On
14 January 1944, panzer ace Michael Wittmann was awarded the
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross)
along with his gunner, Bobby Woll, for their achievements which have so
far destroyed 88 enemy tanks. The presentation was made at Vinnitsa,
Ukraine, by his divisional commander SS-Oberführer Theodor "Teddy"
Wisch, who also nominated him for the Eichenlaub to his Ritterkreuz.
This picture shows Wittmann with his crew, from left to right.
SS-Panzerschütze Werner Irrgang (Funker), SS-Rottenführer Bobby Woll
(Richtschütze), SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (Zugführer in
13.Kompanie (schwere) / IV.Abteilung / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 /
1.SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"), SS- Panzerschütze
Sepp Rößner (Ladeschütze), and SS-Sturmmann Eugen Schmidt (Fahrer).
Behind them is Wittmann's Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger I Ausf.F "S04", with
88 victory rings on its barrel. Actually the Ritterkreuz recommendation
sent by Divisionskommandeur Wisch to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
(OKW) on 10 January 1944 "only" included Wittmann's winnings as 66
tanks, but something incredible happens: in the four day span between
the submission of the proposal to the official approval notification,
this tank master went berserk and destroyed no fewer than 22 additional
tanks to hoist his winning score to a total 88!
Source :
https://ww2images.blogspot.com/2019/02/ritterkreuz-award-ceremony-for-michael.html
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