Black Baron: The Deadliest Tank Ace Of The Second World War | Greatest Tank Battles | War Stories
Michael Wittmann was considered as one of the greatest Nazi tank commanders of WW2. Having served in the Battle of Kursk he was redeployed to Normandy soon after the D-Day landings. Receiving The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross from Hitler himself, Wittmann was considered a cult hero with the Nazi propaganda machine embellishing his already well known achievements.
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Did u copy Timeline World Documentaries's intro?
@@timothytan4257 wut
Time they made a film about real heroes like Wittmann and hundreds of other German combatants rather than the likes of Aubrey Murphy.
@@timothytan4257 bbb.
Have you ever read the biography of Von Carius ? I'd like a special on another tank commander and Heintz Guderian.
I think his entire tank personnel deserve praise,not just him.
CREW.
In military circles, his crew are recognized.
Exactly
His gunner was the only person who was with him most of his career.
@@jeffreymiller7847 Crew was constructed from volunteers and forced.
Always sad that Kurt Knispel gets far less attention. He actually had more kills than Wittman. However his defending a Russian POW who was being tortured by an SS (REMF) at a train station sealed Knispels fate. Always passed over for promotion after that. Very sad.
TY for that info. I wondered why they never mentioned his crew- it's not like he could have been successful without an expert crew. As long as armies contribute to the myths of single heroes, the brave little guys will be ignored.
Kurt Knispel had 168 confirmed tank kills - Greatest Tank Ace in History with unconfirmed Kills at195.
@@rmazim500 Tank crews did not count their kills cuz it was a liability when your in battle Otto Carius Germanys second best panzer ace said himself that the he at most killed a hundred tanks the numbers you speak of are very unreliable because the division wanted a poster boy to show that they were as good as other panzer Divisions so they chose Kurt Kinspel because was a talented gunner.
@@rmazim500 Yep
Goering did the same with people he didnt like.
Back in 2005 I had a memorable opportunity to sit and listen to a German Luftwaffe pilot, from WWII, talk about his experience via an interpreter while in Germany. Listening to a combat veteran from WWII discuss the war from the other sides perspective is priceless. I’m sure if we had a chance to do the same with this guy that it would be a unique experience as well.
Yeah I always wondered about that as well. Imagine being 1 plane against hundreds of enemies trying to take out whole squadrons of bombers and then take on fighters as well. Probably ran out of AMMO all the time.
same
I would have had a HUGE issue with him not being able to keep talking for 3 or 4 days.
When WWII was ending, the US and Soviet Union raced to Germany. Not to end the war, but to capture Wernher von Braun, Germany's leading rocket scientist. We got him, and he got us to the moon. Can you imagine if Wittman had survived and was captured/obtained by the US? And he came to the US to mold our tank battalions? Can you imagine serving under him in our post WWII military?
@@ritparent7239The soviets captured more scientists but US got the best
His gunner must have learned the delay from firing to leaving the tank barrel perfectly, as well as calculating the lead of an enemy, taking into account terrain and his own movement! Awesome spacial awareness on that man!
Deflection shooting
@@sanjaysharma-jf8fv yep...you gotta feel it.
Ubermench ...
Germans have high visuospatial IQ scores on average.
The gunner wasn't in Wittman's tank when it exploded, he was off on a trip or holiday. So the gunner who did all the killing, actually survived.
The contribution of his gunner Balthassar Woll (the only gunner to ever be awarded with the Kinight's Cross of the Iron Cross) shouldn't be overlooked. It was said that Woll had the ability to fire accurately while the tank was moving, something which wasn't really possible untill decades later with automated (computer controlled) fire controls !!
Bobby woll was the best gunner they was he was amazing
decades? It didnt take decades for the stabilizer to fully used. wrong. years though not decades
@@ulfenburg7539 Yeah even the Sherman had a stabilizer. Of course not good enough to accurately fire on the move. But some crews which had been trained with it actually loved it. So there probably was some use for it.
Just prior to WW2 British tank gunners were trained to fire on the move, one of the minor perks of the cruiser tank doctrine
@@peterfryer9245 The problem is not firing on the move, it’s the hitting. Every cretin can fire on the move.
The German guy commenting is an ace with the Stug himself. He also stopped a Soviet tank advance in 45 knocking out multiple tanks. Nerves of steel those men. Excellent shots too.
Whats his name?
What is his name
@@scotttyson8661 Alfred Rubbel
@@dhahqgahaakiyhsvwtgqgqnqjo6589 Alfred Rubbel
Or Rudolph something, He's the German speaking English
Finding and having all these tankers from opposing countries that fought in these battles made this documentary one of the best I've ever seen
My dad was in one of the British tanks destroyed at Villers Bockage. Normally a driver, he was in the machine gunners chair - that saved his life. He bailed out the front hatch, then when no-one else appeared he went back in and pulled out the officer and one other man. Hit again he was blown into a ditch and was carried unconscious to the British lines by a French farmer. Later returned and fought through France and the Netherlands. The officer was blown the other way and was picked up by the Germans and ended up a POW.
I stopped the video to read this. Amazing story. They don't make em like they used to.
Kudos to your dad. My father, infantry, was blown off a Sherman D-Day+14(?), taken out of the war due to his injuries, much to his displeasure. He went to Korea, and Vietnam. My mother (French National) worked for the US Corps of Engineers. Our parents' generation was amazing. Thanks to your dad, and to you for remembering him.
@@John-ih2bx Thanks John, much appreciated. Similar respect to your parents. Remembering them is so important if we have any hope of avoiding it all happening again
@@55billmarshall Yes, our parents are in a class beyond myself. We should not let their efforts to be forgotten. Thank you for honoring your dad. That is respect.
He was lucky if he would have ended up in an American POW camp he would probably be dead now.
Many people have mentioned that Wittman was not alone and that his crew deserved commendations. This is much like a commander of a bomber or submarine. Although the commanders are usually the ones to relieve the highest honors, their crews are still crucial to their success.
Woll received the Knight's Cross for his efforts; a rare distinction for a non commissioned officer.
The commander gets the most recognized because they have to determine what to do which decisions to make. Its like the brain of a tank. Im not saying the other crew members where bad no, its a team play like football.
Do you people really believe the BS in this video?
@@netzoned what bs??
@@netzoned " Ja ja ! "
Wittmann und Knispel, Legenden die schon zu lebzeiten Legenden waren. Ehre&Stolz für immer in unseren Herzen.
Definitiv der beste Panzerkommandant aller Zeiten! Vielen Dank für den Service Michael Wittmann.
With due respect to Wittmann, Kurt Knispel is the actual unsung German Tank ace , a gentleman soldier with not just superior skills but also integrity.
The story of Michael Wittman and his crew is one of my favourite stories of WW2
Mine To...
Look at Erik Hartmann story, it has a lot of adventure too, Ace pilot with most kills in history
Nah 🌿😎😅
The way Wittman would attack against overwhelming odds, sometimes with just his tank, his gunner, loader, and driver knew they had to be perfect. They either had to be the best. or be the best. No room for anything else.
show is alot of typical ahistorical anti-German propaganda.
What about luck?
My grandfather told me many true storys about the eastern front.he told me when the Tiger and Panther Tanks showed up he and his fellas were so impressed and motivated.they thought to be invincible.
But that was also a very big disadvantage.so they started to ignore the possibility to be defeated by the enemy.
Good lord. This goes to show what one man who is bold, audacious, and fearless can do when equipped properly. But in the end you could say that it was allied air superiority that sealed his fate. He sets off to Normandy with 45 tanks and arrives with 6.
Mind you this doesn't mean Allied air superiority destroyed 39 tanks. Most of his tanks had suffered damage that put them out of commission for a day or two and as time was of the essence he had no time to wait for repairs. Not to mention even without allied bombing his it is very unlikely all 45 tanks would have arrived as one.
AT LAST !!!😳SOMEONE WHO KNOWS !!!WHY THE GERMAN ARMOUR WAS DESTROYED !!!!😳BLOODY AIR POWER !!! ps US BRITS AND CANADIANS !!!BORE the BRUNT !!! of Jerrys ARMOUR 😳😳😳😳😳NOT the YANKS g
no he was a complete fraud kzhead.info/sun/eduKmMOQm5V_hp8/bejne.html
@tyharris9994 - Wittman's Tiger was blown up by a Sherman tank.
heehehe, no
Whitman was credited with 135 tank kills. But Kurt Knispel is considered to be the world's greatest tank ace. The German war hero had 168 confirmed and 195 unconfirmed kills in World War II. He was considered the tank's equivalent of the Red Baron.
None of these are really confirmed. As most of these 100+ numbers don't come from historians, or often even their commanding officers. Rather hearsay from peers.
@@peterson7082 And, considering that the Germans abandoned their kill vetting system for the Luftwaffe and Wehrmacht as early as 1943 due to losses and overstating by their Tankers/Pilots, it's safe to take every number you see with a grain of salt. I'd like to bring up the case of the Me262. 1,200 produced, claimed over 500 kills. I believe this number is fake, as many of these supposed "kills" were claimed over areas that Allied Planes had never been operating in at the time and no wrecks were found.
@@peterson7082 no the unconfirmed is because Propaganda. Military reports are always heavily censored according the the need of the Propaganda dept.
Lol😂
@@peterson7082 If you as a tank commander in WW2 would lie to pump up your kills, you could risk to lose all your decorations. And the last thing you want as a German soldier is to lose your decorations for being a fraud. And before kills are offcial recorded into the soldiers journal, the kills must be confirmed by multiple high ranking officers to get that kill on your record.
With all of the credit and accolades given to Wittman, all of this wouldnt have been possible without a skilled gunner/loader/driver/radioman. Especially gunner.
Great gunner and great driver. Doesn’t matter how good your commander or gunner is if you can’t drive where you need to to avoid the coming hits.
In an engagement where you are outnumbered if you dont have a loader with wicked speed and wicked stamina , regardless of how accurate your gunner is , you are dead meat . No loader. No victory . You can't pull the trigger on an empty breech .
Wittmans's usual gunner was actually away and survived after tank Tiger 007 exploded.
This is the best WW2 tank documentary on KZhead. The marriage of interviews of those that were there and the modern digital reconstructions is amazing thanks to all involved and to the channel.
Respect the skill and nerve of steel to enter battle after battle, knowing in a single moment it would be over. Thankfully it was only one crew this good, if they were that equally good, it would had made the war even harder to win
But the good guys still lost the war.
@@chriskoort5717 The winner is the good guys. The losers are the war criminals.
@@algrayson8965 No, soviets got disarmed in 1990
@@algrayson8965 Bad guys won
Bad guys won. Good guys lost
Wittmann was an exceptional Panzer commander; skilled, motivated, and merciless. As an SS man, Wittmann was the perfect propaganda role model, the 'Black Baron' SS. However, as a Panzer ace, his actual kill rate of enemy tanks, and other motorised ordnance, was over-shadowed by the Wehrmacht Panzer ace Kurt Knispel. Knispel absolutely did not 'fit the bill' as a propaganda icon, he was however, more accomplished and positively more humane as a professional German soldier than Wittmann. Sadly Knispel was killed fighting a vastly numerically superior force of Russian tanks on the Eastern front. History seems to prefer the flamboyant professional over the more ardent, less popularised ones. G.A. Custer---R S Mackensie being the perfect example.
Wittmann was probably exagerated. There might have been a lot of propaganda around him and his crew. Which doesn't mean that he wasn't a skilled commander. But I think a lot of what surounds Wittman should be taken with a grain of Salt. Carious was once talkingabout Wittman and he said that even back then they didn't believe "everything" that was reported about him because they knew about the propaganda efforts and the need to have a heroic figure particularly within the Waffen SS which has always been seen like a sort of step child of the German army trotting behind the "real" army. The Waffen SS was somewhat desperate in finding recognition and acceptance among the military. So yeah. Wittman was definetly an interesting character. But there are many doubts when it comes to all the information about him.
kzhead.info/sun/o8qmmdCDb3ZmkpE/bejne.html Dr Toppel interview Kurts commander who said it was all BS, no one knew Kurts total, least of all Kurt, and that he was never put forward for the Knights cross, not to take anything away from him but accurate history is a good thing
The problem with knipsel was most of his attack are ambushes and mostly has infantry and Artillery support wittman woll and and his crew are better and add to that he destroyed an entired armored battalion all by himself
Very well said by an armchair quarterback.
Tim Roger - They were both heroes!..
His gunners is very overlooked SS-Rottenführer Bobby Woll & SS-Unterscharführer Henrich Reimers
Very true
Damn right! It was almost a chemistry among them.....the gunner was moving the gun towards the next target even before Wittman declare it!
@@vanmust Bobby Woll stated once "i often picked out the target myself, because there was no time for a conversation"
His name is pronounced Voll as in German the W is pronounced V, and the letter V is pronounced W. (weird but true my friend)
@@dockmasterted Yes, the letter W is mostly pronounced as the english V, but often the letter V is pronounced as F: Vogel (= bird)
During my time as a service man I always saw Tanks like they were moving coffins. This film has greatly helped me to restore my confidence.
The Panzerlied the tank crews sang at those times also mentioned that the Panzer was their coffin if fate turned against them.
@@tinzi4x4 no it doesnt
@@prvt.harumi6821 Dann wird unser Panzer ein ehernes Grab - translation: Then let our tank become our honorable iron grave. This also means thatthe tank would be their coffin. If you do speak german, then: In diesem Sinne wäre der Panzer auch ein Sarg.
@@tinzi4x4 thats not in the panzerlied tho
Thank you wittman, you alerted the allied rear of tanks just before the main tank force arrived
Amazing how as soon as I find this channel and their videos, they are the ones to release a much needed video dedicated to Wittmann's feats.
This is the best example of the tiger in action and wiping out the British convoy without a scratch is amazing
@John Cornell I wasn’t talking about villers Bocage I was talking about the convoy and the tiger
Wrong. The Tiger was disabled at the end of his raid and was never repaired. He died later in Tiger Tank 007, a replacement for his two lost Tigers. At the end of the battle of Villers bocage the 101th Heavy Tank battalion lost 6 Tigers and only had around 7 or 8 operational, from original 45 Tanks 5 days ago. In the end lost the 101th more Tigers trying to defend Villers-Bocage than the British lost Tanks. The 101th was never able to replace these losses and could only recover and repair a few. I think they never got more than 20 Tigers running again.
@@papaaaaaaa2625 yeah I think I know that and I was only talking about his attack on the CONVOY NOT VILLERS BOCAGE
@John Cornell I think you’ll find that the convoy was on the road OUTSIDE Villers Bocage and Whitmann said in in his memoirs I then drove into villers bocage
@John Cornell I know that, but I meant that the Tiger couldn't be repaired. His own Tiger Tank, Nr. 205, broke down just before the Battle of Villers Bocage. He used another Tank of his Companies in this battle, Turret Nr. 222 (but even that is not clear, some sources say he used Tiger 231) After this battle both Tanks are no longer mentioned in any reports. But we know that afterwards Wittmann used Tiger 007. The situation was chaotic back then, maybe Nr. 222 was just not mentioned in any report and it is however possible that Tiger 222 was returned to his normal crew, and only Wittmann's original Tiger wasn't repaired. But that's a bit speculative. There is this famous picture where one Tiger of the 101th tows another one. It seems this picture was taken after the Battle of Villers Bocage. But the notifications are confusing. You can find two different notes, "A Tiger towed Tiger 231 into Caen" or "Tiger 222 towed 231 into Caen". The first tiger cannot be identified on the picture. Here a link to the picture, ww2images.blogspot.com/2012/11/tiger-222-taking-tiger-231-in-tow-after.html?m=1 Thanks for the book, I'll look for it.
Thank you for your service Mr. Wittmann. Respect and RIP.
A true legend
Outgunned and outnumbered but resolute! Discipline and duty was at his core!
The stug was a superb weapon platform for infantry support,he took armored warfare to a hold new level...
Otto Carius , Ernst Barkmann , Kurt Knispel , Balthasar Woll,,, so many to tell about !
@joseph gallacher but with the same weak military strength supplies & MANPOWER ? No .
BECAUSE HE WAS GOOD AT GEOMETRY, TRIGONOMETRY, MAP READING, & perhaps most crucial of all..... He liked to read. He learned all he could about his tank, and how and why it worked. He became a part of it.
his outstanding assault against the elite 7th armor (desert rats) is still studied at military academies worldwide.
No... Desert Rats showed a lack of careness and Wittman assaulted a taown with heavy tanks and lost the major part. If it's studied, it's for what not to do.
@@BFVK you seem a little insulted or insecured mate of course you could also call using one tank and having to abandon it "major loss" of troops, if there is only one
@@emil-1609he talks about the later part of tge battle where germans got annihilated because wittman alerted the british that an attack was coming by his reckless assault.
11:30 Wow, taking on T-34s with a STUG III with the short-barreled 75 was suicide. But Wittman and crew pulled it off. Took some incredible shooting.
A 'high-velocity' 75.
@@Scepticalasfuk In 1941???
@@Scepticalasfuk that was the short barreled low velocity 7.5 cm gun if I am correct, for anti personnel function.
@@Scepticalasfuk I don't think the narrator was correct in saying it was a high velocity gun. It was really a howitzer. Still it was capable of killing early war Allied tanks. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.5_cm_KwK_37
It was StuG A short barreled low velo L24 also its not War Thunder. L24 can do some damage with good hits.
This is such a good perspective on an individual level... It really is enlightening in many area's that are not necessarily explained from other documentaries and overviews as a whole... Fantastic Video!
The crew deserves credit as well, but the commander is just that. He gave the commands that enabled his victories so like most leaders deserves the most credit.
His final catastrophic charge is certainly his too.
That must have felt so badass to go from a single stug to commander of 5 tigers. Panzer VI must have felt like you were invincible after riding in stug. Can’t imagine how much morale those guys gained, and the morale of the other men seeing 5 panzer VI reinforce your line compared to the little tank power they possessed prior.
I read that STUGs killed more tanks than any other German weapon.
@@FFM0594 The Stugs were the most produced german tank iirc so it would make sense.
@@FFM0594 most likely, i would guess 88 main artillery guns killed morr armor then stug. Its stug or 88s at the top 3 german anti armor guns for sure.
His gunner, Bobby Wall was the Ace! Unbelievable accuracy even on the move!
They can't maneuver or his gunner will kill them if it wasn't for his commands and leadership
What a way to go! The last tank to fall. And the leader at that! This is the stuff of legends! Would that God grant me a death like that.
Most sacrifices will go unnoticed, none but God to see them or remember them, so don't let the glory thereof seduce you.
Pity you won’t see a movie about him and his crew like …the American movie “ Fury “ No can’t see Hollywood putting that one on the projects list. Clint Eastwoods Letters from Iwo Jima being a excellent exception from the Japanese perspective.
I'd rather die at 103 after bedding 5 playboy bunnies.....just sayin..
@@scottboyd7368that's why noone will remember you.
101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion was down from 45 Tiger I to 15 Tiger I tanks. But only 6 of them ready for operation as 9 was under repair.
Captain Wittmann was a soldier following orders, he was exceptional, every war has men like Michael Wittmann.
You wanna talk about murdering POW's.....loom up what the French and Danes did near the end of the war . Post war how many German POW's were intentionally murdered...gtfoh
@Oke Ihenacho and you as well...be well
@Oke Ihenacho Same applies for the USAAC and RAF (just to name two), regarding murdering civilians and POWs. Not to forget Nobel prize for peace holder Barack „Childkiller“ Obama. So what’s your point? The ever returning bullish.t of „Allied killing is good, German killing is bad“?
Agreed. Well said.
@@petegarrido5406 and the women shaved head for shame..
Wow the footage shown here is truly amazing. Thanks for sharing history
I wish Otto Carius was as famous to people who are starting to learn about WW2.
Really loved the show, take a bow to Michael Wittmann & his team.
That's literally incredible. A one man (one crew) army. The Story should give some air time to the crew also....
His leadership is what made his whole crew so legendary. One person can't crew a tank, nor perform at the most basic of levels.
He was a silent guy but a hardcore fanatic. Look up his views on race and anyone that didn't have 100% germanic D-N-A and face structure... He was pretty hardcore racist
@@overlord5068 yes. Make it about race. Sorry man, no one cares. We cared about the story, not the politics behind it.
@@overlord5068 Wow a person was racist before the term was coined in 1961...
@@overlord5068 yup. No one cares. Germany was a great nation. And little pansy males who worry about racism aren't going to deter the admiration.
Yesss! Finally a proper GTB episode about Wittmann that doesn’t lag
Tremendously courageous combat soldier the likes we will probably never see again. We have no one even close to his combat achievements...
Because the type of wars fought today do not allow for it.
Every tank commander relies on his crew. They are all pivotal and deserving of respect.
The previous generation was so much tougher than we are.
... and so much more brainwashed 🤯
@@m.plotzek3307 LOL, we are brainwashed even more
@@topspot9417 I know right.
@@m.plotzek3307 They were meth heads. high as f**k
@Andy Mills it is not about the camps.Current values are very low.Just consume.Just please yourself.People die for virtual likes, for the stupid and useless challenges.Our education is getting worse and and most important humanity try to live their lives without it's Creator and as such they are doomed.
Who was his loader and gunner? They deserve 60% of his credit if not more .
Gunner was Bobby Woll. But he was not in 007 on 8/8/44
Absolutely. Good point
@@blaircalvin5025 and was awarded the knightscross
BALTASAR WOHL WAS HIS GUNNER, it took him one hour to turn the Tigers tower a full turn!
@@blaircalvin5025 Did he survive the war?
Idolized, no. Respected for his ability, absolutely.
Well spoken Sir.
Should be both idolize and respected.. they lose and consider as a wrong side in history..
@@SalmanKhan-rg2im you consider the Third Reich and it's history as "not wrong"?
@@cj360trider think he is talking about the master tanker which isn’t bad to idolize him for his abilities
@@cj360trider honestly looking at the world today, no they wasnt wrong. Look what Israel is doing to Palestine and the world today. We fought the wrong mates
Thank you so much for this absolutely epic and touching documentary
His moving while firing tactics are the exact basis of US armor tactics used with the Abrams tank to this day.
us technological advance enabled us force to do so but i think it was remarkable in ww2 without modern technology !
In the run-up to the war, British tanks were designed for firing on the move. The 2-pr had no elevation gear, the gunner used his shoulder. Great for a tank melee but inadequate at desert ranges.
@@andrewflindall9048 The modern British tanks are said to be able to move while keeping the target in their sights, was there a gap when they could not?
@@myparceltape1169 The Americans pioneered stabilisation systems during the war but they were not really accurate enough to keep a sight on target. Postwar, things improved, perhaps by the 80s/90s there was a reasonable chance of tracking targets from a moving vehicle. Remember that half the problem is keeping your eye on the sight while you're being chucked around.
@@andrewflindall9048 So it was all up to the gunner and how responsive the gun was to his hands.
Great history on Michael Wittmann, a brave, brilliant, determined and an amazing soldier.
In Normandy he attacked without support. Resulting in the lost of 3 Tigers and 4 Pz IVs for little effect. Destroying 20+ Allied vehicles was impressive but had little overall effect on the Allied advance.
it kinda amazes me we dont know the gunner's name , that guy deserves many more medals in markmanship
I have seen his name mentioned in the comments. It is Balthassar Woll.
@@bracoop2 tank crews changed. You didn't have the same crew in the same tank over 6 years of war.
His Gunner Was Balthassar "Bobbi" Woll...
Balthasar woll wittmanns gunner
"Oh, we're outnumbered?! Hold my beer." Lol.
Hold mein stein
Kurt Knispel just like : *Yeah I just gonna drive my King Tiger to Valhalla then*
The unsung ace, well mostly unsung.
Knipsel was the ultimate tank warrior!
@@DJBI556 Yeah, I only knew of Baron Von Richthofen & his flying circus(the Red Baron)in WW1
He was the working man's tanker.
@@todiathink8864 He was not on party line though.
Gotta love how the short barrelled KWK 37 was referred to as a high velocity weapon
Smol
As a boy, I listened like a fly on the wall, to my dad's pals taking about their war in Europe. They had no illusions about an easy fight against any German tanks, even up to the end. They'd talk about "Mini Tigers" - whatever those were. Small and nimble, come out of nowhere with gun blasting, then disappear back into the wood.
Yeah a lot of the stuff that the Germans tinkered up would have made any lesser opponents think twice about pushing into Germany. Could be they referenced the Hetzer, German tank destroyer based on the PZ38(t) Czech light tank design that the Germans basically removed the turret on (along with various logistical improvements), and mounted a high velocity gun in the hull, very capable and cheap to produce, fielded in large numbers (almost 3000) right near and up to the end. It was used exactly as you described, striking from the shadows and disappeared before anyone knew what was going on. Unbelievably lethal and effective given it's light and cheap construction. It's replacement, the E-10, would have been even lower, faster, and armed with a better gun.
Mini Tigers, probably a Panzer 4, with skirts around the turret. Looked like a mini tiger.
@@larryking7 Perhaps, but I don't know. I think they may have been referring to just about any vehicle the Germans mounted a gun on.
"it's over Whitman we have the high ground!" T-34 unit before death.
All those saying his crew is left out of the glory-Wittman was a soldiers officer, always praising his mates. Don't forget they were also the well-oiled, efficient, killing machine that they were due to his leadership, expertise, and tactics on the battlefield. One could even argue narcotics were equally as crucial to their success, due to the armored crews being given many tablets of Pervitin (Methamphetamine) enabling them to almost constantly push the fight onward, covering so much ground so quickly, Führer and his top generals often had the difficult task of trying to track precisely where his units, thus the new fronts, were.
Pervatin was so common it was called "Tankers' Chocolate."
That's all the Fuhrer needed. Having to worry about reckless Speed Freak Commander's he can't keep track of. Didn't they realize he already had a full plate of conferns?
British soldiers were also routinely given methamphetamine to keep them alert during their sleep deprived hours on the front.
winners dont use drugs
The German Cemetery at La Cambe near Cherbourg may contain thousands of graves. You can easily see Wittman's and his crew by the Wreaths and flowers.
Well done documentary. Amazing footage.
Yet, they still were too lazy to translate what russian tanker said. Subtitles do not match completely )
I put it to you that without his gunner,driver and loader no one would have known the name Wittman.
I put it to you that with a less capable leader the entire team would have been Knocked out long before they did. The tank crew he commanded as a soldier were most certainly different from the ones he commanded as a commissioned officer, same results. Never underestimate the power of great leadership.
Really like the graphics along with the information you give about what your showing it’s very informative
I think it is great that the grave of Michael Wittmann is always adorned with flowers and photos. It is a practice we could do with encouraging today; regrettably today's soldier loses his life and his name is quickly forgotten by all but his family. Instead we make heroes out of sport stars or entertainers. Let's start putting those who make the greatest sacrifice, on the pedestal.
Excellent comment! ^^
single moms are heroes. Oh and nurses.
Loved the British tank guy in commentary, spot on with "....he was no hero to me...."
A bitter man speaking.
@@ImForwardlook good one Terry
Michael Whitman was the 2nd highest scoring tank ace in history.
Several mistakes in this video, here's 2 of them: 1: Germanny invaded Poland on september 1st, 1939. 2: The StuG shown as Wittmann's is armed with a 75/L24 gun, a LOW velocity gun, certainly not a high velocity.
Yes. Iwas liking the documentary until that point. So many big inaccuracies.
The dude SEPT 1939.... THE 1ST WOULD BE INCLUDED!!!!!. I hate stupid comments
It's nice to see actual history
Make A Video on German Ace Tank Commander Kurt Knispel.
The real ace of aces!
That would be so great indeed!
@@6412mars Not really, Michael was the only one vs Knispel and Carrius who start as Commander when he enter in a tank, Knispel got most of his victory as a gunner, Carrius was in too many position in the tank before upgrade to Commander so they got most of their victory in other position. Wittmann got all is victory as a Commander, he was a commander the day he enter in a Stug III. So people forget this fact, but i dont say Knispel, or Carrius are not great commander, but the fact is Wittmann was the best as starting as a Commander.
There are 2 videos on him.
Why ? Please see the KZhead video with Dr Toppel who interviewed kurts actual commander Lots of myth that’s been propagated
Fun fact, Wittmans Tiger 🐅 in this documentary has the number 007
45:23 the most gentle landing of a 10Tun turret in da grass.. it's like it's descending from heaven to give us a message.. so gentle.. so calm..
Great coverage! Thank you, most interesting.
Wow to take out 6 T34s with a Stug. That's pretty amazing if you know the stats. It's a LOW velocity 75mm gun (not high as stated) so he had to get very close.
Eh... You realise that the Stug III had a long barrel version, right? It would have easily cut through the frontal Armour of a T-34 at well over 1000 meters.
@@youraveragescotsman7119 wittman's stug III aufs A was a short barrel version.
@@youraveragescotsman7119 I do but Wittman had the short one. It's in the photo
@@justanotherguy4382 Cheers fella
@@zulubeatz1 Since T34s were poorly made(well lot of them had problems specailly with steel quality and welding) it was possible to destroy them with weaker guns.
Great man .
wittmann was the most skilled tank commander in the world, till now!!!!!!his crew also!!!
I can’t wait to finish this EPIC episode
What a brave young man. Salute !!
I'm more impressed by the Allied tankers who had to fight in inferior tanks and had to go up against him. Who's more braver. There person in one of the most heavily armoured and best gunned tanks of the war or those who know that their chances of surviving against such a tank are slim but still go on? It's a shame that history remembers and admires him but forgets those who didn't get all the praise and hero worshiping. Try giving some thought to them, even though you don't know their names.
@@frankanderson5012 I'd say the Allied tankers who had near unlimited air and artillery power on their side were a tad less brave.
@@frankanderson5012 Completely right especially the British tankers , he got what he deserved .
@@anugranmathimugan2778 America Bias
a great and very interesting documentary with one fault - nobody I have met yet is wise and intelligent enough to understand history in an objective way - to be wise enough to make an objective statement we need to understand what objectivity is beyond our simple-minded belief-systems about "Good and bad". We also have to understand our own projections and the propaganda of the "Good ones". Not easy. I hardly have met people within the anglo-saxon countries able to be near to reality. Well that is the human condition.
Wittman had a very good gunner and driver, it's a team effort in a tank.
Yes, but a good leader matters.
@@gravitatemortuus1080 When it comes to tanks the whole crew is rewarded so i don't know why people only talk about him his gunner was amazing
Michael Whitmann is truly The Black Baron.
No-Kurt Knispel, more kills.
@@dhss333 Kurt wasn’t SS. Hence the “Black” in the title.
@@MEDZFactor Irrelevant & superfluous: Kurt K. was the greatest tank ace.
@@dhss333 yes, but my point is he wouldn’t be referred to as “Black Baron” since he wasn’t SS. That’s all.
@@MEDZFactor BUT the presenter here Calls Witmann the highest scoring ace: not true-Knispel was.
Each of those 3 men deserve credit, but they are by far the greatest Tank Crew that ever existed.
You know nothing of Kurt Knispel.
A tiger had a Crew of 5...Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver, and Hullgunner/radio operator
Good video, I’ve never heard this story, but it is very fascinating!
I'm American and this German tank ace is what a leader should be a man that cares nothing but for his men he even punched a superior in the face
Nobody says a damned word about kurt knipsel,the greatest tank ace of all time,by a significant number. If anyone should have a show about him,it should be this guy.
Knispel! not Knipsel.
When you truly feel as one with your machine you can do absolutely incredible things with it. I'm the exact same way when it comes to my Pontiac.
Lol 😆
Gayest thing you've ever said
Is it a Pontiac Chieftain? haha.
@@thenevadadesertrat2713 I wish lol... Just a good old G8 GT.. Holden Ute knockoff :)
A hero and a great warrior until the end. Thank you for your service.
His driver and gunner were amazing!
What a brave soldier!! Rest in peace forever.
He was indignant upon returning home and seeing the damage from Allied bombing. This from a man who took part in the invasion of Russia. Payback is a b#tch.
@@fredmdbud Funny how that logic wasn't applied to the US during 911.
@@fredmdbud I mean I would be pretty bumped out if my country got obliterated by bombs even though my nation started the whole thing. I don't think I would be very happy about that... (Also pretty much everyone in the german army had a go in Russia because they were conscripted)
A great line up of speakers as well as the action shots. Ken Tout and Radly-Waters? How cool is that.
Guy was Rolling Around in a Stug like he was playing World of Tanks. Lose the tank and gain more XP.
It's always about the tank commander, not the whole crew. The driver, gunner and commander working together was what made for a lethal combination.
Most of these crew members went through all stations anyway.
Legendary 🔥🔥
Is it just me or does it seem like Wittman's gunner deserves most of the credit for these kills? So much of these accomplishments were due to crack shooting and fast reloading.
He's the quarterback.
Yeah, is like the he gets all the credit for being the leader, it happens too often.
It's all about camaraderie, they were like a well oiled machine together.
@@420BulletSponge but Wittman got all the grease
Someone has to spot the target
I love what the old Canadian tanker said at the end. It's alright to study your enemies tactics and victorious soldiers, but as talented as they might have been, if they did those deeds under evil doctrines, then you don't revere or honor them in any way.
Of course. Because the British never did ANYTHING like that in their hundreds of years of ruthless Imperial foreign colonialism, to say nothing of financing this doctrine in no small way by using the profits of the Atlantic Slave Trade, yeah?
Interesting history note. Some of you may already know. Sometime, after the founding of Special Forces, until ~1993, Bad Tölz was a Special Forces post. Easy access to mountain training.
Mr. Wittman's crews are real legend, just like the KV 2 crew
I think he said, each side has tens of thousands of tanks! I just nvr pictured it until he explained how huge these battles are. 3million soldiers against 3 million soldiers!
I'm just imagining the kind of damage these guys would have done in recent times nerves of steel
Now, I know why US rescued some engineers and mechanics from Germany after WW2 and added them to their production teams. Quite incredible and a good move