Michael Wittmann with His Tank Commanders

 

Panzer ace Michael Wittmann with his men from 2.Kompanie / Schwere SS-Panzer-Abtailung 101 during training in Northern France, May 1944. From left to right: SS-Unterscharführer Kurt Kleber (Tiger "232"), SS-Hauptscharführer Hans Höflinger (Tiger "213"), SS -Oberscharführer Georg Lötzsch (Tiger "233"), SS-Obersturmführer Michael Wittmann (Chef 2.Kompanie. Tiger "205"), SS-Unterscharführer Karl-Heinz Warmbrunn (Tiger "214"), and SS-Unterscharführer Balthasar "Bobby" Woll (Tiger "212"). They were all tank commanders in the second company and - with the exception of Kompaniechef Wittmann - all of them wore camouflage uniforms of the new SS-Erbsenmuster type (pea-dot pattern). The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Scheck of PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) 698.

From left to right: SS-Obersturmführer Michael Wittmann (Chef 2.Kompanie / schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101. Tiger "205"), SS-Unterscharführer Karl-Heinz Warmbrunn (blocked by Wittmann, Tiger "214"), SS-Hauptscharführer Hans Höflinger (Tiger "213"), SS-Oberscharführer Georg Lötzsch (Tiger "233"), SS-Unterscharführer Balthasar "Bobby" Woll (Tiger "212"), and SS-Unterscharführer Kurt Kleber (tidak terlihat disini, Tiger "232").

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2012/08/album-foto-michael-wittmann.html
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-299-1802-05,_Nordfrankreich,_Michael_Wittmann,_Panzersoldaten.jpg

Bio of Oberstleutnant Karl Roßmann

 

Karl Roßmann (November 23, 1916 in Kempten - April 1, 2002 in Bad Kreuznach).

He joined Flak-Regiment 5 on April 1, 1936 as a Fahnenjunker (Officer Cadet). On September 1, 1937, he was transferred as Oberfähnrich to the II.Bataillon (Flak) / Regiment "General Göring". He was promoted to Leutnant on April 1, 1938. In the summer of 1939, he and his unit were dispatched to the Führer's Headquarters, where they provided anti-aircraft cover for Adolf Hitler's trips to the front lines. On April 1, 1940, he was promoted to Oberleutnant and in early 1941 went on to command the 16th Battery of the Flak-Regiment Hermann Göring.

On August 2, 1941, as the Battle of Uman came to an end, the encircled Soviet forces attempted a desperate breakout at night. One of the German units on their way, located between Uman and Slatopol near the town of Swerdlikowo, was the Batterie Roßmann along with a handful of infantry, including troops from the SS "Wiking" Division. This small force, under the command of Roßmann himself, was able to withstand all attacks for 14 hours and thus played an important role in ensuring the destruction of the trapped 6th, 12th and elements of the 18th Soviet Armies. For this act he would receive the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 12 November 1941.

In late 1941, he and his unit were transferred to France. On July 1, 1942, he was promoted to Hauptmann (captain) and appointed Commander of the I. Abteilung of the Panzer Regiment Hermann Göring. With this unit he fought in Sicily and later in Italy. On January 1, 1944 he was promoted to Major and in June 1944 he was appointed Commander of the Reconnaissance Detachment "Hermann Göring". But already in October 1944 he took over the former I. Abteilung from him in the Fallschirm-Panzer-Regiment "Hermann Göring". His next employment was in East Prussia, at the Russian bridgehead on the Vistula near Warka. On February 1, 1945, as Major and Commander of Fallschirm-Panzer-Regiments 1, he received the Eichenlaub for the Ritterkreuz. On March 1, 1945 he was promoted to Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel). Towards the end of the war, Roßmann and his unit withdrew across the Oder and Neiße rivers and surrendered to American forces to avoid capture by the Red Army.

Roßmann died on April 1, 2002 in Bad Kreuznach


Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=102216&sid=aa75913a32b3fb9003dcd601cd579d01
https://reibert.info/media/karl-rossmann-jpg.323359/

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony for Panzer Ace Michael Wittmann

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

Eichenlaub Award Ceremony for Panzer Ace Otto Carius

Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Oberrhein) awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #535 to Oberleutnant der Reserve Otto Carius from schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502. The picture was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Ege on 2 January 1945 at the outskirts of Salzburg (Austria). The ceremony was quite extraordinary because Carius had already received the announcement of his award from 27 July 1944, but the ceremony was postponed until five months later! This is because the panzer ace was seriously injured by a multiple shot in the seven parts of his body (including the neck!) only a few days before he suppsosedly received the Eichenlaub, so he had to be taken to the intensive care for months at Feldlazarett (Field Hospital). Carius received the news of his award through newspapers when lying weak on the bed, and was only able to walk with his feet in September 1944. When this photograph was taken, he was no longer in charge of schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502 but had already been transferred to Panzer-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Abteilung 500. Another interesting fact is that the handed-over ceremony was performed by Himmler, whereas the Eichenlaub-grade medal ceremony and above was usually attended by Hitler directly. This is because from the end of 1944 the Führer began to restrict his public activities - along with the deterioration of the war situation - so that such activities were then represented to his closest confidants such as Himmler and Göring. Carius dedicated a chapter about this moment in his book 'Tigers in the Mud': "My first impressions of this man, whom his opponents called a 'bloodhound', had really pleasantly surprised me. I wasn't apprehensive about the upcoming 'cozy' conversation anymore. I described my visit with Heinrich Himmler in such detail, because he really surprised me. After the conversation in his staff headquarters , I gathered some hope for a successful conclusion to the war. That was after I had already considered a defeat almost certain."

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/36771/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/

Ritterkreuzträger Heinrich Becker from Panzer-Regiment 31

Leutnant Heinrich Becker (23 January 1914 - 17 February 1960) received Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses) in 15 March 1943 as Oberfeldwebel and Zugführer in 8.Kompanie / II.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 31 / 5.Panzer-Division / 2.Panzerarmee / Heeresgruppe Mitte.

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2009/04/daftar-lengkap-peraih-ritterkreuz-b.html

Panzer Ace Kurt Knispel from sPz.Abt.503

The schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 detraining in France in early July 1944. In the center of this image we see one of the battalion’s top scorers, Unteroffizier Kurt Knispel.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/110813881377/the-schwere-panzer-abteilung-503-detraining-in

Michael Wittmann and his Crew in Normandy

“Behind the scenes” footage with SS-Hauptsturmführer Michael Wittmann and his crew in Normandy taken after he was awarded Swords to his Knight’s Cross for his action on 13 June 1944, near Villers-Bocage, where the panzer ace led the most lethal tank attack against the British 7th Armoured Division. In under 15 minutes of battle, Wittmann and his crew devastated 12 tanks, 10 half-tracks, 4 carriers and 2 anti-tank guns! The exploit made Wittmann a national hero in Germany and a legend in the annals of war.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/121871459577/behind-the-scenes-footage-with-michael-wittmann

Leutnant Johann Straub (6 June 1912 - 12 July 1996) is proud of his achievement and shows it off via the kill rings on his Geschütz (assault gun). He distinguished himself during the battle against the heavy Soviet offensive in the summer of 1944 and was awarded the Ritterkreuz (Knight's Cross) in 12 August 1944. He is the Zugführer (platoon leader) of 2.Kompanie (called Stu.Gesch.Abt.1007) / Panzerjäger-Abteilung 7 (7th Anti-Tank Battalion) / 7.Infanterie-Division. This photo was taken in that summer, between Pinsk and the River Bug

Source :
Magazine "Achtung Panzer" No.5, Sturmgeschütz III, StuG.IV & SIG.33

Michael Wittmann and Friends Posed in Front of their Tigers

Tank commanders and platoon leaders of the Leibstandarte Division’s 13.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 proudly pose in front of their newly painted Tigers in Italy in the autumn of 1943 (from left to right): SS-Oberscharführer Otto Augst, SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann, SS-Unterscharführer Ewald Mölly and SS-Oberscharführer Jürgen Brandt.

Source :
http://5sswiking.tumblr.com/post/134749632557/5sswiking-tank-commanders-and-platoon-leaders