King Tiger
Active Member
Thanks ed9119 and ClubSNAP Photography Community.
I am very much appreciate and would be happy to share with everyone on war history.
King Tiger's World War 2 Battlefield Tour (Europe)
- Thread starter King Tiger
- Start date
Thanks ed9119 and ClubSNAP Photography Community.
I am very much appreciate and would be happy to share with everyone on war history.
magicdragon
Member
KT i"ve always enjoyed your "Now & Then" series. Suggest you print a book - maybe an ebook for starters. Fantastic - I guess most of the pictures of "Then" would be shot on a 5 cm lens. Maybe that should be your defacto lens although I do understand why you use something a little wider - composition.
King Tiger
Active Member
Yes, most of the pictures of "Then" photos were taken using 50mm lense at that time.
Thanks for your suggestion, magicdragon, I do have the intention to compile all the photos into a book as an memorial collection of my tour.
King Tiger
Active Member
15. Villers Bocage
28 years ago, in 1984, I purchase a magazine call "War Machine".
This magazine was then advertised in TV and sold in major Times bookstore.
Before that, I do not have any knowledge of who is Michael Wittman.
Further reading on the magazine lead me to the knowledge of an elite Tank Ace that exist in modern tank warfare.
28 years ago, in 1984, I purchase a magazine call "War Machine".
This magazine was then advertised in TV and sold in major Times bookstore.
Before that, I do not have any knowledge of who is Michael Wittman.
Further reading on the magazine lead me to the knowledge of an elite Tank Ace that exist in modern tank warfare.
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King Tiger
Active Member
Over the years, I began the read more about the man, his tactics and deployment and the tank he use.
Before Michael Wittman was transfer to the Western Front, he is already an elite fighting veteran in the Eastern Front.
Before Michael Wittman was transfer to the Western Front, he is already an elite fighting veteran in the Eastern Front.
King Tiger
Active Member
For his continued excellence in combat on the Eastern Front, Michael Wittman was personnally awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and the Oak Leaves by Adolf Hilter.
The Allies do not known of such an elite existence in combat then, and the British will soon know him well, forever.
And his action in combat would become an major case study in military institution world wide.
The Allies do not known of such an elite existence in combat then, and the British will soon know him well, forever.
And his action in combat would become an major case study in military institution world wide.
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King Tiger
Active Member
Some of the German tank men facing the Allies in Normandy were of extreme tough professionals,
hardened by the bitter fighting on the Russian Front, and none was tougher than Michael Wittmann.
Michael Wittmann's ability and reputation increase over the time during his participation in
Invasion of Poland in 1939
Battle of France in 1940
The Greek campaign in early 1941
Operations in Balkans in early 1941
Operation Barbarossa and many local & major eastern fronts battles from Jun 1941 onwards (including Battle of Kursk in July 1943)
Video about Michael Wittmann in Villers Bocage
[video=youtube;RKRSv7d9_QQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKRSv7d9_QQ&feature=related[/video]
hardened by the bitter fighting on the Russian Front, and none was tougher than Michael Wittmann.
Michael Wittmann's ability and reputation increase over the time during his participation in
Invasion of Poland in 1939
Battle of France in 1940
The Greek campaign in early 1941
Operations in Balkans in early 1941
Operation Barbarossa and many local & major eastern fronts battles from Jun 1941 onwards (including Battle of Kursk in July 1943)
Video about Michael Wittmann in Villers Bocage
[video=youtube;RKRSv7d9_QQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKRSv7d9_QQ&feature=related[/video]
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King Tiger
Active Member
KT and wife on the way to Villers-Bocage
Exact location of both Allies and Tiger tank knock out at Villers-Bocage
Exact location of both Allies and Tiger tank knock out at Villers-Bocage
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King Tiger
Active Member
Battle of Villers-Bocage took place on 13 June 1944, when the British 7th Armoured Division was given the task to take Villers-Bocage.
The battle was the result of a British attempt to improve their position by exploiting a temporary vulnerability in the German defences to the west of the city of Caen.
They had to move south into the gap between the British and American sector.
Head of the column consisted of the 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) and as reconnaissance unit the 8th- and 11th Hussars Regiment.
Around 1600 hours on 12 June, the column moved, the road was small, but good enough.
Problem was the bocage, the infamous Normandy hedges, it was thick and could conceal German armour for ambush.
The battle was the result of a British attempt to improve their position by exploiting a temporary vulnerability in the German defences to the west of the city of Caen.
They had to move south into the gap between the British and American sector.
Head of the column consisted of the 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) and as reconnaissance unit the 8th- and 11th Hussars Regiment.
Around 1600 hours on 12 June, the column moved, the road was small, but good enough.
Problem was the bocage, the infamous Normandy hedges, it was thick and could conceal German armour for ambush.
King Tiger
Active Member
On 13 June, the British 7th Armour Division was moving towards Villers-Bocage.
Michael Wittmann's tanks have arrived the day before in the evening.
He have been study the surrounding area, observing the British column from distance of ambush position and had a good impression of the strength and nature of the force he was up against.
Michael Wittmann's tanks have arrived the day before in the evening.
He have been study the surrounding area, observing the British column from distance of ambush position and had a good impression of the strength and nature of the force he was up against.
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King Tiger
Active Member
The Tiger of Wittmann appeared suddenly from ambush position to the main road and destroyed the advancing tanks within seconds.
The whole road was packed with vehicles.
The Tiger from Wittmann started to shoot at the vehicles of A Company, 1st Rifle Brigade.
The Half Tracks were no match against the violence of the 88 mm gun of the Tiger tank.
Also the anti-tank section with their Carriers stood no change and where, for the time, unable to bring their guns in position to stop the German tank.
Total destroyed Half Tracks of the 1st Rifle Brigade
The destroyed anti-tank section
The same fate of anti-tank section
The whole road was packed with vehicles.
The Tiger from Wittmann started to shoot at the vehicles of A Company, 1st Rifle Brigade.
The Half Tracks were no match against the violence of the 88 mm gun of the Tiger tank.
Also the anti-tank section with their Carriers stood no change and where, for the time, unable to bring their guns in position to stop the German tank.
Total destroyed Half Tracks of the 1st Rifle Brigade
The destroyed anti-tank section
The same fate of anti-tank section
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King Tiger
Active Member
Michael Wittmann realised that he was making a dangerous manoeuvre.
From the side roads he could expect an anti-tank weapon. But the targets were to good too pass on them.
The first destroyed Stuart by Michael Wittmann
From the side roads he could expect an anti-tank weapon. But the targets were to good too pass on them.
The first destroyed Stuart by Michael Wittmann
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King Tiger
Active Member
Jun 1944 - Villers-Bocage was a town which was still undamaged in the early hours of 13 June.
But at the end of the day, the main street and the surroundings was a mess of destroyed and burning vehicles, houses in ruins and dead soldiers.
May 2010 - Villers-Bocage today
But at the end of the day, the main street and the surroundings was a mess of destroyed and burning vehicles, houses in ruins and dead soldiers.
May 2010 - Villers-Bocage today
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King Tiger
Active Member
Meanwhile Michael Wittmann drove in a steady pace down the main road into Villers-Bocage and pounded every vehicle of RHQ Troop in his sight.
Next victim was the Cromwell tank.
Jun 1944 - The crippled Cromwell
May 2010 - Notice the same bricks wall today
Next victim was the Cromwell tank.
Jun 1944 - The crippled Cromwell
May 2010 - Notice the same bricks wall today
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King Tiger
Active Member
Next in line of Michael Wittmann's victim was again a Cromwell tank.
Jun 1944 - A knocked out Cromwell tank in Villers-Bocage
May 2010 - Notice the new fencing on left and the same door at the extreme right
Jun 1944 - A knocked out Cromwell tank in Villers-Bocage
May 2010 - Notice the new fencing on left and the same door at the extreme right
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King Tiger
Active Member
This was the Sherman tank from K Battery, 5th Royal Horse Artillery.
Wittmann fired two armoured piercing shells at the Sherman tank.
The first one smashed just in front of the Sherman, the second hit the turret on the left.
The Sherman driver was slightly hurt but managed to escape through the escape hatch in the floor of the Sherman, he was hit by shrapnel below the knee.
Jun 1944 - A knock out Sherman tank
May 2010 - Notice the same 4 windows at the background
Cross referencing at site. Just to share, standing at exact site was a wonderful experience
Wittmann fired two armoured piercing shells at the Sherman tank.
The first one smashed just in front of the Sherman, the second hit the turret on the left.
The Sherman driver was slightly hurt but managed to escape through the escape hatch in the floor of the Sherman, he was hit by shrapnel below the knee.
Jun 1944 - A knock out Sherman tank
May 2010 - Notice the same 4 windows at the background
Cross referencing at site. Just to share, standing at exact site was a wonderful experience
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King Tiger
Active Member
Another next of line is also the Cromwell tanks, and one 88mm shot was enough to knock out the Cromwell and start a fire which consumed the tank.
Jun 1944
May 2010
Jun 1944
May 2010
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King Tiger
Active Member
Jun 1944 - A knock out Sherman Tank at Villers-Bocage
May 2010 - A site of a parking lot today
Cross reference thru photos of Then and Now
May 2010 - A site of a parking lot today
Cross reference thru photos of Then and Now
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King Tiger
Active Member
Later of the event, the Germans counter attack to recapture the whole area from the British.
Here Tiger tank of 1./s.SS-Pz.Abt and a PzKpfw IV of Panzer Lehr Division moved into the streets of Villers-Bocage,
and they were both put out of action by the anti-tank gun of British 1st/7th Queens.
Jun 1944 - A knock out Tiger Tank
May 2010 - A Parking Lot today
This is how I cross reference between "Then and Now" when I was at the site.
Here Tiger tank of 1./s.SS-Pz.Abt and a PzKpfw IV of Panzer Lehr Division moved into the streets of Villers-Bocage,
and they were both put out of action by the anti-tank gun of British 1st/7th Queens.
Jun 1944 - A knock out Tiger Tank
May 2010 - A Parking Lot today
This is how I cross reference between "Then and Now" when I was at the site.
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