German Armour in the OZAK area

After the capitulation of Italy in 1943, Germany decided to create a new area of operation in Southern Europe, around the Adriatic Sea. As we all know, from 1943 onwards, Germany was on the defensive. What is so interesting about the OZAK area ?

For us, modellers, the area represent opportunity to model any vehicles of WW2, since in the OZAK area we can find any kind of tanks and weapons from both sides being used.

Since an Allied landing in the area was anticipated by the Germans, and because of presence of large numbers of Italian, Slovene and Croatian partisans, OZAK also hosted a substantial German military contingent, commanded by General der Gebirgstruppe Ludwig Kübler. On 28 September 1944, these units were redesignated LXXXXVII Army Corps. Nearly every available armored vehicle, modern or obsolete, was pressed into service with Wehrmacht, Waffen-SS, Ordnungspolizei, or collaborationist Italian and Slovenian units. 

Source: Wikipedia

A great reference website for the OZAK area is  http://www.panzer-ozak.it/

Most operations are anti-partisan in nature, since it is primarily an occupational zone.

Tankograd has released a reference book, titled "German Armoured Formations in the OZAK 1943-45".

Aside from the well-known battlefields in the West, on the Eastern Front and in North Africa, there was a small area were the Panzers ruled as well: the OZAK (Operations Area Adriatic Coastland). What makes the OZAK so special are the unusual German armoured formations deployed there with an exceptional range of strange vehicles that could be found nowhere else on any other frontline of World War Two. This publication grants a deep look into that interesting border area of Wehrmacht Panzer history.
Quantity Photos and Illustrations: Illustrated throughout with 137 black&white photographs + graphicsText – Language: English textNumber of Pages: 64 

Source: AFV News

Look for it in your nearest hobby shop or bookshop or check Amazon.