Michael Wittmann: WAFFEN SS "Tanks" 3/5

Michael Wittmann WAFFEN SS "Tanks"

Videos Running Time 00:47:00 in 5 Parts

Tanks: " Aces: Michael Wittmann " 3 of 5

This episode of Tanks chronicles the exploits of SS-Hauptsturmführer Michael Wittmann (1914-1944)

Michael Wittmann's later actions are known to most readers in Normandy campaign. However, Wittmann began his career as a tank ace in actually an assault gun; the StuG III. In the Ukraine Whitmann found success with the StuG III against T-34's. He was credited with several victories during this time. On July 12, 1941, Wittmann received the first of many awards; the Iron Cross Second Class. When asked, at the presentation of the medal, if he had any special requests, Wittmann requested that a T-34 crew be given treatment afforded any brave soldier. His request was granted. Whitmann was awarded the; Iron Cross First Class on September 8th, 1941. Wittmann, his crew, and their StuG III nicknamed "Buzzard" were quickly making a name for themselves fighting against superior T-34/76.

On December 20th 1942 Wittmann completed the Officer Training course at Bad Tölz. He was commissioned a SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant) and assigned to Heavy Panzer Replacement Battalion 500. Wittmann checked out in a long-barreled PzKw IV. Soon after Wittmann began training in the weapon that would make him famous; the PzKw VI "Tiger." As fortune would have it, he was paired with an excellent crew. One the soon to be best gunners in the Waffen-SS, Rottenführer Balthasar "Bobby" Woll first met Wittmann during this training. With Whitmann, Woll, loader Rottenführer Karl Berges, driver Rottenführer Gustav 'Gustl' Kirschmer and gunner/radio operator Rottenführer Herbert Pollmann the Waffen-SS had assembled one of the best tank crews in history.

Whitmann returned to the Russian Front assigned to 1 SS Panzer Grenadier "Leibstandarte." Whitmann was assigned to first a PzKw III J, but soon received command of a Tiger. During Operation "Zitadelle" (Kursk) Wittmann is credited with 30 victories and 28 anti-tank guns. Wittmann was awarded the Knight's Cross.

The famed battle that took place near Villers-Bocage. Wittmann single handedly blunt a large British offensive attempting capture Caen. In this action Whitmann destroyed 22 British armored vehicles

August 8th 1944 would be Wittmann's last battle. Wittmann's last crew consisted of; SS-Unterscharführer Karl Wagner as gunner, SS-Sturmmann Günther Weber as loader, SS-Unterscharführer Heinrich Reimers as driver, and SS-Sturmmann Rudolf 'Rudi' Hirscheas bow machine gunner and radio operator. Much controversy has surrounded Wittmann's death. Both Polish and British unit claim destroying his Tiger.

Wittmann's remains were located in 1982 and buried in France in 1983 at the Germany cemetery at La Cambe in Normandy

Enjoy this excellent episode of TANKS!!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Tank
• Panzer
• Michael
• Wittmann
• Waffen
• SS
• WaffenSS
• Tiger
• German
• Germany
• Normandy
• D-Day
• World
• War
• Armor
• PanzerVI
• 7.92
• 88mm

[arakl14]

why they have not made a movie of this super man, god knows, ? probably hollywood dont like blonde heroes...

[Krylogenic]

If you notice the expert knowit all always has the reason Micheal Wittmans succesess were becaus of luck, Sorry no such thing! And commenting that his tallys are high because of their poor quality, Bull the t 34 were super good tanks and Wittman was not lucky it was skill and the combination of his skills and bobby Voll that was what kept them alive and the rest of the crew were excellent and they took care of their Tiger. Micheal was a great assault tank commander also.

[dominic150]

@teutonalex Its actually " personal body gaurds" of Adolf Hitler. thus the name Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler upon thier creation.

[larsulrich3356]

@jericoparazo Yeah, and Hans Ulrich Rudel, Johannes Steinhoff and Erich Hartmann.

[ToonandBBfan]

@jericoparazo

I agree and by doing so he always kept the Tigers frontal armour pointed at the enemy. The guy knew what he was doing thats for sure.

[MrKirmajerelod]

@Arsennij why you have to disregard his belong to SS

[87SPECTRUM]

@ReaperCoffee Germany lost the war with the failure of Fall Blau... A victory at Kursk would only have posponed the inevitable defeat.

[ReaperCoffee]

strange ??? if germans would've won at the Kurks they would've won the war. Why are you talking about lucky bastard who simply took longer to die than others :)))

[brownsey1]

@0willsy01 Here bud we've gone on long enough! You believe one thing, I believe the other. But I'm not saying the tank did that kind of damage. It's not as if the 17 pound round hit the tank and then it exploded instantly. It was the internal explosion caused by the ammo and fuel igniting after the tank round hit it that did the damage. That's a highly plausible thing to happen. And I'm in no way biased. I've no affiliation with either side. As I said I'm just interested in the history is all

[SuperDekapitator]

fajne :)