Wittmann, Michael 'Michl' (Waffen SS)

Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger

Date of birth:: April 22nd, 1914 (Vogelthal-Upper Palatinate/Bavaria, Germany)
Date of death:: August 8th, 1944 (Gaumesnil, near Cintheaux, Normandy, France)
Buried on:: German War Cemetery La Cambe
Plot: 47. Row: 3. Grave: 120.
Service number:: SS-Nr.: 311.623 // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:: German

Biography

Credited with a final total of 138 tanks and 132 AT guns destroyed.

Promotions:
01.11.1935: Gefreiter
01.11.1936: SS-Anwärter
01.04.1937: SS-Mann
11.11.1937: SS-Sturmmann
20.04.1939: SS-Unterscharführer
09.11.1941: SS-Oberscharführer
21.12.1942: SS-Untersturmführer
30.01.1944: SS-Obersturmführer
21.06.1944: SS-Hauptsturmführer

Career:
00.02.1934-00.08.1934: FAD - Freiwillige Arbeitsdienst
00.10.1934-00.00.1937: Gefreiter, 10. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 19, Freising
01.10.1936: joined the SS
01.11.1936: 1. Sturm, 92. SS-Standarte, Ingolstadt
01.04.1937: joined the SS-VT
05.04.1937: SS-Mann, SS-Standarte Leibstandarte-SS „Adolf Hitler"
09.11.1937: SS-Sturmmann, Feldherrnhalle, Munich
00.03.1938: SS-Sturmmann, Panzerspäh-Kompanie, SS-Standarte Leibstandarte-SS „Adolf Hitler" - campaign in Austria
00.10.1938: campaign in the Sudetes
00.09.1939: SS-Uscha, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung, SS-Standarte LAH, SS-VT - campaign in Poland
00.05.1940: SS-Uscha, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung, SS-Standarte LAH, SS-VT - campaign in the West, Rotterdam, Dunkerque, France, Somme, Marne, Flandres
00.04.1941: SS-Uscha, Panzerkommandant, Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. A, SS-Sturmgeschütz-Batterie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment (mot.) LAH - Campaign in the Balkans
00.06.1941: campaign in Russia - destroyed 6 out of 8 attacking Soviet T34/76 tanks
04.06.1942-05.09.1942: SS-Junker, SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
00.12.1942-00.01.1943: Tiger I familiarization and training at Panzer training grounds,
Coëtquidan, Ploermel, France
00.01.1943: SS-Ustuf, Panzerkommandant, Tiger I, 13. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"
00.07.1943: first day of Operation Zitadelle, Kursk Offensive, destroyed 8 Soviet tanks and 7 artillery pieces; by the end of the offensive, added 30 tanks mostly T34/76's & KV I's and 28 artillery pieces to his score
00.00.1943: SS-Ustuf, Zugführer, 13.(schwere) Tiger-Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1,
1. SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"
00.10.1943: knocked out 10 tanks in one action, bringing his tally to 66
16.01.1944: destroyed 16 T34/85
00.04.1944: SS-Ostuf, Chef, 1.(schwere) Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101/501, I. SS-Panzer-Korps
12.06.1944: SS-Ostuf, Kompaniechef, 1. Kompanie, Schweren SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101/501 - Villers-Bocage, Normandie
00.06.1944: refused to be sent as Lehrer, Panzertruppenschule
08.08.1944: SS-Hstuf, KIA when his Tiger Nr. 007 was destroyed by 5 US M4 Sherman ivo Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil, Gaumesnil, Cintheaux on the road from Caen to Falaise and burried unnamed on the spot
00.03.1983: identificated and reburried in La Cambe with his Tiger Nr. 007 crew:
- SS-Uscha Karl Wagner (o31.05.1920 in Eppisburg), gunner
- SS-Sturmmann Günther Weber (o21.12.1924 in Sprockhövel), loader
- SS-Uscha Heinrich Reimers (o11.05.1924 in Schnepke), driver
- SS-Sturmmann Rudolf « Rudi » Hirschel (o03.01.1924 in Gleiwitz), radio operator and gunner

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Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938

Rank:: SS-Sturmman (Private 1st Class)
Unit:: 17. Sturm, SS-Standarte Leibstandarte-SS "Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:: 1939

Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938

Rank:: SS-Sturmman (Private 1st Class)
Unit:: 17. Sturm, SS-Standarte Leibstandarte-SS "Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:: 1939

Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:: SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung, SS-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:: July 12th, 1941

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:: SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung, SS-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:: August 20th, 1941

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:: SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung, SS-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:: September 8th, 1941

Voenen Orden "Za Hrabrost" IV stepen, 2 klas

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: 1941

Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:: SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung, SS-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:: November 21st, 1941

After 25 kills

Silver version.

Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:: SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung, SS-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:: August 1942

Cross to the Order for Bravery 2nd Class

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:: SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung, SS-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:: August 1942

SS-Dienstauszeichnung 4.Stufe (4 Jahre)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: November 1940

Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: December 1942

SS-Ehrenring

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: 1943

Wehrmachtbericht

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Awarded on:: January 13th, 1944

SS-Untersturmführer Wittmann in a SS-Panzerdivision on January 9 destroyed his 66th enemy tank with his "Tiger"-tank on the eastern front.

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:: Zugführer, 13.(schwere) Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:: January 14th, 1944

Wittmann's Knight's Cross recommendation reads as follows...
"SS-Hstuf. Pfeiffer, Führer headquarters, with request for delivery to SS-Obergruppenführer Dietrich, subject:
Awarding of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross to SS-Untersturmführer Wittmann, Michael, Zugführer in 13.(s)/SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH on 8 and 9/1/1944 for outstanding bravery during penetration by Russian Tank Brigade near Sherepki (see daily report). 56 tanks destroyed himself as platoon commander from July 1943 to 7/1/1944, several KV-1, KV-2, Shermans, the rest T-34s.
On 8/1/1944, following penetration by Russian Tank Brigade, stopped attack with his platoon and himself destroyed 3 T-34s and 1 assault gun. Another 6 T-34s during another armoured were also destroyed; thus 10 by him alone. Now 66 tanks destroyed. Personal info SS Untersturmführer Wittmann, Michael, position: SS Officer, unmarried. Born 22/4/14 in Vogelthal, Upper Pfalz. Father: Johann Wittmann, Ingolstadt, Danube, Baselstr. 34 Decorations: EK I, EK II, Wound Badge Black, Tank Battle Badge Silver.
Signed Wisch, SS Oberführer and Division Commander of the 1st SS-Panzer-Division LSSAH."

2571st Award.

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:: Zugführer, 13.(schwere) Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:: January 30th, 1944

Awarded the Oakleaves after raising his total of destroyed tanks to 114. He was particularly successful on two days in early 1944...
13.01.1944, where he destroyed 19 T-34s and 3 heavy assault guns and thus raised his total to 88 tanks destroyed.
06.02.1944, where as part of the relief efforts towards Cherkassy he destroyed 9 tanks.

380st Award.

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Unit:: Chef, 2. Kompanie, schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:: June 22nd, 1944

Awarded after his famous rampage in Villers-Bocage, where he destroyed 13-14 tanks, 2 AT guns and 13-15 other vehicles. By his actions this day he played a decisive role in halting the advance of the 7. Armoured Division.

71st Award.

Sources

Photo 1: Wilco Vermeer
Photo 2:
Photo 3: Lennard Bolijn
- MOONEY, PETER, Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles, Schiffer Military History, 2016.
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GüNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
- wittmann michael.JPG.
- wittmann michael.JPG1.JPG.
- wittmann michael.JPG2.JPG.
- wittmann michael.JPG4.JPG.
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- Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
- Federl, C., Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Panzerdivisionen 1939-1945, VDM Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken, Germany, 2000
- Agte, P., Michael Wittmann and the Tiger Commanders of the Leibstandarte, J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing Inc., Winnipeg, Canada, 2005
- Levèvre, E., Panzers in Normandy - Then and Now, After the Battle 1983, Battle of Britain International Limited, London, England, 2002
- Butler, R., SS-Leibstandarte – The History of the First SS Division 1933-45, MBI Publishing Company, St. Paul, U.S.A., 2001
- Helden der Wehrmacht, Sammelband (Miscellany), FZ-Verlag GmbH, München, Deutschland, 2000
- Berger, F., Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern – Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges, Selbstverlag Florian Berger, Wien, Österreich, 2002/03
- Axis Biographical Research
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