Bio of Panzer Ace Michael Wittmann

Michael Wittmann
SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve

* 22.04.1914 in Vogelthal bei Beilngries im Altmühltal/Oberpfalz.
† 08.08.1944 at approximately 1247 hours near St. Aignan-De-Cramesnil southwest of Caen in Tiger Nr. 007 as Kp.-Fhr. of 2. Kompanie/schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101, apparently by rocket fire from an RAF Typhoon Mk IB. Also killed was his entire crew: SS-Sturmmann Rudolf “Rudi” Hirschel (Radioman, *03.01.1924), SS-Unterscharführer Heinrich Reimers (Driver, *11.05.1924), SS-Unterscharführer Karl Wagner (Observer, *31.05.1920), and SS-Sturmmann Günther Weber (Loader, *21.12.1924). They were buried by French civilians, the grave finally being located near the town of Gaumesnil as a result of research by Msr. Jean Paul Pallud in 1982. Following a request from the “Volksbundes Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V.” (VDK, German War Graves Commission), the bodies were disinterred in 1983 and re-buried in the Kriegsgräberstätte La Cambe, Normandy, under a single marker bearing all their names (Row 3/Block 47/Grave 120).

NSDAP-Nr.: 5.508.244 (Joined 01.05.1937?)
SS-Nr.: 311.623 (Joined 01.04.1937)

Promotions:
01.11.1935 Gefreiter
00.00.193_ Unteroffizier
01.04.1937 SS-Mann
09.11.1937 SS-Staffel-Sturmmann
20.04.1939 SS-Unterscharführer
09.11.1941 SS-Oberscharführer
21.12.1942 SS-Untersturmführer d. R.
30.01.1944 SS-Obersturmführer d. R.
21.06.1944 SS-Hauptsturmführer d. R.

Decorations & Awards:
22.06.1944 Schwerter zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (71.) as SS-Obersturmführer d. R. and Kp.-Fhr. of 2. Kompanie/schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101/I. SS-Panzer-Korps “Leibstandarte”, Western Front.
Vorschlag dated 13.06.1944 and signed by Korps. Kom. Gen. “Sepp” Dietrich.
Personally presented by Adolf Hitler at the Berghof.
30.01.1944 Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (380.) as SS-Untersturmführer d. R. and Zugfhr. in 13.(schwere) Kompanie/SS-Panzer-Regiment 1/1. SS-Panzer-Division “Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler”, Eastern Front.
14.01.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes as SS-Untersturmführer d. R. and Zugfhr. in 13.(schwere)Kompanie/SS-Panzer-Regiment 1/1. SS-Panzer-Division “Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler”, Eastern Front.
Vorschlag dated 10.01.1944 and signed by Div.-Kdr. Theodor Wisch.
08.09.1941 1939 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
12.07.1941 1939 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
21.11.1941 Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Schwarz
13.01.1944 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht
00.08.1942 Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42”
ca. 1939 Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
ca. 1938 Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
00.00.193_ Deutsches Reichssportabzeichen in Bronze
00.00.19__ Totenkopfring der SS
00.08.1942 Soldier’s Cross of the Military Order for Bravery in War with Swords (Bulgaria)
Note: Wittmann and his crew reportedly destroyed 138 tanks and 132 antitank guns, most of them on the Eastern Front. His gunner was fellow Ritterkreuzträger SS-Unterscharführer Balthasar Woll.

Source :
Michael D. Miller photo collection
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/735/f1ad60e23687fb97414b1d62bad7e578/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/152986901863424/permalink/1079256229236482/