titan20
Posts: 339
Joined: 8/18/2006
From: , KY, USA
Status: online
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That was really cool. . .I hadn't seen that before. It's hard not to recognize the bravery and superb combat tactics of some of the Germans. Although Whittman seems to be the most recognized, I'm reading a very good autobiographical account of Otto Carrius -- who I think was next in line behind Whittman with kills in his Tiger (and earlier Panzers). I think what makes his story interesting, is his dimunitive stature and humble begins. Whittman looks the part of the German "supersoldier", while Carrius looked like he was close to be 4f. It's amazing to read how many T-34s he destroyed -- especially at one time. According to him, it's not like the T-34's were bad equipment; the Russians just used bad tactics. There are many stories of impossible odds in the German army. Of course, you have to take in to account their situation with manpower. Take fighter aces for example. When an American became a fighter ace, usually he was taken out of combat, flown back to the states, and used to drive the war effort. The Germans, being short on manpower anyway, had no such luxuries. That's why you see German fighter aces, and tank aces for that matter, with HUGE numbers of kills. They simply weren't able to go home. I was reading another story the other day (forgot the tank commander's name) about a lone Panther defending the road at Normady for something like 2 or 3 days, stopping everything in its path until it was finally taken out. From what I read, Whittman's death is shrouded in mystery. There are several different versions of his demise. One, has him being taken out by aerial bombardment. The other, which I think a lot of people agree on, is that he was purposely targeted in a big ambush plan by something like 13 or 14 Sherman Fireflies -- and they literally pounded him to death.
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Wittmann and Normandy - 
for the links !!!
