Wittmann, Michael
- 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. - Nationality:
- German (1933-1945, German Reich)
Biography
Credited with a final total of 138 tanks and 132 AT guns destroyed.
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Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Sturmmann (Lance Corporal)
- Unit:
- 17. / Leibstandarte-SS "Adolf Hitler"
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Sturmmann (Lance Corporal)
- Unit:
- 17. / Leibstandarte-SS "Adolf Hitler"
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Unterscharführer (Junior Sergeant)
- Unit:
- Sturmgeschützabteilung / SS-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler"
- Awarded on:
- July 12th, 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Unterscharführer (Junior Sergeant)
- Unit:
- Sturmgeschützabteilung / SS-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"
- Awarded on:
- August 20th, 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Unterscharführer (Junior Sergeant)
- Unit:
- Sturmgeschützabteilung / SS-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"
- Awarded on:
- September 8th, 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)
- Unit:
- Sturmgeschützabteilung / SS-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"
- Awarded on:
- November 21st, 1941
After 25 "victims"
Details:
Silver version.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)
- Unit:
- Sturmgeschützabteilung / 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:
- Sturmgeschützabteilung / SS-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"
- Awarded on:
- August 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- 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.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Zugführer 13.(schwere) / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"
- Awarded on:
- January 14th, 1944
Action:
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."
Details:
2571st Award.
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."
Details:
2571st Award.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Zugführer 13.(schwere) / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"
- Awarded on:
- January 30th, 1944
Action:
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.
Details:
380st Award.
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.
Details:
380st Award.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Chef 2. / schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"
- Awarded on:
- June 22nd, 1944
Action:
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.
Details:
71st Award.
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.
Details:
71st Award.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
- Photo 2: Jeroen Koppes
- Photo: Wilco Vermeer (portrait)
- Tessa de Jong (grave) - - MOONEY, PETER, Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles, Schiffer Military History, 2016.
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
- Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
- 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
- Lexikon-der-Wehrmacht.de
- Wikipedia.org
- Panzerace.net
- Achtungpanzer.com
- Waffenhq.de
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