During the defence of Berlin (April–May 1945), teenage members of the Hitler Youth were pressed into service as auxiliaries and, in some desperate cases, front-line fighters—supporting Volkssturm units, manning barricades, and performing duties in and around the city’s flak towers and anti-aircraft positions. The famous 8.8 cm Flak (typically the Flak 36/37) was employed not only as an anti-aircraft gun but increasingly as a powerful anti-tank and direct-fire weapon during the city’s street fighting. In several sectors these guns were sited in reinforced towers and on improvised ground positions; Hitler Youth volunteers were used for tasks such as ammunition handling, spotting, running messages, and, under close supervision by veteran gun crews, assisting with gun crews and searchlight crews — occasionally even being ordered into firing or defensive roles when manpower was exhausted.
 
The image of adolescents helping to load and support 88mm batteries underscores the desperate nature of Berlin’s final weeks: the Flak batteries, manned primarily by experienced Luftwaffe crews, were among the few weapons capable of delivering both devastating anti-aircraft barrages and deadly direct fire against Soviet armour, but their effectiveness was limited by supply shortages, counter-battery fire, and the overwhelming Soviet assault. Many Hitler Youth participants suffered heavy casualties, and their involvement remains a stark and tragic illustration of civilian mobilisation in the final collapse of Nazi Germany.

Supplied with heads attached.
 
This is a multi part model kit. We strongly recommend superglue to assemble. 
 
Models Supplied Unpainted 
 
PLEASE NOT THIS MODEL IS NOT SUPPLIED WITH A BASE!
 
This kit comes is NOT supplied with the sandbags pictured!
 
Printed by Imperator Models on license from RKX