The Clint Eastwood film “American sniper” where was celebrated the talent ballistic of an American soldier in the latest war in Iraq drew little-known to the general public and distant figure of a German soldier of World War II, Michael Wittmann. He was an officer of the Waffen-SS, and is considered as one of the most effective commanders of World War II tanks. Born in Vogelthal, in Bavaria the 22 April 1914 from a farming family, He entered’ Army in 1934. In 1937 he enlisted in the SS. The physical characteristics and abilities Wittmann tactics enabled him once in the 1° Sturm/92 Standarte of the Elite Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler ", to obtain the right to drive the armored Sdkfz 222 and Sdkfz 232. Later he distinguished himself for the skill with which he led these means arriving at Regiment Recon Company. In September 1939 Wittmann took part in the campaign of Poland in charge of a heavy armored Sdkfz 232. At the turn of the 1940 and the 1941 Michael Wittmann was able to measure his abilities during the Balkans campaign, in command of a platoon of Sturmgeschutz III Ausf A. The 22 June 1941 began l’ Operation Barbarossa opening facing East. In this adventure Wittmann got his iron cross 2nd class since they managed to destroy several Soviet tanks. Subsequent undertakings they will deserve the Iron Cross first class. This was followed by the badge for Fighting with armored vehicles for the enterprise of destroying six enemy tanks in the same action. In 1943 passed from the panzer to Tiger and distinguished himself by destroying two antitank guns and thirteen wagons t. 34 Russians. Wittmann climbing towards new decorations would not. The 13 June 1944, near the village of Villers-Bocage. went down in history when in no time destroyed 21 tanks and other 28 armored vehicles of the British 7th Armoured Division. Michael Wittmann died in circumstances never fully clarified in Caen l’ 8 August 1944. The u.s. and Britain have claimed for decades upon the end of Wittmann. This made even an indirect tribute to German by enemies who recognized the great military value. It is estimated that Wittmann succeeded in’ Enterprise to destroy about 270 military vehicles. In 1983 the mystery found a solution when the receipts were found on a float of the squadron in the Northamptonshire Yeomanry, equipped with Sherman Firefly. Also, his remains were found with large lag, delivering the mystery of Wittmann into history.
Hector Parker
