Its 60 years since he drove into the town and sparked a whole load of debate! I suspect he would be glad to know people still argue over his actions...

This from 'Achtung Panzer'

"Wittmann in Villers Bocage"
'On 13th June 1944, a week after D-day, following a drive from Beauvais under repeated air attack, 2nd Kompanie of sSSPzAbt 101 led by Michael Wittmann had 6 Tigers located in the area of Hill (Point) 213 ahove Villers Bocage. His orders were to stop the advance of the 22nd Armored Brigade of the British 7th Armored Division (the famous 'Desert Rats') from advancing through the township, outflanking the German line and gaining the road to Caen. Wittmann's company hidden behind a hedgerow spotted the enemy column, which passed him at a distance of 200 meters. At about 8:00am, Wittmann attacked the British column on the main road, while the rest of his company (4 Tigers as one brokedown) attacked the British forces around Hill 213. Soon after, Wittmann destroyed Sherman Firefly and Cromwell IV and headed south to attack the rest of the enemy transport column. After knocking out 8 half-tracks, 4 Bren Carriers and 2 6 pdr anti-tank guns, Wittmann reached the crossroad with the road to Tilly-sur-Seulles. At the crossroad, he destroyed 3 Stuart tanks from recon unit and reached the outskirts of the town of Villers-Bocage. While in town, Wittmann destroyed 4 Cromwell IV tanks and single half-track and turns into Rue Pasteur. Following up the street, he knocked out Cromwell IV and Sherman OP tank, reaching the main street of Villers-Bocage. At the end of Rue Pasteur, Wittmann's Tiger was hit by Sherman Firefly from B Squadron and he decided to turn back as being too far forward without any infantry support and in a build-up area. He turned in the direction of Caen to join the rest of his company. On his way back, Wittmann's Tiger was attacked by another Cromwell IV, which he destroyed as well. Back at the Tilly crossroad, British soldiers from 1st Rifle Brigade opened fire at Wittmann with their 6 pdr anti-tank gun, immobilizing his Tiger. Wittmann and his crew managed to escape on foot towards the Panzer Lehr positions 7km away near Orbois. The rest of his company at the Hill 213, destroyed the rest of the A Squadron of 4th County of London Yeomanry Regiment ("Sharpshooters") including 5 Cromwell IV and Sherman Firefly, while capturing 30 men. During this short engagement, Wittmann's company destroyed 4 Sherman Firefly, 20 Cromwell, 3 Stuart, 3 M4 Sherman OP, 14 half-tracks, 16 Bren Carriers and 2 6 pdr anti-tank guns. Wittmann's attack was followed by another one by Tigers of Hauptsturmfuehrer Rolf Moebius' 1st Kompanie of sSSPzAbt 101 and Panzerkampfwagen IV tanks from Panzer Lehr but was repulsed by anti-tank guns from 22nd Armored Brigade. Following day, British withdrew from the town leaving it to the Germans, who occupied it for next two months. The British drive on Villers Bocage and Caen was stopped cold by Wittmann's attack and following actions.'

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"Watch that Fu*ker, he'll 'ave someones eye out!" King Harold at Hastings 1066.

Not quite right..........
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtop...r=asc&start=15

Thanks for the link, m kenny....excellent discussion & fascinating after-action photos.

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

The lads from 7th Armoured Division were in Villers-Bocage this weekend, remembering fallen comrades from 1944.

I have some great photos of V-B which I will be adding to my site sometime soon.

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Paul Reed
Webmaster - Battlefields of WW2- http://www.ww2battlefields.info
D Day Ancestors: The British Army in Normandy - http://www.ddayancestors.com

Sommecourt - Whats your website??? Can you post the address.

MKenny - interesting stuff, but not how I see it. But do you know from where the pictures come from? And just so you know I dont agree with the Achtung PAnzer site. It was just the easiest to find and Post. I would be grateful if you know where those pics are from as I could use them on our yearly field trip with the Uni. We dont have some of them!!!

Thanks Guys

RED

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"Watch that Fu*ker, he'll 'ave someones eye out!" King Harold at Hastings 1066.

Sorry, but LOL @ RB!

RB, Read Paul's post again...very carefully!

HAHAHAHA....sorry, RB no pun intended....

[ 13. June 2004, 01:00 PM: Message edited by: Stevin ]

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"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" - Homer Simpson

what Stevin?

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"Watch that Fu*ker, he'll 'ave someones eye out!" King Harold at Hastings 1066.

His Sig!

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"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" - Homer Simpson

Ah now I see...

Never read that far down...

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"Watch that Fu*ker, he'll 'ave someones eye out!" King Harold at Hastings 1066.

I believe the "Through The Lens" V-B edition can be of use here??? (Trying to get back OT)

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"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" - Homer Simpson

The pictures are from the Pathe Newsreel site, German weekly newsreels and a book on captured tanks,. As I said in the linked post the troop plate on the turret rear marks the Fireflies out as 4th CLY tanks. No matter how many times it is repeated it simply is not possible that Wittmann met Dyas head on. Wittmann was knocked out in the town and NOT by a 6pdr outside the town. There is no source for the 6pdr claim other than Taylor trying to make the 'facts' fit the Dyas version of events.

Cheers for the info MKenny, are they on any website??? Been looking for pictures of the Stuarts mainly. What about the accounts of the Tiger crew who saw two(?) KO tigers at the junction? Will try to find it and post it. Which Tiger do you think is Wittmanns??? Was it photographed do you think?

[ 13. June 2004, 05:03 PM: Message edited by: TheRedBaron ]

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"Watch that Fu*ker, he'll 'ave someones eye out!" King Harold at Hastings 1066.

There have always been photos of Wittmann's Tiger knocked out in the high street. On pages 66,67 and 70 of Taylors book and Agte has another of it after it was bombed. There was never any 'mystery' about it just that for some reason people prefer to speculate and exagerate instead of reading first-hand accounts or consulting authenticated photos (much like the contrived acounts about Wittmann's death).

The Tiger with the dead crewman was most likely #231 seen being towed (by #222)on pages 80/81. It has a hit on the drivers visor and the 1 dead 2nd kp. SS 101 crewman was a driver.
If you go to the Pathe site and type in 'Villers Bocage' you will get the film in storyboard form and you can download the stills as well as view the film.
The clip from Pathé is 1987.09

Cheers Matey!

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"Watch that Fu*ker, he'll 'ave someones eye out!" King Harold at Hastings 1066.