ARTO production 35022 1/35 sSS-Pz.Abt.101. Veteran

This figure of Otto Blasè is amazing and is made from a photo of the last final conference before the attack in which Whittmann was killed. The story is interesting and verifiable. During that conference, a number of other men were gathered around and a PK photographer just happens to be there taking photos. In the photo you can see that everyone else is dressed differently than Blasè and he is slumped over. Because he is the only person looking at the camera, he was easily distracted because he was sick. But Whittmann noticed how bad Blasè looked and could see he was sick. So Whittmann talked to him and though Blasè did to ask to be relieved, Whittmann ordered him to leave and go to the closest field hospital and get checked out. There is a record showing that Blasè arrived at the hospital and was put on sick leave. Blasè's Tiger goes into the attack along with other Tigers and all are hit with two being destroyed outright. Blasè's Tiger is one of them but was not blown apart like Whittmann's was. There are photos of several of these Tigers after the battle, and Whittmann's and Blasè's tank are shown. For a number of decades there was a slight controversy about why Blasè was not there, but finally and not that long ago, a research historian dug into the story and found an account in an afteraction report that witnesses had noted that Blasè was relieved and ordered to the hospital. The researcher also looked at the records of the field hospital and found that Blasè was admitted. Now that you know this story, it makes the figure all that more desirable, or should! You should buy this figure along with the one of Whittmann and you could do a diorama of an actual event!