Much of what is out there is rather mediocre. In all the interviews in which I have seen him in, Joe Ekins could not be more dissimilar to Wittmann. Meyers division had been whittled down from 214 to 48 serviceable panzers. His first experience in action came in the Polish Campaign, followed by the Battle of France as a commander of the new self-propelled assault guns, the Sturmgeschtz III Ausf. We compiled the top ten D-day movies. An accessible way to remind us of it of course. Subsequently he was trained as a commander of mechanised artillery. Against the Soviet and Western Allied production numbers, even a 10:1 kill ratio was not sufficient. It is not directly based on a single story. By early August 1944, Captain Wittmanns Tigers were battling units of the 4th Canadian and 1st Polish Armored Divisions as able, hard-fighting Lt. Gen. The first combat use of the Tiger II was by the 1st Company of the 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion (s.H.Pz.Abt. The soldiers dismounted, stretched their legs, and brewed tea. Tiger tank No. Choose from 4 Different Paper Sizes and 2 Background Styles: A) Paper Print - 12" x 8" (30.5 cm x 20.3 cm) Late on the 12th June, Wittmanns company arrived in the area of Villers-Bocage. Shop now while quantities last. Have you noticed a language or writing error? First steps Wittmann organised a counter attack and the British were attacked from behind and from the front and were trapped between the houses. They have always been something I have shown to friends..The detail is just incredible..All of my prints are signed and I thank you for thatI love them all,,the 109,,190..F-4U., and the P-51They are all beautiful.THANK YOU!!!!! "I just wanted to thank you again for the INCREDIBLE work you did. Wittmann was seconded to lead an assault gun platoon designated to protect the tanks from enemy infantry. The story of one of the most successful and decorated tank commanders of all time Contains maps, official documents, newspaper clippings, and orders of battle German Panzer ace Michael Wittmann was by far the most famous tank commander on any side in World War II, destroying 138 enemy tanks and 132 anti-tank guns with his Tiger. Finally they consumed invaluable resources such as fuel far beyond what German could provide. Ekins died on February 1, 2012, at the age of 88. Schwere Panzer-Kompanie, Leibstandarte SS Adolph Hitler, Koursk, USSR, July 1943.-Tiger I Ausf H, 13. The 27.5-ton Cromwells were outmatched by the Mark IV and V panzers. On 11th June 1944, he destroyed 15 tanks, 20 transport vehicles and 3 AT Guns in 20 minutes during the Battle of Villers-Bocage. "First,, you are a wonderful artistI purchased fifteen prints and it took a long time to find the right frames for them,,,,but now all 15 are hanging my house. Hitler: Was he complicit in the death of his half-niece Geli Raubal? Wittmann and gunner Woll, who also won the Knights Cross and the Iron Cross, were eventually credited with having destroyed 119 armored vehicles on the Eastern Front. 3 Troop Firefly, loosed two shots at the rear Tiger, and it brewed up. This saved him a lot of time and also allowed him to use the front armour of his tank. Use discount code DDAYINFO and get 10% discount on everything. He soon began a remarkable association with one of the most effective tanks of the war. He fought in virtually every type of German tank as loader, gunner and commander. It was probably about a dozen real battle tanks and about fifteen other armoured vehicles and trucks. Using anti-tank guns, PIAT rocket launchers, and sticky grenades at close quarters, infantrymen of the Royal Queens Regiment stalked an increased number of panzers and disabled 11 of them. He struck at midday on August 8 with Hitlerjugend Division panzers while General Simonds was getting ready to commit his Canadian 4th and Polish 1st Armored Divisions. The British threw his body into an anonymous mass grave and only after the war was Wittmann officially reburied in the German war cemetery in La Cambe. This article appears in: February 2023. In just fifteen minutes, he destroyed 27 Allied armoured vehicles, including a dozen tanks. Guy G. Simondss Second Canadian Corps attacked along the Caen-Falaise road during Operation Totalize. Michael Wittmann was a tank ace of the German army. On 8 August 1944, Anglo-Canadian forces launched Operation Totalize. The British tankers were glad to be on the advance. He soldiered against British Commonwealth troops and partisans in Greece until mid-1941 and then headed for another front where he was to come into his own as a warrior. During the night, the area came under heavy naval artillery fire. On Christmas Eve, 1942, Wittmann joined the 13th Company of the LSSAH 1st Waffen SS Motorized Division, which had been upgraded to a panzergrenadier division the previous autumn. In order to submit a comment to this post, please write this code along with your comment: 99be4e8ad1444dd990f31acb359f84a6, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). During the attack on Poland, Wittmann was part of the armoured reconnaissance unit of the Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler. In five minutes, the audacious Wittmann disabled 25 British armored vehicles, bringing his score of combat kills to an incredible 44. He called for help, and it was not far off. Michael Wittmann's tank number the day at Villers-Bocage was 222, his tank 205 had broken down on the road before the action. Realizing that his sector faced collapse before the weight of the Canadian corps, Meyer decided to launch a spoiling attack. He was posted as a machine gunner to the 3rd Company, 1st SS Totenkopf Infantry Regiment. Everything about the Tiger suggested excess. I feel as if I can run my fingers over the undulations on the aircraft's panels - the whole thing is so three-dimensional. At 10:35 am, the squadron radio sets went dead. I truly have no words, but rather a heart full of gratitude. Gaily dressed citizens cheered the surprised British troops, but the mutual joy was short lived. I have, of course, left good feedback for you but the space for writing a feedback comment isn't big enough to say everything I want to say. Michael Wittmann was simultaneously emblematic of German ardour and Nazi nihilism and will forever be conflated with the most impressive tank of WW2, the Panzer VI or Tiger 1 Tank. Wittmann was always surrounded by a hand-picked top-notch crew and, after Kursk in 1943, always had the most updated version of the Tiger tank. Wittmann and Woll. Wittmann decided to participate in this attack, as he believed the company commander who was supposed to lead the attack was too inexperienced. A professional soldier by profession, in October 1936 the 22-year-old Wittmann joined the Allgemeine-SS The Waffen SS. The Stuka Dive Bomber and the ME105 were both WAR tested in Spain. Wittmann led a group of seven Tiger tanks, from the Heavy SS-Panzer Battalion 101, supported by additional tanks and infantry. This was mainly as a result of intensive air activity by the Allied Airforce which prevented any daylight movement. Panzer IIIs with the 5 cm KwK 38 L/42 main armament could penetrate the sides of a T-34, but had to be very close. Thirty-seven tanks were knocked out, only a handful of men survived, and the Canadians were repulsed in savage fighting. A Rifle Brigade six-pounder gun hit three of the enemy tanks, but Wittmann and his panzers kept the upper hand, destroying a total of 25 British tanks, 14 half-tracks, and 14 Bren carriers. They were also an elite with their impressive black uniforms they certainly exuded an air of indomitability like the trusted tanks. After the Allied invasion the division moved to Normandy and arrived in the front area on June 12. ", "As a lifelong WWII aviation enthusiast, I can tell you Craig Tinder's work is outstanding! Around 12:20 pm, Meyer ordered Waldmuller and Wittmann to counterattack northward with all available resources. Subscribe to get special offers, free giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals. They had been given the objective of exploiting the gap in the frontline, seizing Villers-Bocage, and capturing the nearby ridge (Point 213) to attempt to force a German withdrawal. In late 1937, Wittmann received driver training, excelled in handling light and heavy armored cars, and joined the 17th Panzer Scout Company of the LSSAH. He was wounded twice but stayed with his unit. On July 7th and 8th, Wittmann destroyed two T-34s, two. Like most Nazis he despised the abilities of the Allied troops as being soft and in the case of the Russians stupid.. The fighting raged on until dark in Villers-Bocage, where the gallant, flamboyant Brigadier Hinde had frantically organized makeshift defenses. In May 1941 Henschel and Ferdinand Porsche were asked to submit designs for a 45 tonne heavy tank to be ready by June 1942. A real thinker who did not like to talk about his victories. Some German tank designers considered duplicating the T-34, but national pride overrode the idea. With the long range of the 88mm gun and the 100mm of frontal armour, it was both impervious to most Allied anti-tank guns whilst simultaneously keeping Allied tanks at bay with the long effective range of the 88mm gun being twice that of the Allied Tanks. The T-34 was almost immune frontally to every gun in German service except the 88 mm FlaK 18/36 gun. On July 18 the Leibstandarte was moved to Italy. Get it Nov 29 - Dec 20. The spearhead of the 7th Armored Division had been stopped cold. This item: HOOBEN 1/10 Tiger I Late Production Michael Wittmann Heavy Tank World WAR II RC RTR Model Hobby Yellow Version $ 1,900. Wittmann had established himself as the top-scoring panzer ace. The force comprised Cromwell and American-built Stuart light tanks, half-tracks, and Bren gun carriers of Lt. Col. Viscount Arthur Cranleys 4th County of London (Sharpshooters) Yeomanry, accompanied by men of the 1st Battalion of the Rifle Brigade. Photos from the ceremony show 88 "kill rings" on the tank's gun barrel. All in all it was an extremely impressive machine and even today, 70 years later, it still looks surprisingly modern and capable. Michael Wittmann took out no less then 21 enemy vehicles including, 6 cromwell tanks. After graduating from high school, the quiet, industrious boy worked on his fathers farm and served in the Reichsarbeitdienst (National Labor Corps) for the first six months of 1934. A) Paper Print - 12" x 8" (30.5 cm x 20.3 cm), C) Paper Print -24" x 16" (60.9 cm x 40.6 cm), D) Paper Print - 30" x 20" (76 cm x50.8 cm), Map Background (ghosted over a vintage WWII map). Purchase a framed print of the digital art "Michael Wittmann Tiger Tank 007 - Map Background" by Craig Tinder. In this regard, the Germans expected to easily win the war purely on their martial attributes. Wittamnn's Tiger broke down almost immediately and so, taking command of the . In 1943 Wittmann took part in the Battle of Kursk, the biggest tank battle of all time. The Allied landings on five Normandy beaches had gone well that fateful Tuesday morning, despite fierce initial German opposition on the British beaches and a bloody setback for the U.S. 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions at Omaha Beach. The Tiger brushed off salvos from two six-pounder antitank guns, killed the crew of a stalking Cromwell, and exchanged fire with another Cromwell. Maj. Gen. Wischs LSSAH Panzer Division was also now seriously understrength. More info? Who was active during the Battle of Normandy. Wittmanns company was reduced to six Tigers. Choose from multiple print sizes and hundreds of frame and mat options. A week after D-Day, Wittmann achieved his greatest success. Moving off from the cover of a hedge near Les Jardinets, east of the Caen road, Wittmanns four Tigers rumbled north-northwest. There, and at Kharkov to the south, Wittmann assumed command of a company of Tigers and put 30 Red Army tanks and 28 guns out of action. The first theory, however, is the most consistent with both eyewitness accounts and official Allied and German archives. The 30-year-old Wittmann made propaganda tours during the early spring of 1944 and visited the Henschel und Sohn armaments plant in Kassel. Historians argued for decades over who killed the Black Baron after the Canadian army, Polish forces and the RAF each claimed credit. Wittmann would however play no further role in the Battle of Villers-Bocage. My brother contends that he can think of only one scenario where the Axis could have won WW2 and that is if Spain had entered the war. After invading Russia, the German armies had made spectacular advances against the unready Red Army and pushed close to the gates of Moscow. But they soon ran into concentrated resistance as the Germans swiftly drew the bulk of their panzer groups to the Bayeux-Caen-Falaise area, where the bocage countrya patchwork of small fields hemmed in by sunken roads, ditches, and thick embankmentsstrongly favored defense and hindered the Allied advance. His Tiger was hit with anti-tank shells by either British or Canadian tanks. In just fifteen minutes, he destroyed 27 Allied armoured vehicles, including a dozen tanks. It was only superior German tactics that overcame superior enemy armour but it was a wake-up call. After encountering the French Char B and the British Matilda 1 Tanks in action, the OKW came to a fundamental realisation: The PzKpfws I and II were useless and even their PzKpfw III and IV were outclassed by the Allied Tanks. Through a combination of good vehicle control, tactical insight and guts, he was hard to beat on the battlefield. Wittmanns panzer closed in around 12:40 pm, and the Firefly started shooting. With the start of Operation Barbarossa (Invasion of USSR), Wittmann and his tank 007 (yes James Bond's code number) saw action in the. Wittmann destroyed thirty tanks, 28 armoured guns and two batteries of artillery. Thanks for doing such great work, the plaques will be cherished and appreciated for many years to come.On a slightly different note, I ordered a print of my dad's plane, it should arrive tomorrow, I look forward to seeing it too and am sure it will be every bit as fantastic as the plaques are, I plan to check out more of your work, maybe there will be other prints I will want as well.Thanks again for all you have done and continue to do. But the furious day had belonged to the Germans, and the undergunned 7th Armored Division was ordered to pull back. Sip some coffee or wear your favorite t-shirt! There aren't many times in life when you buy something for a very modest amount of money and then find yourself speechless with admiration when it arrives but this is one of those times. An officer reported, Here we are in this first week of battle, exploiting a possible breakthrough with very little opposition, an armored brigade in front and the infantry coming along in lorries. After his holiday, during which he got married on 1 March, Wittmann reported to SS Panzerabteilung 101, which was then stationed in Belgium, as commander of the second company. His most significant achievement was in the Battle of Villers-Bocage, where Wittmann single-handedly attacked an entire Allied army convoy. Wittmann first saw action as such in the summer of 1941 as commander of a Sturmgeschtz III during the invasion of Greece. Early that June, Wittmann and the LSSAH armored formations were shipped eastward to prepare for Operation Barbarossa, the German Armys massiveand ill-fatedinvasion of Russia. It is worth every penny just for the fantastic photos depicting the men, the Tiger Tanks and the shots of everyday life in a Tiger tank Battalion. ~ Semper Fi,". A year later, he participated in the occupation of Austria and the Sudetenland with an armoured car platoon. I really was stunned by the quality of both the artwork and the printing. About 1,350Tiger tanks were produced in total, between August 1942 and August 1944. Both of Ayers grandfather fought during the Second World War. The Greek campaign Operation Marita was launched in April 1941. After an apprenticeship as an electrician, he reported on 15 August 1941 as a volunteer for the Waffen SS. Wittmann and his four crewmen perished in the inferno. Early on the morning of Tuesday, June 13, 1944, a spearhead tank-infantry column of Brigadier Hindes brigade advanced six miles behind the enemy lines and rolled unopposed into Villers-Bocage. Craig's attention to detail & accuracy is fantastic. By clicking Ok, you consent to their use. "Dear Craig, I have received a copy of your magnificent print of a F4U in U.S.S. Rated an excellent gunner, Woll was able to fire accurately while the panzer was on the move. The 75mm shells failed to pierce the panzers armor, but nevertheless caused damage, and it veered off erratically and ground to a halt near the main road. Follow Acesinaction.com to find out the next event Craig Tinder will be exhibiting at in order to meet the artist and score show-only deals on Limited Edition Artwork. One half-track was struck with such force that it was hurled, blazing, across the road. They went right through the upper hull of his tank, and the ammunition caught fire, killing Wittmann and his men. Michael Wittmann receives as decoration, among others, the medal of the assault in Panzer, for having destroyed six Soviet tanks during a single engagement in September. After his unit was transferred to Mons, Belgium, Wittmann took time to marry his sweetheart, Hildegard Burmeister, on March 1, 1944. Best wishes to you and yours and I do hope that I can meet with you soon. At approximately 09:00 Wittmanns Tiger emerged from cover onto the main road, Route Nationale 175, and engaged the rearmost British tanks positioned on Point 213, destroying them. What exactly is the meaning of D-day, what was its origin and reason for being and what is the term still used for today. Learn more about the process and the history of these one-of-a-kind collectibles. The front was still close enough to the sea for this to occur. On June 12, as part of Montys second all-out attempt to reach Caen, Erskines division rolled through a thinly held gap in the enemy lines between Caumont and Villers-Bocage. Opinions are divided as to how many there really were. Waiting behind the crest were Wittmanns panzers and a strong infantry force. The Story Behind the Print:Black BaronPanzer VI - Tiger IMichael WittmannThis item is printed on demand and typically requires 2-3 days for printing prior to shipment. In total the British lost thirty tanks, the Germans, who were still being reinforced, eleven, most of which could be recovered. Their apparent lack of concern amazed gunner Woll, who said, Theyre acting as if theyd won the war already. His commander replied, Were going to prove them wrong! The Tiger lumbered along the towns narrow main street and knocked out three Stuart tanks of the 4th CLYs reconnaissance troop, four headquarters tanks halted on the eastern outskirts, and two unarmed command tanks of the 5th Royal Horse Artillery Regiment. The closely packed British column rumbled through the town and headed for Hill 213, dominating the national highway leading to Caen. SS tanker Michael Wittmann became the most famous armor ace of World War II and died in the process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1fUuTvsuXA, This Day in History: 6th June 1944 D-Day, http://thecasualobserver.co.za/day-history-6th-june-1944-d-day/, http://thecasualobserver.co.za/stalin-abandoned-death-bed/, The Narvik Landings Fiasco: In its wake why was its progenitor Churchill appointed as Prime Minister, http://thecasualobserver.co.za/narvik-landings-fiasco-wake-progenitor-churchill-appointed-prime-minister/. For this he was awarded the Iron Cross. He destroyed about 156 enemy tanks, about 200 pieces of artillery and about 300 small army vehicles. Michael Wittman achieved most of his successes with a Tiger I tank. It was exciting to be on the move at such a pace. 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