Michael Wittmann

Michael Wittmann (22 April 1914 – 8 August 1944) was a German Waffen-SS tank commander during the Second World War. He is known for his ambush of elements of the British 7th Armoured Division during the Battle of Villers-Bocage on 13 June 1944. While in command of a Tiger I tank, Wittmann destroyed up to 14 tanks, 15 personnel carriers and two anti-tank guns within 15 minutes before the loss of his own tank. Wittmann became a cult figure after the war thanks to his accomplishments as a "panzer ace" (a highly decorated tank commander), part of the portrayal of the Waffen-SS in popular culture. Historians have offered differing assessments of his combat performance. His actions at Villers-Bocage have been praised for their immediate effectiveness, while his tactical judgement was criticised. Historians have further questioned the reliability and significance of his credited tank-kill total and the extent to which his reputation was influenced by wartime propaganda and the battlefield advantages of the Tiger I. Although the number is disputed, he is credited with destroying 135 to 138 enemy tanks. German tank kills were recorded as a unit. When Hitler personally upgraded Wittmann's Knight's Cross with oak leaves on 2 February 1944, Wittmann's total was 117 tanks.