Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony for Michael Wittmann and Bobby Woll

Following the two intense days of combat in the Eastern Front on 8th and 9th January 1944 which had seen the destruction of nine enemy Panzers and an anti-tank gun, on 10th January panzer ace SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (Zugführer in 13.Kompanie [schwere] / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 / 1.SS-Panzer-Division LSSAH) was recommended by his divisional commander SS-Oberführer Theodor “Teddi” Wisch for the prestigious Ritterkreuz, the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. The official recommendation read as follows:

    SS-Untersturmführer Wittmann, platoon commander 13.(s)/SS-Pz.Rgt. 1 LSSAH, has himself destroyed 56 tanks in the period July 1943 to 7.1.1944, including several KVI, KVII, General “Sherman”, the rest were T34s.

    During a penetration near Sherepki by a Russian tank brigade on 8.1.1944 he and his platoon succeeded in stopping the attack and he himself knocked out 3 T34s and 1 assault gun.

    On 9.1.1944 he destroyed another 6 T34s during a penetration by enemy tanks and raised his total of tanks destroyed to 66. He once again demonstrated exceptional bravery in meeting and smashing the Russian tank attack.

    Signed Wisch, SS-Oberführer and Divisional Commander

Between his being recommended for the Ritterkreuz on 10th January 1944 and receiving the award four days later, SS-Untersturmführer Wittmann embarked on a what can only be described as a victory celebration of destruction. Over this short period, Wittmann’s Tiger had knocked out an astonishing twenty-two enemy tanks, which took his total to eighty-eight enemy tanks destroyed! Over the 12th and 13th January alone, Wittmann and his crew knocked out a phenomenal sixteen T34s and three anti-tank guns.

In what was a highly successful series of missions, the only moment of bad luck that took place was when Wittmann lost a front tooth in a freak accident in a Schwimmwagen – though other sources have stated that he had lost the tooth by hitting his head against the cupola of his Tiger after it had driven over an obstacle.

The story was not all about Wittmann, however: a successful Tiger not only needed a talented commander but also a well-knit, disciplined and skillful crew. Wittmann himself would continually acknowledge that his outstanding record could never have been achieved without his gunner, the crackshot Saarlander Balthasar “Bobby” Woll, who during his short career as a Tiger gunner had destroyed a total of eighty enemy tanks. Following the actions of 12th and 13th January Woll was also nominated for the Ritterkreuz. Both Wittmann and Woll were awarded their Ritterkreuzes on 14th January, by divisional commander “Teddi” Wisch, while the rest of the crew receives the Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse: SS-Panzerschütze Werner Irrgang (Funker), SS-Panzerschütze Sepp Rößner (Ladeschütze), and SS-Sturmmann Eugen Schmidt (Fahrer).

This video - which was taken in Vinnitsa, Ukraine - shows Wittmann and his four-man Tiger crew being congratulated by his regimental commander, SS-Obersturmbannführer Joachim “Jochen” Peiper, followed by congratulations from his comrades-in-arms. The medal ceremony itself had been held a few hours earlier, presided over by Divisionskommandeur, SS-Oberführer Theodor “Teddy” Wisch. In the background is Wittmann's Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger I Ausf.F “S04” with 88 victory rings (the reporter of ‘Die Deutsche Wochenschau’ had misstated the number as 89).

From left to right: SS-Obersturmbannführer Jochen Peiper (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH), SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (Zugführer in 13.Kompanie (schwere) / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH), SS-Rottenführer Balthasar "Bobby" Woll (Richtschütze), SS-Panzerschütze Werner Irrgang (Funker), SS-Panzerschütze Sepp Rößner (Ladeschütze), and SS-Sturmmann Eugen Schmidt (Fahrer).

From left to right: SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (Zugführer in 13.Kompanie (schwere) / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH), SS-Obersturmbannführer Jochen Peiper (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH), SS-Rottenführer Balthasar "Bobby" Woll (Richtschütze), SS-Panzerschütze Werner Irrgang (Funker), SS-Panzerschütze Sepp Rößner (Ladeschütze), and SS-Sturmmann Eugen Schmidt (Fahrer).

From left to right: SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (Zugführer in 13.Kompanie (schwere) / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH), SS-Obersturmbannführer Jochen Peiper (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH), SS-Rottenführer Balthasar "Bobby" Woll (Richtschütze), SS-Panzerschütze Werner Irrgang (Funker), SS-Panzerschütze Sepp Rößner (Ladeschütze), and SS-Sturmmann Eugen Schmidt (Fahrer).

After the award ceremony, posing in front of their monster, a Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf.E (# S04). From left to right: SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (Zugführer in 13.Kompanie (schwere) / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH), SS-Rottenführer Balthasar "Bobby" Woll (Richtschütze), SS-Panzerschütze Werner Irrgang (Funker), SS-Panzerschütze Sepp Rößner (Ladeschütze), dan SS-Sturmmann Eugen Schmidt (Fahrer). Note that the barrels of the Tiger's 88mm cannons behind them have been painted with white stripes, where one stripe equals one enemy tank/anti-tank destroyed.

From left to right: SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (Zugführer in 13.Kompanie (schwere) / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH), SS-Panzerschütze Sepp Rößner (Ladeschütze), SS-Panzerschütze Werner Irrgang (Funker), SS-Sturmmann Eugen Schmidt (Fahrer), and SS-Rottenführer Balthasar "Bobby" Woll (Richtschütze).

From left to right: SS-Panzerschütze Werner Irrgang (Funker), SS-Rottenführer Balthasar "Bobby" Woll (Richtschütze), SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (Zugführer in 13.Kompanie (schwere) / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH), SS-Panzerschütze Sepp Rößner (Ladeschütze), and SS-Sturmmann Eugen Schmidt (Fahrer).

SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (in the foreground, Zugführer in 13.Kompanie (schwere) / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH) poses proudly with the crew of his trusted Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger I Ausf.F “S04”, from left to right: SS-Panzerschütze Sepp Rößner (Ladeschütze), SS-Panzerschütze Werner Irrgang (Funker), SS-Rottenführer Balthasar "Bobby" Woll (Richtschütze), and SS-Sturmmann Eugen Schmidt (Fahrer). The 88 victory rings on the barrels of their cannons indicating the 88 enemy tanks destroyed so far.

This picture was taken previously, showing the interview of the new Ritterkreuzträger Michael Wittmann by the SS Kriegsberichter from Propaganda-Kompanie, using a Neumann CMV3/3A microphone. From left to right: unknown war reporter, SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (Zugführer in 13.Kompanie (schwere) / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH), SS-Sturmmann Eugen Schmidt (Fahrer), SS-Oberführer Theodor "Teddy" Wisch (Kommandeur 1. SS-Panzer-Division LSSAH), SS-Panzerschütze Sepp Rößner (Ladeschütze), and SS-Obersturmbannführer Joachim “Jochen” Peiper (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH).

From left to right: SS-Oberführer Theodor "Teddy" Wisch (Kommandeur 1. SS-Panzer-Division LSSAH), SS-Rottenführer Balthasar "Bobby" Woll (Richtschütze), SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (Zugführer in 13.Kompanie (schwere) / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH), and unknown war reporter.

SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (left, Zugführer in 13.Kompanie (schwere) / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH) and SS-Obersturmbannführer Joachim “Jochen” Peiper (right, Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH).

SS-Obersturmbannführer Joachim “Jochen” Peiper (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH).

Source :
Die Deutsche Wochenschau Nr. 700 - 2 Februari 1944
https://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2025/07/upacara-penganugerahan-ritterkreuz.html
https://www.panzerace.net/biography/ostfront-1943-44/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXsseNnJQfc

Bobby Woll and Comrade in a Tiger

Two tank commanders from 2.Kompanie / schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101 in a picture taken by Kriegsberichter Scheck (PK 698) in Northern France, May 1944. From left to right: SS-Unterscharführer Balthasar "Bobby" Woll (Kommandant Tiger "212") and SS-Hauptscharführer Hans Höflinger (Kommandant Tiger "213"). Woll received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 16 January 1944 as SS-Rottenführer and Richtschütze in 13.Kompanie (schwere) / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 / 1.SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler".

Source :
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=balthasar+woll&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image

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

Ritterkreuz Action of Bobby Woll

Balthasar "Bobby" Woll (1 September 1922 - 18 March 1996) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 16 January 1944 as SS-Rottenführer and Richtschütze in 13.Kompanie (schwere) / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 / 1.SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler". The initial justification for Woll's Ritterkreuz reads as follows: "Exceptional conduct in earlier fighting at Kharkov - action March 1943. Summer action Belgorod 1943 and present winter battles. 61 tanks destroyed as of 11 January 1944, including numerous assault guns. During elimination of armoured penetration on 12 and 13 January 1944 in Mal.Bespechna-Chesnovka area, 16 T-34s and 3 assault guns were knocked out by the tank of SS-Rottenführer Woll, where he served as gunner. This raises his total of tanks destroyed to 80."

Source :
Jim Haley photo collection
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/34849/Woll-Balthasar-Bobby.htm

Bio of SS-Oberscharführer Balthasar "Bobby" Woll (1922-1996)

Balthasar "Bobby" Woll

Date of Birth: 01.09.1922 - Wemmetsweiler, Saarland (Germany)
Date of Death: 18.03.1996 - Sennestadt, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany)

Promotions:
00.00.194_ SS-Oberschutze
09.11.1943 SS-Rottenführer
30.01.1944 SS-Unterscharführer
01.10.1944 SS-Oberscharführer

Career:
15.08.1941 Volunteered to the Waffen-SS
00.00.1941 MG-Schütze in 3.Kompanie / SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1 / SS-Totenkopf-Division
00.00.1943 13.Kompanie (schwere) / SS Panzer-Regiment 1 / 1.SS-Panzer-Division LSSAH

Awards and Decorations:
23.07.1942 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
26.07.1942 Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
26.07.1942 Demjankschild
14.10.1943 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
01.01.1944 Panzerkampfabzeichen
16.01.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as SS-Rottenführer and Richtschütze in 13.Kompanie (schwere) / SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 / 1.SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler"
00.00.1944 Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Balthasar Woll was born in September 1922 as the son of the worker Johann Woll in Wemmetsweiler in Saarland. After an apprenticeship as an electrician, he volunteered for the Waffen-SS on August 15, 1941.

After the basic training he went to the eastern front. There he fought as a machine gunner in the 3rd company of the SS Totenkopf Infantry Regiment 1 of the Totenkopf Division. In the Demyansk pocket he was severely wounded for the first time and sent to the hospital at home.

After his recovery he became a tank gunner and joined the Tiger Company of the LSSAH at the end of 1942. As a gunner, SS-Sturmmann Woll was present in all missions, at least since the fighting in the Kursk offensive in Operation "Zitadelle" he was considered one of the best gunners in the Tiger I.

During the winter fighting from November 1943, SS Rottenfuhrer Woll was extremely successful alongside Michael Wittmann. While the driver, loader and radio operator change frequently, the commander stays with the gunner whenever possible, with whom he must be well acquainted - and those two men were them. When Wittmann married his great love Hildegard Burmeister on March 1, 1944, his comrade, crew member and friend Balthasar Woll acted as best man.

On January 16, 1944, SS Rottenfuhrer Balthasar Woll was the first gunner in the Waffen SS to be awarded the Knight's Cross for "proven fearless operational readiness and his 88 tank kills". A press release said the following:

"Ritterkreuz for a successful tank gunner. 80 tanks shot down. SS Rottenfuhrer Balthasar Woll, gunner in an SS Panzer Division, from Wemmetzweiler, district of Ottweiler, shot down 61 tanks in the tank battles around Kharkov, Bjelgorod and in the current winter battles west of Kiev. On January 12th and 13th, 1944 he was again able to launch 16 T 34 and 3 assault guns with his "Tiger". He thus increased his number of kills to 80 tanks. Woll is known as one of the best gunners in his tank regiment.”

After January 30, 1944, Woll received home leave and left the company immediately thereafter to train as a tank commander. With effect from January 30, 1944, he was subsequently promoted to Unterfuhrer and thus to SS-Unterscharführer.

It is not possible to determine an exact time when Balthasar Woll was deployed as a tank commander. However, it can be assumed that April 1944 would be the earliest possible date for the reorganization of the heavy SS Panzer Battalion 101. For this purpose, Wittmann had drawn together all the former 13th Company that he could get for the formation of the new 2nd Company of the department.

The first official mention of Woll as a tank commander comes from a structure of the s.SS.Pz.Abt. 101 as of June 6, 1944, with Woll as the commander of Tiger No. 212, in the 1st Platoon of the 2nd Company under Michael Wittmann. However, Woll does not seem to have driven often as commander:

     “Wittmann's gunner that day is Bobby Woll. Bobby Woll, who is a popular comrade and buddy to the men of the 2nd Company, can hardly appear as a tank commander.”

Balthasar Woll had to struggle with his psyche, his health after the injuries was always poor. This was clearly shown on the invasion front west of Caen in mid-June 1944:

     “During those days, when Wittmann was still in command of the company, two tank crews were caught in an artillery attack outside their vehicle. In poor cover, the men witness the continuous impact and bursting of shells. Suddenly Woll jumps up and wants to leave his cover. Wittmann just manages to catch him and has to immobilize him with a punch. Due to his old head injury and the severe nervous strain, Woll had freaked out. On the same day he is taken to the hospital and from there he is taken home.”

After his recovery, Woll did not return to the Western Front and was with the headquarters of the heavy SS Panzer Battalion 501 at Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock in north-eastern North Rhine-Westphalia until January/February 1945, where he trained new gunners, drivers and tank commanders. It is not known whether he took part in the Ardennes offensive or returned to the Eastern Front with the Abteilung (start of transfer on January 24, 1945), but it cannot be assumed either.

On the hit list of the most successful tank commanders, Balthasar Woll took 13th place as a gunner and tank commander. More than 100 armored vehicles destroyed are attributed to him, 81 of them as a gunner. By the time he was awarded the Ritterkreuz, his successes also included 107 destroyed anti-tank guns, several destroyed artillery pieces, and the destruction of an enemy position by heavy mortars.

After the war and being a prisoner of war in the US, Woll lived a secluded life, most recently in Bielefeld-Sennestadt. It is known that he was a member of HIAG and took part with his wife in the big meeting in Hamelin in September 1959, when around 16,000 former members of the Waffen SS came together. When Wittmann and the fallen tank crew were transferred to the La Cambe German war cemetery in the spring of 1983 and thus received their final resting place, Woll was one of those who quietly and dignified said goodbye one last time.

Balthasar "Bobby" Woll died on March 18, 1996. Hildegard, Michael Wittman's widow (who had remarried), was among the mourners.

Source :
Jim Haley photo collection
Bundesarchiv photo collection
"Michael Wittmann, erfolgreichster Panzerkommandant im Zweiten Weltkrieg, und die Tiger der Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" by Patrick Agte
http://www.achtungpanzer.com/michael-wittmann.htm
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/07/ss-oberscharfuhrer-balthasar-bobby-woll.html
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=balthasar+woll&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Woll,_Balthasar
https://eoutlet.2023shoponline.com/category?name=bobby%20woll
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=44369
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/34849/Woll-Balthasar-Bobby.htm
https://www.warrelics.eu/google.php?cx=partner-pub-8434277705306939%3Amw1zup-hyt0&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=bobby+woll&sa.x=0&sa.y=0&siteurl=www.warrelics.eu%2Fforum%2Fgerman-photographs-postcards%2Fshow-your-signed-photos-284539-107%2F&ref=www.google.com%2F&ss=1544j277034j10

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony for Michael Wittmann and Bobby Woll

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