Within minutes, Wittmann took out most of the column, advancing until the Tiger was knocked out by a Cromwell hit on the drive wheel. Most of the enemy tanks were Cromwells with armament too weak to penetrate the armour of a Tiger. Wittmann did this feat all by himself, because the other tanks could not enter the village in time due to blockades. He himself took over a Tiger and drove it straight into the village, quickly destroying the surprised British tanks. Wittmann organised a counter attack and the British were attacked from behind and from the front and were trapped between the houses. Suddenly a large British tank column, unaware of any Tigers, entered the village. On June 13 1944, as commander of a company of the 101st Schwere Panzerbataillon, Wittmann had to guard the very strategically situated French village Villers-Bocage with only six Tigertanks against advancing allied troops. At the end of April, SS Panzerabteilung 101 leaves for France.Īfter the Allied invasion the division moved to Normandy and arrived in the front area on June 12. Medium-sized and petite, he did not fit the SS stereotype.Īfter his holiday, during which he got married on 1 March, Wittmann reported to SS Panzerabteilung 101, which was then stationed in Belgium, as commander of the second company. A real thinker who did not like to talk about his victories. Ironically, Wittmann was nothing like a hero: he was quiet, shy and modest. Books, films and even postcards had been made of Michael Wittmann. ![]() ![]() As with many other successful German soldiers, the German propaganda machine had widely publicised Wittmann’s victories in the media. During a furlough in Germany, he was received as a superhero. After receiving the Oak Leaf from Adolf Hitler on February 2, Wittmann did not return to the LAH but was transferred to SS Panzerabteilung 101.
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