mud	February 2006
		A Panzer IV falls victim the the spring mud of the Eastern front. A team of Panzer Grenadiers work furiously to free the tank, watched by a passing infantry troop.


		Destroyed Half Track	January 2006
		A battalion of American troops, fresh off the beaches of Normandy, march past a destroyed French farm. A disabled German half track lies at the side of the road, reminding the young soldiers of why they are here. Updated album 06/03/07


		Panzer IV	December 2005
		Accompanied by a few stragglers and an army medic, a Panzer makes it's way cautiously through a wood.


		Upturned Tiger 1	December 2005
		Caught on the open, this Tiger didn't stand a chance. Blown onto it's roof by a Russian airstrike, a medic attends to the injured crew.#656A4C


		Rail Crossing	November 2005
		With it's winter paint still visible, Tiger 301 continues it's long march Eastwards. Crossing a railway line the crew keeps an wary eye out for the enemy.


		Sd.Kfz.250/10	November 2005
		A small troop advances cautiously through a light wood.


		Radio Team	September 2005
		'All units, Condor! Repeat, 'All units Condor!' The code they had all been waiting for crackled in the radio operator's head phones. Orders were barked from the back of the half track. The infantry once again heaved up their burdens and advanced towards another attack.


		Mighty Maus	September 2005
		It's 1945. The German forces are down to their last. In a desperate attempt to halt the Red tide, staff at the Kummersdorf proving ground take an untested tank into combat - the mighty 188 ton type 205/2 Maus.


		Behind The Scenes
		Photographs from behind the scenes, stretching back to time immemorial. Well, 2004.