- Reaction score
- 1
- Points
- 430
The remains of a German soldier regarded as the world’s greatest ever tank ace have been found in a grave in the Czech Republic.
The highest scoring tank ace of WWII was Germany’s Kurt Knispel. Knispel total tank kills were confirmed at 168, with some unconfirmed estimates stating that total could actually be closer to 195 kills. Knispel is considered by some as the greatest tank ace in history. His awards included the Iron Cross, Panzer Assault Badge with 100 engagements and German Cross in Gold.
Kurt Knispel began his basic training at Panzer Replacement Training Battalion. He later received tank training on the Panzer I, Panzer II and Panzer IV tanks. Knispel was also instructed on the Panzer IV as a loader and gunner. When training was completed in June of 1941, Knispel was assigned as gunner of a Panzer IV under the leadership of Lt. Hellman and he began his World War II service.
In January of 1943, Knispel returned for training on the newer Tiger I tanks. At that time, he was already credited with 12 kills. His squadron – 1st Company of the 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion – participated in various battles throughout World War II, eventually upgrading to the Tiger II tank. Knispel is said to have accomplished an incredible 24 hits in one action with the Tiger II tank.
Kurt Knispel was recommended four different times to receive the Knight’s Cross – a coveted award received by many of the other German tank aces. Knispel, however, did not mind that he was consistently passed over. The purpose of his mission was not for decoration. He is even said to have credited others with kills he could have easily disputed as his own. His rise in ranks was slow which is attributed to a few conflicts he encountered with Nazi authorities - for instance, he assaulted an Einsatzgruppen officer whom he saw mistreating Soviet POWs) Only his impressive track-record saved him from ending up in a military prison) and his lack of typical military uniformity – sporting longer hair than most and a goatee.
Kurt Knispel – an individual who fought in every type of German tank as a loader, a gunner and a commander – received a fatal wound just ten days before the end of the war. At age 23, the highest scoring tank ace of WWII – Kurt Knispel – was dead.
An English link:
http://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/tiger-in-the-tank-historians-find-body-of-german-war-hero.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tiger-in-the-tank-historians-find-body-of-german-war-hero
The following links are all in Czech:
http://www.severniceskobudejovicko.estranky.cz/clanky/z-jinych-regionu/nalez-ostatku-kurta-knispela.html
http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/regiony...kistickeho-esa/
http://www.denik.cz/galerie/hroby-vojaci...rt-knispel.html
http://www.severniceskobudejovicko.estranky.cz/clanky/z-jinych-regionu/nalez-ostatku-kurta-knispela.html
The highest scoring tank ace of WWII was Germany’s Kurt Knispel. Knispel total tank kills were confirmed at 168, with some unconfirmed estimates stating that total could actually be closer to 195 kills. Knispel is considered by some as the greatest tank ace in history. His awards included the Iron Cross, Panzer Assault Badge with 100 engagements and German Cross in Gold.
Kurt Knispel began his basic training at Panzer Replacement Training Battalion. He later received tank training on the Panzer I, Panzer II and Panzer IV tanks. Knispel was also instructed on the Panzer IV as a loader and gunner. When training was completed in June of 1941, Knispel was assigned as gunner of a Panzer IV under the leadership of Lt. Hellman and he began his World War II service.
In January of 1943, Knispel returned for training on the newer Tiger I tanks. At that time, he was already credited with 12 kills. His squadron – 1st Company of the 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion – participated in various battles throughout World War II, eventually upgrading to the Tiger II tank. Knispel is said to have accomplished an incredible 24 hits in one action with the Tiger II tank.
Kurt Knispel was recommended four different times to receive the Knight’s Cross – a coveted award received by many of the other German tank aces. Knispel, however, did not mind that he was consistently passed over. The purpose of his mission was not for decoration. He is even said to have credited others with kills he could have easily disputed as his own. His rise in ranks was slow which is attributed to a few conflicts he encountered with Nazi authorities - for instance, he assaulted an Einsatzgruppen officer whom he saw mistreating Soviet POWs) Only his impressive track-record saved him from ending up in a military prison) and his lack of typical military uniformity – sporting longer hair than most and a goatee.
Kurt Knispel – an individual who fought in every type of German tank as a loader, a gunner and a commander – received a fatal wound just ten days before the end of the war. At age 23, the highest scoring tank ace of WWII – Kurt Knispel – was dead.
An English link:
http://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/tiger-in-the-tank-historians-find-body-of-german-war-hero.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tiger-in-the-tank-historians-find-body-of-german-war-hero
The following links are all in Czech:
http://www.severniceskobudejovicko.estranky.cz/clanky/z-jinych-regionu/nalez-ostatku-kurta-knispela.html
http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/regiony...kistickeho-esa/
http://www.denik.cz/galerie/hroby-vojaci...rt-knispel.html
http://www.severniceskobudejovicko.estranky.cz/clanky/z-jinych-regionu/nalez-ostatku-kurta-knispela.html
