Michael Wittmann

Uncommon card · No. 90104

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...

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