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Wittmann, Michael 'Michl' (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
April 22nd, 1914 (Vogelthal-Upper Palatinate/Bavaria, Germany)
Date of death:
August 8th, 1944 (Gaumesnil, near Cintheaux, Normandy, France)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery La Cambe
Plot: 47. Row: 3. Grave: 120.
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 311.623 // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Credited with a final total of 138 tanks and 132 AT guns destroyed.

Promotions:
01.11.1935: Gefreiter
01.11.1936: SS-Anwärter
01.04.1937: SS-Mann
11.11.1937: SS-Sturmmann
20.04.1939: SS-Unterscharführer
09.11.1941: SS-Oberscharführer
21.12.1942: SS-Untersturmführer
30.01.1944: SS-Obersturmführer
21.06.1944: SS-Hauptsturmführer

Career:
00.02.1934-00.08.1934: FAD - Freiwillige Arbeitsdienst
00.10.1934-00.00.1937: Gefreiter, 10. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 19, Freising
01.10.1936: joined the SS
01.11.1936: 1. Sturm, 92. SS-Standarte, Ingolstadt
01.04.1937: joined the SS-VT
05.04.1937: SS-Mann, SS-Standarte Leibstandarte-SS „Adolf Hitler"
09.11.1937: SS-Sturmmann, Feldherrnhalle, Munich
00.03.1938: SS-Sturmmann, Panzerspäh-Kompanie, SS-Standarte Leibstandarte-SS „Adolf Hitler" - campaign in Austria
00.10.1938: campaign in the Sudetes
00.09.1939: SS-Uscha, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung, SS-Standarte LAH, SS-VT - campaign in Poland
00.05.1940: SS-Uscha, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung, SS-Standarte LAH, SS-VT - campaign in the West, Rotterdam, Dunkerque, France, Somme, Marne, Flandres
00.04.1941: SS-Uscha, Panzerkommandant, Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. A, SS-Sturmgeschütz-Batterie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment (mot.) LAH - Campaign in the Balkans
00.06.1941: campaign in Russia - destroyed 6 out of 8 attacking Soviet T34/76 tanks
04.06.1942-05.09.1942: SS-Junker, SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
00.12.1942-00.01.1943: Tiger I familiarization and training at Panzer training grounds,
Coëtquidan, Ploermel, France
00.01.1943: SS-Ustuf, Panzerkommandant, Tiger I, 13. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"
00.07.1943: first day of Operation Zitadelle, Kursk Offensive, destroyed 8 Soviet tanks and 7 artillery pieces; by the end of the offensive, added 30 tanks mostly T34/76's & KV I's and 28 artillery pieces to his score
00.00.1943: SS-Ustuf, Zugführer, 13.(schwere) Tiger-Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1,
1. SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"
00.10.1943: knocked out 10 tanks in one action, bringing his tally to 66
16.01.1944: destroyed 16 T34/85
00.04.1944: SS-Ostuf, Chef, 1.(schwere) Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101/501, I. SS-Panzer-Korps
12.06.1944: SS-Ostuf, Kompaniechef, 1. Kompanie, Schweren SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101/501 - Villers-Bocage, Normandie
00.06.1944: refused to be sent as Lehrer, Panzertruppenschule
08.08.1944: SS-Hstuf, KIA when his Tiger Nr. 007 was destroyed by 5 US M4 Sherman ivo Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil, Gaumesnil, Cintheaux on the road from Caen to Falaise and burried unnamed on the spot
00.03.1983: identificated and reburried in La Cambe with his Tiger Nr. 007 crew:
- SS-Uscha Karl Wagner (o31.05.1920 in Eppisburg), gunner
- SS-Sturmmann Günther Weber (o21.12.1924 in Sprockhövel), loader
- SS-Uscha Heinrich Reimers (o11.05.1924 in Schnepke), driver
- SS-Sturmmann Rudolf « Rudi » Hirschel (o03.01.1924 in Gleiwitz), radio operator and gunner

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Rank:
SS-Sturmman (Private 1st Class)
Unit:
17. Sturm, SS-Standarte Leibstandarte-SS "Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
Rank:
SS-Sturmman (Private 1st Class)
Unit:
17. Sturm, SS-Standarte Leibstandarte-SS "Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:
SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung, SS-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:
July 12th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:
SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung, SS-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:
August 20th, 1941
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Unterscharführer (Sergeant)
Unit:
SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung, SS-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:
September 8th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1941
Voenen Orden
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:
SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung, SS-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:
November 21st, 1941
After 25 kills

Silver version.
Panzerkampfabzeichen (ohne Zahl)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:
SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung, SS-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:
August 1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Oberscharführer (Staff Sergeant)
Unit:
SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung, SS-Division "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:
August 1942
Cross to the Order for Bravery 2nd Class
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 1940
SS-Dienstauszeichnung 4.Stufe (4 Jahre)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
December 1942
Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1943
SS-Ehrenring
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)
Awarded on:
January 13th, 1944
SS-Untersturmführer Wittmann in a SS-Panzerdivision on January 9 destroyed his 66th enemy tank with his "Tiger"-tank on the eastern front.
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Zugführer, 13.(schwere) Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:
January 14th, 1944
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Wittmann's Knight's Cross recommendation reads as follows...
"SS-Hstuf. Pfeiffer, Führer headquarters, with request for delivery to SS-Obergruppenführer Dietrich, subject:
Awarding of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross to SS-Untersturmführer Wittmann, Michael, Zugführer in 13.(s)/SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 LSSAH on 8 and 9/1/1944 for outstanding bravery during penetration by Russian Tank Brigade near Sherepki (see daily report). 56 tanks destroyed himself as platoon commander from July 1943 to 7/1/1944, several KV-1, KV-2, Shermans, the rest T-34s.
On 8/1/1944, following penetration by Russian Tank Brigade, stopped attack with his platoon and himself destroyed 3 T-34s and 1 assault gun. Another 6 T-34s during another armoured were also destroyed; thus 10 by him alone. Now 66 tanks destroyed. Personal info SS Untersturmführer Wittmann, Michael, position: SS Officer, unmarried. Born 22/4/14 in Vogelthal, Upper Pfalz. Father: Johann Wittmann, Ingolstadt, Danube, Baselstr. 34 Decorations: EK I, EK II, Wound Badge Black, Tank Battle Badge Silver.
Signed Wisch, SS Oberführer and Division Commander of the 1st SS-Panzer-Division LSSAH."

2571st Award.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Untersturmführer (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Zugführer, 13.(schwere) Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:
January 30th, 1944
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Awarded the Oakleaves after raising his total of destroyed tanks to 114. He was particularly successful on two days in early 1944...
13.01.1944, where he destroyed 19 T-34s and 3 heavy assault guns and thus raised his total to 88 tanks destroyed.
06.02.1944, where as part of the relief efforts towards Cherkassy he destroyed 9 tanks.

380st Award.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Unit:
Chef, 2. Kompanie, schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"
Awarded on:
June 22nd, 1944
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
Awarded after his famous rampage in Villers-Bocage, where he destroyed 13-14 tanks, 2 AT guns and 13-15 other vehicles. By his actions this day he played a decisive role in halting the advance of the 7. Armoured Division.

71st Award.

Sources