The engine in his M18 was cold and they were making the fire so they could heat up cans of oil to start the engine. My grandpa told me when those two Tigers rolled by the house (only about 15 meters away) he shit his pants and had the shakes for days after that. It was the one moment in the war when he was the most frightened. Afterward he got out of his M18 and vomited. For the rest of his life he had nightmares where they kept missing the second Tiger.
He killed the two Tigers in the Battle of the Bulge. His crew was parked beside a house in the Ardennes trying to start a fire when the two Tigers rolled past. They didn't seem him and kept going. Shot the first at about 75 meters. The second reversed and started zig-zagging thinking the shot came from in front of him. He had to shoot at this tank 4 times to hit it. The Tiger crew never realized the shots were coming from behind him. The final was at only 25 meters.
My grandfather was an American armoured ace. I say "armoured" because he didn't command a tank but an M18 Hellcat tank-destroyer. He was in Patton's 3rd Army and killed 8 German tanks, 4 self-propelled guns, 11 half-track apc's, and 6 armoured cars. The tanks included two Tiger I's, one Panther, and 5 Panzer IV's. The tank-destroyers include 3 Stug III's, and 1 Jagdpanther. He lost 4 vehicles. One to a mine, one to an artillery round, one to a Panther, and one to a "friendly" P-47.
@gurumagoo thats all you need to be an armoured ace in the US ? man wittman mustve been a god then by american standards, nah im just messin with ya not bad for him especially considering how hard it was to kill german armor, sucks about the p47 but sadly friendly fire aint rare
@SuperMachinegunner LOL! You live in Little Rock?!?! I grew up in Conway 20 minutes up the road. Before I moved to Louisiana I had a house off Chenal. I miss Little Rock. Baton Rouge sucks.
Over-rated scum bag, who was awarded kills , which his team played a critical role.
11 year old soldier best trained tank commander with best armor protection.
In the NBA you look at the MVP as the man who wins games or battles, not rakes up gaudy stats and his team still loses. To be the best, you have to beat the best or show extraordinary courage. Eg Fighting with half your body burnt.
He was not a Major Koennig(Sniper) who was the best and lost to the best.
@studenthistory The real scumbags were the American and Russian commanders that didn't have any qualms about sending waves of those inferior tanks against Tigers until the Tigers either ran out of amunition or fuel.
@5diomedes They had their orders from Generals to face a much better equipped enemy themselves to slow the German's down. These brave soldiers payed with their lives and are the true warriors.
War is a terrible thing. Luckily the King Tigers were not produced in sufficient qty to alter the outcome of tank battles. The bravery of these soldiers we salute, not a Nazi propaganda golden boy.
The fact he was "a Nazi" has nothing to god damn do with his skill. Give the man his due.
I play Darkest Hour/Red Orchestra on a daily basis, driving and commanding a tank in the first person, for years now. It is a very realistic game online, and I appreciate what it takes to destroy 5 or 10 tanks plus AT gun nests without dying. He destroyed 138 tanks and 135 AT guns without dying.
@calimar28 It did have something to do with his propaganda value, Hitler attending his wedding and his super-decorations! Man never faced America's best and was killed by an English Rookie who received no medal for his kill.
@silencioen23 Agreed a King Tiger versus the ,"Sherman Coffins"! American's fighting in the Sherman's were far braver. A Real man would spend time with his new bride instead of leaving her to get blown up like a Rookie.
An over-rated Nazi tank Captain who got his due by Jonnie Eakins.
LT Zvika Greengold of Israeli reserves during 1973 war.
In 30 hours he destroyed 60 superior Russian tanks using a few tanks after each one was destroyed. He had no crue unlike Wittman. By far he was a better tank commander than Wittman.
Wittman had a brilliant experienced tank crew in the best tank of WW2.
Nearly all his kills were against inferior tanks and poorly trained crews.
He claimed kills that were not his, and included trucks as tank kills.
Tank formations won the war, not a King Tiger with a well trained crue of several years. Many kills were done by his gunner without consulting him. Wittman got all the credit.
@studenthistory Are you kidding me? A huge mumber of Whittmans kills came with his STUG B with a stubby L/24 gun! Then a Panzer III with a 50mm gun. Then and only then did he finally get a Tiger. And I dont care how good the Tiger is, the actions he took against 5 and 10 tanks at a time was dangerous as hell and against the odds for him. So to say he is overated is ridiculous.
@calimar28 Battle of Villers Bokage in less than 15 minutes, 13–14 tanks, two anti-tank guns and 13–15 transport vehicles had been destroyed by the Heavy SS-Panzer Battalion 101, the vast majority attributed to Wittmann. Realistic probably not. The so called super panzer warrior who passed up an instructor position to spend time with his newly wedded spouse, got a taste of his own medicine when ambushed by the Brits and killed by a rookie Jonnie Eaks who never got a medal or special mention.
He faced under-trained Russian personnel with inferior armor and training.
Even in Normandy he got lucky. Never faced America's best: Maurice Rose , just pounced on kills like Bubbie Hartmann and racked up unrealistic numbers which had no decisive impact in Kursk or Normandy.
Germany-many brave tank soldier's,only one propaganda boy. A fanatical Nazi, unlike most of Germany's decorated fighters. man killed in ambush by a Rookie. Greengold reservist undefeated saved Israel N. front alone.
@studenthistory Obviously Whitman didnt get "all the credit". They mention his gunner Bobby Woll here and at length, as well as Whitmans full crew. But Whitman was the commander and deserves a lot of credit, no? Why is it you Brits/Canadians are so quick to try and downplay Whitman? The man was a great warrior. I'm American, my grandfather fought in Pattons 3rd army, but I am quick to admit the greatness of Germanys warriors too.
@calimar28 Bobby Woll never got an iron cross with diamond clusters. Neither did his other gunner.
I am not saying the man was not a great warrior. What I am saying is he is not the best, and was more of propaganda value with Hitler attending his wedding then he was of military value.
Rookie Trooper Joe Ekins), which was positioned in a wood called Delle de la Roque on the advancing Tigers' right flank killed Wittmann. Never got any medal or special mention for killing MIchael Wittmann.
What a great joob! to destroj some shermans (one of the weakest tanks of ww2) with no experience, with a tiger (one of the best tanks in ww2). This nazi hero propaganda is f..ing ridiculous. A hero is someone who is fighting a stronger enemy. In this case are the sherman crows the real heroes.
Whitman was a very skilled tanker. One of his first "kills" in Russia during early '41 was blowing the turret off a KV-1 when he commanded a short-barreled Stug.
Televised "evidence" shows the shell in his Tiger to be Down Thru, not lateral. Conjecture has it that the shell "bounced" off something and thus entered that way. However, any one that has studied "Tigers" knows that ground recon was done over the ground that Tigers were going to traverse, that Shermans were in ambush cannot be.
Typical Brit Rhetoric, Whitman was neither the top scoring German Tank Ace nor was he killed by British tanks. Un-spent Typhoon rockets were found around his vehicle. But, Whitman was correct in that AT guns were much harder and more dangerous than tanks to combat.
@stevobrazil Not a typhoon. Most German prefer that, however, the angle his turret flown off and not mentioning the hole in his turret point toward a tank. This was properly the first time Whitman surge a duel with a tank that could penetrate the tiger from the front at a range of over 1000 yards. Unluckily, a Polish or British Sherman Firefly hit his tiger before he can hit the Sherman.
@Domenic535 Your right about Wittmann being the top tank ace and rockets being found near his tank. But, he was not killed by Typhoons. He was killed by Sherman Firefly's . This theory has been proven over the past 10 years.
@HoustonGD Wittman was killed during an ill advised counter attack after the british and canadian operation 'totalise'. His tank was knocked out by a sherman firefly of the northampton yeomanry. The firefly's commander was killed during the action and had to be replaced. The gunner that ended wittmans life was joe eakins.
totally agree with you about the fact that's it's a typical brit rhetoric and by extension allies rethoric ... the winner will always have the last word ... and as those "experts" should say Vae Victis... the most unfair word said is that one of them is doubting about the score made by wittmann knowing that the german credit rules were far more strict than the allies. Anyway the death of wittmann is still a matter of discussion ...
well i will say fuck morons that don't understand the fact that it's not a matter of being german or not ... but saying that on the MILITARY point of view a man like michael wittmann, otto carius etc... were men without any doubt over the top in applying their skills on the field that's it that's all. According to that the rest is another problem (policy, war, horrors of war etc...)
people have to remember that these tanks being destroyed are killing other men, sure he and his crew are skilled, but do not forget that it's not just tanks that are being destroyed, it's lives as well. Nothing poetic about it.
RIP buddy
MegaKaiser45 1 week ago
hm hab was geiles entdeckt haha
ChayaJoslyndq262 1 month ago
A real BAMF for sure
50percentFirebird 1 month ago 3
The engine in his M18 was cold and they were making the fire so they could heat up cans of oil to start the engine. My grandpa told me when those two Tigers rolled by the house (only about 15 meters away) he shit his pants and had the shakes for days after that. It was the one moment in the war when he was the most frightened. Afterward he got out of his M18 and vomited. For the rest of his life he had nightmares where they kept missing the second Tiger.
gurumagoo 3 months ago
He killed the two Tigers in the Battle of the Bulge. His crew was parked beside a house in the Ardennes trying to start a fire when the two Tigers rolled past. They didn't seem him and kept going. Shot the first at about 75 meters. The second reversed and started zig-zagging thinking the shot came from in front of him. He had to shoot at this tank 4 times to hit it. The Tiger crew never realized the shots were coming from behind him. The final was at only 25 meters.
gurumagoo 3 months ago
My grandfather was an American armoured ace. I say "armoured" because he didn't command a tank but an M18 Hellcat tank-destroyer. He was in Patton's 3rd Army and killed 8 German tanks, 4 self-propelled guns, 11 half-track apc's, and 6 armoured cars. The tanks included two Tiger I's, one Panther, and 5 Panzer IV's. The tank-destroyers include 3 Stug III's, and 1 Jagdpanther. He lost 4 vehicles. One to a mine, one to an artillery round, one to a Panther, and one to a "friendly" P-47.
gurumagoo 3 months ago
@gurumagoo thats all you need to be an armoured ace in the US ? man wittman mustve been a god then by american standards, nah im just messin with ya not bad for him especially considering how hard it was to kill german armor, sucks about the p47 but sadly friendly fire aint rare
SuperMachinegunner 1 month ago
@SuperMachinegunner LOL! You live in Little Rock?!?! I grew up in Conway 20 minutes up the road. Before I moved to Louisiana I had a house off Chenal. I miss Little Rock. Baton Rouge sucks.
gurumagoo 1 month ago
@gurumagoo yeah but i havnt been ther in a while, been in germany for the last 3 years, goin back in march
SuperMachinegunner 1 month ago
war is not fun on any side if you have to kill one and other you are told to do a job and it has to be done weather u like it or not
madscotsman65 5 months ago
killing for a mad leader isnt a hero..........
ducati0000 5 months ago
Over-rated scum bag, who was awarded kills , which his team played a critical role.
11 year old soldier best trained tank commander with best armor protection.
In the NBA you look at the MVP as the man who wins games or battles, not rakes up gaudy stats and his team still loses. To be the best, you have to beat the best or show extraordinary courage. Eg Fighting with half your body burnt.
He was not a Major Koennig(Sniper) who was the best and lost to the best.
He lost to a rookie.
studenthistory 6 months ago
@studenthistory The real scumbags were the American and Russian commanders that didn't have any qualms about sending waves of those inferior tanks against Tigers until the Tigers either ran out of amunition or fuel.
5diomedes 6 months ago
@5diomedes They had their orders from Generals to face a much better equipped enemy themselves to slow the German's down. These brave soldiers payed with their lives and are the true warriors.
War is a terrible thing. Luckily the King Tigers were not produced in sufficient qty to alter the outcome of tank battles. The bravery of these soldiers we salute, not a Nazi propaganda golden boy.
studenthistory 6 months ago
The fact he was "a Nazi" has nothing to god damn do with his skill. Give the man his due.
I play Darkest Hour/Red Orchestra on a daily basis, driving and commanding a tank in the first person, for years now. It is a very realistic game online, and I appreciate what it takes to destroy 5 or 10 tanks plus AT gun nests without dying. He destroyed 138 tanks and 135 AT guns without dying.
calimar28 7 months ago
@calimar28 It did have something to do with his propaganda value, Hitler attending his wedding and his super-decorations! Man never faced America's best and was killed by an English Rookie who received no medal for his kill.
studenthistory 6 months ago
wittmann es el mejor ante la mierda de los sherman
silencioen23 7 months ago
@silencioen23 Agreed a King Tiger versus the ,"Sherman Coffins"! American's fighting in the Sherman's were far braver. A Real man would spend time with his new bride instead of leaving her to get blown up like a Rookie.
An over-rated Nazi tank Captain who got his due by Jonnie Eakins.
studenthistory 6 months ago
Best tank commander of all time:
LT Zvika Greengold of Israeli reserves during 1973 war.
In 30 hours he destroyed 60 superior Russian tanks using a few tanks after each one was destroyed. He had no crue unlike Wittman. By far he was a better tank commander than Wittman.
studenthistory 8 months ago
Wittman had a brilliant experienced tank crew in the best tank of WW2.
Nearly all his kills were against inferior tanks and poorly trained crews.
He claimed kills that were not his, and included trucks as tank kills.
Tank formations won the war, not a King Tiger with a well trained crue of several years. Many kills were done by his gunner without consulting him. Wittman got all the credit.
studenthistory 8 months ago
@studenthistory Are you kidding me? A huge mumber of Whittmans kills came with his STUG B with a stubby L/24 gun! Then a Panzer III with a 50mm gun. Then and only then did he finally get a Tiger. And I dont care how good the Tiger is, the actions he took against 5 and 10 tanks at a time was dangerous as hell and against the odds for him. So to say he is overated is ridiculous.
calimar28 7 months ago
@calimar28 Battle of Villers Bokage in less than 15 minutes, 13–14 tanks, two anti-tank guns and 13–15 transport vehicles had been destroyed by the Heavy SS-Panzer Battalion 101, the vast majority attributed to Wittmann. Realistic probably not. The so called super panzer warrior who passed up an instructor position to spend time with his newly wedded spouse, got a taste of his own medicine when ambushed by the Brits and killed by a rookie Jonnie Eaks who never got a medal or special mention.
studenthistory 6 months ago
He faced under-trained Russian personnel with inferior armor and training.
Even in Normandy he got lucky. Never faced America's best: Maurice Rose , just pounced on kills like Bubbie Hartmann and racked up unrealistic numbers which had no decisive impact in Kursk or Normandy.
Germany-many brave tank soldier's,only one propaganda boy. A fanatical Nazi, unlike most of Germany's decorated fighters. man killed in ambush by a Rookie. Greengold reservist undefeated saved Israel N. front alone.
studenthistory 6 months ago
@studenthistory Obviously Whitman didnt get "all the credit". They mention his gunner Bobby Woll here and at length, as well as Whitmans full crew. But Whitman was the commander and deserves a lot of credit, no? Why is it you Brits/Canadians are so quick to try and downplay Whitman? The man was a great warrior. I'm American, my grandfather fought in Pattons 3rd army, but I am quick to admit the greatness of Germanys warriors too.
calimar28 7 months ago
@calimar28 Bobby Woll never got an iron cross with diamond clusters. Neither did his other gunner.
I am not saying the man was not a great warrior. What I am saying is he is not the best, and was more of propaganda value with Hitler attending his wedding then he was of military value.
Rookie Trooper Joe Ekins), which was positioned in a wood called Delle de la Roque on the advancing Tigers' right flank killed Wittmann. Never got any medal or special mention for killing MIchael Wittmann.
studenthistory 6 months ago
@studenthistory "Many kills in the war were done by weapons. The soldiers got all the credit for them."
Taz3TheRayder 2 months ago
Joe Eakins, a young Brit got his baptism of fire by killing Wittman. WAs he even decorated for this first kill?
studenthistory 8 months ago
@Grendo147 So do all other decent human Beings like yourself!
frbjoernLA 10 months ago
Sieg heil Michael im Kampfe gegen die Drachenbrutl!88!
sjokolade777 11 months ago
What a great joob! to destroj some shermans (one of the weakest tanks of ww2) with no experience, with a tiger (one of the best tanks in ww2). This nazi hero propaganda is f..ing ridiculous. A hero is someone who is fighting a stronger enemy. In this case are the sherman crows the real heroes.
Anderas777 1 year ago
@Anderas777
He also killed lot of antitank guns. Sherman firefly can knock out tiger at that range.
kaidi223 9 months ago
A Saint, died a saint, fought a saint.
Tyco200 1 year ago
Even though he was a nazi, he was definatly one of the finest tank commanders to date.
dardo1201 1 year ago
Whitman was a very skilled tanker. One of his first "kills" in Russia during early '41 was blowing the turret off a KV-1 when he commanded a short-barreled Stug.
Televised "evidence" shows the shell in his Tiger to be Down Thru, not lateral. Conjecture has it that the shell "bounced" off something and thus entered that way. However, any one that has studied "Tigers" knows that ground recon was done over the ground that Tigers were going to traverse, that Shermans were in ambush cannot be.
Domenic535 1 year ago
damn limey bastards give the man his dues he kicked there asses and they still wont give the man his credit as being a tactical genius
zulfiqar501 1 year ago
@zulfiqar501 Did you actualy watch this?
soo6200 11 months ago
Typical Brit Rhetoric, Whitman was neither the top scoring German Tank Ace nor was he killed by British tanks. Un-spent Typhoon rockets were found around his vehicle. But, Whitman was correct in that AT guns were much harder and more dangerous than tanks to combat.
Domenic535 1 year ago
@Domenic535 I agree. I'd always assumed that a Typhoon got him.
stevobrazil 1 year ago
@stevobrazil Not a typhoon. Most German prefer that, however, the angle his turret flown off and not mentioning the hole in his turret point toward a tank. This was properly the first time Whitman surge a duel with a tank that could penetrate the tiger from the front at a range of over 1000 yards. Unluckily, a Polish or British Sherman Firefly hit his tiger before he can hit the Sherman.
916ppl 1 year ago
@Domenic535 Your right about Wittmann being the top tank ace and rockets being found near his tank. But, he was not killed by Typhoons. He was killed by Sherman Firefly's . This theory has been proven over the past 10 years.
HoustonGD 1 year ago
@HoustonGD Wittman was killed during an ill advised counter attack after the british and canadian operation 'totalise'. His tank was knocked out by a sherman firefly of the northampton yeomanry. The firefly's commander was killed during the action and had to be replaced. The gunner that ended wittmans life was joe eakins.
soo6200 11 months ago
@soo6200 yes I have read and seen video about this battle. Wittman in the end became arrogant with his own skill and tank armor.
HoustonGD 11 months ago
@Domenic535
totally agree with you about the fact that's it's a typical brit rhetoric and by extension allies rethoric ... the winner will always have the last word ... and as those "experts" should say Vae Victis... the most unfair word said is that one of them is doubting about the score made by wittmann knowing that the german credit rules were far more strict than the allies. Anyway the death of wittmann is still a matter of discussion ...
TangoSierraBravo 1 year ago
fuk germans
lilej10 1 year ago
@lilej10
well i will say fuck morons that don't understand the fact that it's not a matter of being german or not ... but saying that on the MILITARY point of view a man like michael wittmann, otto carius etc... were men without any doubt over the top in applying their skills on the field that's it that's all. According to that the rest is another problem (policy, war, horrors of war etc...)
TangoSierraBravo 1 year ago
wait he received the wound badge? Wasn't that given to people who were with Hitler when that operation Valkyrie failed?
Dekar41 1 year ago
@Dekar41 The wound badge was equivilent to the U.S. Purple Heart.
stevobrazil 1 year ago
@stevobrazil ah gotcha, thanks.
Dekar41 1 year ago
people have to remember that these tanks being destroyed are killing other men, sure he and his crew are skilled, but do not forget that it's not just tanks that are being destroyed, it's lives as well. Nothing poetic about it.
Dekar41 1 year ago
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Those who want to live, let them fight, and those who do not want to fight in this world of eternal struggle do not deserve to live." 88
mauserg41 1 year ago
Wie lange kann ein D Schwein scheise im Bauch tragen ? 9 Monate !!!!
AFGunz1000 2 years ago
ja richtig um bumst Hans seine Zähne haha
Wie lange kann ein D Schwein scheise im Bauch tragen ? 9 Monate !!!!
AFGunz 4 LIfe
heb die blcokierung auf feiges deustches schwein ..jetzt weis ich wieso der russen dich ficken kann haha
AFGunz1000 2 years ago
Dein Stolz ist weg wie dein D mark haha
AFGunz1000 2 years ago
Thanks for up-loading!
STATIONO 3 years ago
He is a Hero
ferret666blood 3 years ago 31
@ferret666blood Hero hell, the man is a legend and a total badass!
USSRman45 1 month ago
Panzer voran, Voran! He is a (nazi) hero and an example for modern tank commanders. I admire his bravery. Thanks for the video.
itseasyforyou 3 years ago
What a Guy..
Politics aside a true Hero of his day..
stuartthegrant 3 years ago
Impressive, you have to recognize the worth of such warrior, even if he was a die hard nazi, you must admit and admire his dedication for his cause.
greenarcangel 3 years ago