Michael Wittmann (April 22 1914 - August 8, 1944), during World War II, was the SS-Hauptsturmführer (SS-Captain) in the Schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101, one of the most successful tank commanders in the history of warfare. He is famous for his June 13, 1944, ambush of elements of the British 7th Armoured Division at the Battle of Villers-Bocage.
He was was killed in action on August 8, during the Operation Totalize, when his Tank was destroyed near the town of Cintheaux, probably during a skirmish after the ambush from the rear of his company by the tanks of the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry, his tank being hit with 2 shots to his right rear flank by a single Sherman Firefly commanded by Sgt. Gordon and gunned by Trooper Joe Ekins, from 3rd Platoon, A. Squadron, 33rd Armored Brigade at around 1240 hours. Most researchers give credence to this version of events, as it corroborates with both the Allied and the German records and eyewitness testimony.
However, other units in the area also claimed that the hit was theirs, like 4th Canadian Armoured Division or the 2nd Polish Armoured Regiment of General Stanislaw Maczek's 1st Polish Armoured Division. There is even speculation that it really was a high-explosive rocket from a RAF Hawker "Typhoon" aircraft that was fatal to Wittmann's Tiger.
Reference
- Agte, Patrick. Michael Wittman and the Tiger Commanders of the Leibstandarte. JJ Fedorowicz (April, 1996). ISBN 0921991304
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