Panzer kills for 'Panzer Commander Aces' and 'Panzer Gunner Aces'

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Dear Hardigan,

Thank you for the update. Pintere and I had been expecting that.

Edward L. Hsiao

[pintere]

Dear Hardigan,

Thank you for the update. Pintere and I had been expecting that.

Edward L. Hsiao

Ditto

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

On page 205 of the book "Totenkopf" Volume 2 by Mark Yeager and Ignacio Arrondo, SS-Unterscharführer Rudolf Wohlrab of SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3 was credited with 26 tank kills and destruction of 28 anti-tank guns.

Edward L. Hsiao

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Obersturmfuhrer Johann Weerts of 5.SS Panzer Wiking had 39 tank kills. Source, "German Cross in Gold,Volume 8",page 306.

Edward L. Hsiao

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

From what I knew was that there were no firm rules of how many enemy tanks and enemy AFVs destroyed in order to get the Knight's Cross for a panzer commander. I don't know for sure.


Edward L. Hsiao

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Obersturmfuhrer Loritz of Schwer SS-Panzer Abteilung 102 had destroyed about 20 Allied tanks in Normandy with his Tiger 231. From the book called "Tiger I on the Western Front" By Jean Restayn.

Edward L. Hsiao

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

Wachtmeister Alfons Halbig of 1./Stu.Gesch,Abt. 244 had destroyed 8 enemy tanks in a splendid duel on 15 Feburary 1944. Source is from page 124 of the book "Sturmgeschutze vor!-Assault Guns to the Front!" by Franz Kurowski.

Edward L. Hsiao

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Leutnant Winkelmann,Platoon leader 1.Batter./Heer.Sturmgeschutz-Brig.184 knocked out 9 enemy tanks under the most difficult circumstances against a superior enemy. Information is from page 262 of the book "The Oder Front 1945,Volume 2" by A. Stephan Hamilton

Edward L. Hsiao

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Hauptsturmfuhrer Johann Riess and his men were attacking Soviet tanks while operating inside their moving light Panzerjager IV vehicles. In one battle,Reiss and his men destroyed 22 enemy tanks,including four he destroyed with his won vehicle. The information I gotten about the battle is from page 99 from the book "German Cross in Gold-Holders of the SS and Police" Volume 6. No information about the total of enemy tanks destroyed by Johann Riess. I had to settle down in for just 4+ kills for Johann Riess who served in Polizei Panzerjager Abteilung for all his combat service.


Edward L. Hsiao

[pintere]

I have a number of new names to add from the excellent "Der Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht" series of books.

Harry Paletta - SS Sturmgeschütz Abteilung 1007 - 12 kills
Albert Dressel -Panzer Abteilung 160 - 16 kills
Alois Eckert - Panzer Regiment 33 - 11 kills
Johann Eggers - Panzer Regiment 6 - 46 kills
Robert Eichert - Panzer Regiment 36 - 36 kills
Wolfgang Eichler - Panzer Regiment 29 - 15 kills
Franz Fischer - Führer Panzer Regiment 1 - 73 kills
Wilhelm Günther - Panzer Regiment 2 - 42 kills
Rudolf Haen - Panzer Abteilung 103 - 19 kills
Helmut Harth - Panzer Regiment 21 - 60 kills
Heinrich Hendricks - Panzer Regiment 33 - 38 kills
Helmut Höhno - Schwere Panzer Abteilung 510 - 83 kills

It is a terrible shame that the Panzertruppe volume of the series had to end at "H"...

[Edward L. Hsiao]

There is really no end in finding names for Panzer Commander Aces. I was hopping that someone would discover at least one more German tank ace that is unknown and had over 100 destroyed enemy tanks to his credit. Not yet. Helmut Hohno with 83 tank kills came close.


Edward L. Hsiao

[pintere]

There is really no end in finding names for Panzer Commander Aces. I was hopping that someone would discover at least one more German tank ace that is unknown and had over 100 destroyed enemy tanks to his credit. Not yet. Helmut Hohno with 83 tank kills came close.


Edward L. Hsiao

Indeed. By this point the low hanging fruit has been plucked so I doubt there'll be one that shows up with over 100 destroyed tanks. Like you say though 83 is pretty close, and I think probably contains less inflation than some of the more celebrated SS tank commanders.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Eichenlaubträger Josef Jakwert yet. He is credited with 51 destroyed tanks.

[Miles Krogfus]

For the armor "kills" of Hans Loritz, see my post of October 22, 2015: "2 Komp./102 SS Tigers in Normandy."
He was named in company combat reports as shooting 6 tanks on August 3rd in Tiger #232, 2 on August 4th in #232, 4 on the 11th in #232, 6 on the 12th for a total of 18. A paragraph from the 2nd company August 14th combat report tells the story of his demise:

[pintere]

Here's one I'm really surprised has remained hidden until now! Karl Ketterer of the 4th Panzer division. He is credited with 96 tanks destroyed and was apparently the most successful Panzer commander of the whole 35th Panzer regiment. Considering this was definitely one of the most distinguished panzer regiments of the war this was no mean feat.

[Michael Kenny]

. A paragraph from the 2nd company August 14th combat report tells the story of his demise:

In English:

August 14th
Available: 241, 212, 231

Task: Defense against tank attacks

Execution: Around 06h00 thick fog, augmented by artificial fog, is lying at the sector. Own infantry did not hold contact on both flanks, therefor enemy infantry could infiltrate and suddenly stands right in front of the Tigers. Nevertheless, enemy can be kept at bay. Enemy brings forward tanks and AT guns. Uscha Münster (212) is under attack with close-combat weapons and later receives AT gun hit at the turret wounding some of the crew. Short time later the other 2 Tigers are under attack and Ustuf Loritz (231) and Ustuf Schroif are able to knock out 1 tank each at close quarters. Shortly afterwards Ustuf Loritz (231) is knocked-out. All crew-member are killed. Company is ordered to support the (counter-)attack to throw the enemy. Only weak elements make it to the tanks and stay there, because resistance is too strong. Around 14h00 another Tiger arrives (Uscha Oberhuber, 222). 5 Panther which had stopped to the right side of the road are being pulled out shortly afterwards. At this time enemy starts to pound the area with strong bomber forces. Company evades together with grenadier company (10 soldiers) and later-on receives new orders by commanding officer through Ostuf Kalls.

Task: Around 18h00 personal oral order by Osutf Kalls from battalion: Company is to move out immediately, reaches and takes up position at Hill 184 north-east of Soulagny.

Execution: Company moves out immediately and reaches via St. Pierre, and there turning eastward, Soulagny. Here infantry in battalion strength streams to the rear, in hot pursuit by 12 enemy tanks. At dusk Ustuf Schroif (241) knocks out 3 Sherman. Own infantry is able to hold (?).