SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain) Michael Wittmann has been described as "the most successful German tank commander of World War II." During much of his combat career he served in the heavily armored and powerfully gunned Tiger I, one of Germany's heaviest tanks. Wittmann began his career in Tigers soon after their introduction to the battlefield, serving in the 13th Company (Heavy) of the 1st SS Panzer Regiment. This unit was part of the premier German unit, the 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler." The company was later the nucleus of Heavy SS Tank Battalion 101 (schwere SS-PanzerAbteilung 101), a Corps level unit, in which Wittmann was a company commander. By June of 1944, Wittmann and his crews had destroyed 138 enemy armored vehicles and 132 anti-tank guns. Wittmann was awarded the prestigious Knights Cross with Oakleaves and Swords. Near Gaumesnil, Normandy on August 8, 1944, Wittmann was acting commander of the 101st SS Heavy Tank Battalion. While leading an attack he was under fire from the flank by British tanks. One of the British tanks destroyed his Tiger, which was followed by a catastrophic explosion, there were no survivors. The remains of Wittmann and his crew were buried in a common grave beside the field where they died, and remained undiscovered until 1983. He was identified by his pay book (Soldbuch), his dogtag, and his pistol (the serial number matched this entry in his pay book). He and his four crew members; Karl Wagner, Heinrich Reimers, Günther Weber, and Rudolf Hirschel were all reinterred together, with military honors in the German Military Cemetery at La Cambe.
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain) Michael Wittmann has been described as "the most successful German tank commander of World War II." During much of his combat career he served in the heavily armored and powerfully gunned Tiger I, one of Germany's heaviest tanks. Wittmann began his career in Tigers soon after their introduction to the battlefield, serving in the 13th Company (Heavy) of the 1st SS Panzer Regiment. This unit was part of the premier German unit, the 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler." The company was later the nucleus of Heavy SS Tank Battalion 101 (schwere SS-PanzerAbteilung 101), a Corps level unit, in which Wittmann was a company commander. By June of 1944, Wittmann and his crews had destroyed 138 enemy armored vehicles and 132 anti-tank guns. Wittmann was awarded the prestigious Knights Cross with Oakleaves and Swords. Near Gaumesnil, Normandy on August 8, 1944, Wittmann was acting commander of the 101st SS Heavy Tank Battalion. While leading an attack he was under fire from the flank by British tanks. One of the British tanks destroyed his Tiger, which was followed by a catastrophic explosion, there were no survivors. The remains of Wittmann and his crew were buried in a common grave beside the field where they died, and remained undiscovered until 1983. He was identified by his pay book (Soldbuch), his dogtag, and his pistol (the serial number matched this entry in his pay book). He and his four crew members; Karl Wagner, Heinrich Reimers, Günther Weber, and Rudolf Hirschel were all reinterred together, with military honors in the German Military Cemetery at La Cambe.
Bio by: Jay Lance
Gravesite Details
The upper cross carries Wittmann's name; the others list his crew members.
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