Michael Wittman

[magda]

There's a nice site about Michael Wittmann:

http://www.panzerace.net

[Matt Weber]

Its' a shame that Mike was killed during the war. I think it would have been more interesting hearing about his exploits from himself. Too many of his exploits now are told from 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th hand accounts! So we really don't know exactly what he and his crew all went through.

I also think that it is both ironic and amazing, that on the day that he was killed, he was fighting along with the 12th SS panzer division. The 12th SS division commander at that time, the infamous Kurt "Panzer" Meyer, actually climbed on top of Wittmanns' Tiger to speak with him, and wish him "good luck". Meyer knew that in this counter attack that Wittmann and his panzers were going to be out numbered by almost 10-1. Even knowing that Wittmann and his fellow SS panzer crews were able to not only stop the British and Canadian attack, but was able to push them back and hold them for another day. Even though the cost was high, and they had lost thier greatest tank ace, it was still an amazing feat non the less!

Matt

[Michael Root]

the infamous Kurt "Panzer" Meyer

"infamous".....An unfortunate title given to a honorable warrior.

[jeremiahcable]

Does anyone know...

what happened to Wittmann's first gunner from the Eastern Front, Balthasar (Bobby) Woll? I have been under the impression for years that he later got his own tank to command. Does anyone know what happened to him?

Thanks,
Jeremiah

[Michael Root]

Woll, was sent on medical leave by Wittman on Aug 2, which probably saved his life. (not 100% sure, but I think he was captured by the Americans in October)

He died in 96

[Matt Weber]

Yes, that is correct. Balthasar "Bobby" Woll was sent on medical leave on Aug 2, 1944, due to injuries received during July by Wittmann. He did not return until Aug 26th. Wittmann was killed on August 8, 1944.
Wittmann did not have his usually tank during this battle. He was given Tiger tank number 007, which belonged to Stabs Company. This was a command tank, which held 30 less rounds in it, and was fitted with extra radio equiptment for air-to-ground communications. (don't know why they needed that in Normandy, since the Luftwaffe barely showed up! )
Wittmann was reluctant to tank this tank, but had little choice due to the shortage of vehicles at that time.
Wittmann also did not have his usual crew. Bobby Woll was gone on leave.

His usual crew was as follows:
Bobby Woll, Hans Hoflinger, Georg Lotzsch, and Karlheinz Warmbrunn.

The crew he had on the day he was killed were as follows:
Karl Wagner-gunner, Gunther Weber-loader, Heinrich Reimers-driver, and Rudolf Hirschel-radio operator/machine gunner.

Matt

[jeremiahcable]

Thanks for the information

Mike and Matt,
Thanks for the information on Bobby Woll. That was something I has always wondered about.

Thanks,
Jeremiah

[Michael Root]

Anyone know the fates of Hans Hoflinger, Georg Lotzsch, and Karlheinz Warmbrunn?

[Greg]

Hoeflinger, Loetzsch, and Warmbrunn

According to Agte's book on Wittmann, Hoeflinger and Warmbrunn were part of the element of s.SS-Pz.Abt. 501 that was left without tanks at Schloss Holte in Germany in December 1944. They eventually made their way to the main part of the battalion and took part in the final battles in Hungary and Austria and surrendered to the Americans. Warmbrunn was in a US POW camp at Darmstadt in the summer of '45.

I don't think that any of these guys are still alive. Agte told me in a letter a couple of years ago that at that time Werner Wendt was the only former SS-101/501 tank commander still living.

Regards,
Greg

[michael kenny]

The aberdeen repaints followed the original scheme VERY CLOSELY. When you compare the Jagftiger, Jagdpanther and Sturmtiger with photos of them just after capture you can see very small areas where the camo is different. Tomas Chory had a book with lots of early post war colour photos of all the German AFV's as does the MBI book German Tanks Of WWII In Colour. I found photos of the Sturmtiger in transit and the original scheme is not the one shown in later pics. Visit Third Reich Forum, go to the Modelling Section and halfway down page 2 of this section is a thread on Tiger II 332. It has a photo and a link to Missing Links. Wendt is still alive and though Agte may have been friendly with him in the past some very dubious dealings by Agte in regards to a manuscript Wendt wrote about sSS PzAbt 101 meant an end to this friendship!.

[Jon]

Wittmann's crews...

Georg Lotzsch, Hans Hoflinger and Karl-Heinz Warmbrunn were never part of Wittmann's crew. These men were all Tiger Commanders of their own Tigers.

Georg Lotzsch had his own Tiger since July 1943. Hans Hoflinger since November 1943 and Karl-Heinz Warmbrunn had his own Tiger in June of 1944.

Michael Wittmann had several crews since getting his own Tiger shortly before the Kursk Offensive in July of 1943. For instance, here is his crew in January of 1944 when he won the Knight's Cross:

Balthasar Woll -Gunner
Josef Rossner -Loader
Eugen Schmidt -Driver
Werner Irrgang- Radio Operator

His crew in June of 1944:

There is debate on who was his Gunner at Villers-Bocage. Balthasar Woll at this time was assigned as the Commander of his own Tiger Tank. Apparently Woll's Tiger was out of action for repairs so it is said that Wittmann took Woll as his Gunner. I am unsure. But if he was, here it is:

Balthasar Woll -Gunner ???
Gunther Boldt -Loader
Walter Muller -Driver
Gunther Jonas -Radio Operator

His crew in August of 1944:

Karl Wagner -Gunner
Gunther Weber -Loader
Heinrich Reimers -Driver
Rudolf Hirschel -Radio Operator

In June of 1944 Wittmann was the Commander of the 2nd Kompanie of sSSPzAbt 101. In July, he took over as Commander of sSSPzAbt 101. It would be normal for Wittmann to be using a "Command Tank" as he was the Abteilung Commander.

Michael Wittmann was an excellent tank commander. It was said that he had a natural talent to sense things on the battlefield. But he was also human, he was not immortal. He could also get worn out and stressed.

The circumstances that led to Wittmann's death were simple. His luck had run out. It was his time to go. His column of Tigers were advancing across an open field when they were spotted by a troop of tanks from A Squadron of the Northamptonshire Yeomanry. There was a Sherman Firefly there commanded by a Sergeant Gordon. The Gunner was Trooper Joe Ekins. They engaged and knocked out most of the Tigers. One of them was Wittmann's. It is that simple.

I hope this helps!!!

Cheers,

Jon

[translator]

Jon (and All),

There are quite a number of versions as to how Michael Wittmann's Tiger was knocked out. For obvious reasons, many Allied tankers claimed credit for this particular "kill". However, there is published evidence indicating that Wittmann's Tiger was, in fact, destroyed by a rocket fired from the air which penetrated the more vulnerable rear armour of the Tiger and detonated the tank's ammunition supply. The ensuing explosion lifted the Tiger's turret and deposited it a good distance away from the body of the tank itself. My reference materials are not in front of me at present, but I will continue this thread later today by citing them in greater detail.

[J Melvin]

Another Theory

During my trip to Normandy last year, I visited the gravesite of Wittman. My guide was a retired British Colonel that lived in Bayeux. He related another story to me as to how Wittman's tank blew up. Seems quite plausible since the turret erupted off the tank. Simply, the gunner dropped a round in the compartment and it detonated. New gunner for an experienced commander with a KC winning gunner out of commission. The new gunner, in his haste made a mistake and blew up the tank himself. This story came from a Frenchman who witnessed the encounter according to my guide. He said that Wittman's tank was never hit.

Below is the gravesite of Michael Wittman and his crew. The Germans typically buried their fallen combatants in single graves. However, when the remains were unidentifiable, they were put into one.

[michael kenny]

Wittmann myths

There are indeed a number of versions of Wittmanns demise. However the attack in which he was killed was witnessed by surviving members of sSS PzAbt. 101. From their accounts it is clear no aircraft were involved. We have also got evidence from British War Diaries and it is beyond any (reasonable) dispute that a single Firefly did nearly all the damage. Tiger groupies may not like it but it was, in the end, a Sherman that got him and up to 5 of his companions. Remember that not everything you read on a Wittmann site is 'the truth' . As far as is known the only tank kills for Wittmann in Normandy were 1 Firefly, 5 Cromwells, 2 Stuarts, 1 Sherman OP and 1 Cromwell OP. 10 tanks in total.

[J Melvin]

A Sherman take one of these bad boys out??? Never!!!!