Interview with Michael Wittmann - June 1944

[Reporter:] Interview with Obersturmführer Wittmann, recipient of the Oak Leaves [to the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross], who destroyed his 138. tank today and destroyed 21 enemy combat vehicles within 20 minutes. One Tiger against an English tank regiment. Wittmann, recipient of the Oak Leaves, the most successful tank commander, performed one of his masterpieces again today. Obersturmführer Wittmann destroyed today within 20 minutes 21 English tanks and scattered an APC battalion. With one Tiger he drove into the enemy and accomplished this bravura piece. Obersturmführer Wittmann is now here with us at the command post of the division and he is still very fatigued from the harshness of this fight. Obersturmführer, this was probably the hardest fight you ever had? [Wittmann:] Yes, I have to say it was a very, very difficult decision and never before I was impressed so much by the strength of the tanks that rolled by. But I knew that it had to be done and decided to attack into the enemy. [Reporter:] That was an entire tank regiment that suddenly went past you? [Wittmann:] That was an entire tank regiment. That tank regiment surprised me. My task was to be on standby in the vicinity of Villers for possible enemy attacks from northeast…northwestern direction, I was in my command post and didn’t even think that suddenly enemies could show up. I’ve sent someone to set up communication to another unit which was further ahead and was now waiting for him to come back with new messages. Then suddenly a man came into my command post and said to me “Obersturmführer, there are tanks driving by out there, they look strangely round, and I don’t believe they are German” I went immediately outside and saw tanks rolling by in 150-200 meters distance, they were English and American types. At the same time, those tanks were accompanied by an armored personal carrier- battalion. I didn’t have enough time to assemble my entire company but had to act quickly because I had to assume the enemy already recognized me and wanted to ambush me in my position. I instantly drove off with one combat vehicle and gave orders to not fall back one step, but to hold the ground here. Closed in on the column, surprised the English just as they surprised me, first destroyed two tanks on the right side of the column, then one of the left side, then turned around and put myself right into the tank regiment with the APC battalion. I then drove towards them on the same street and destroyed, while driving, every tank that came towards me. This caused enormous confusion with the enemy. I then closed in on the town of Villers, went until approximately the center, where I received a heavy AT-Gun hit. My tank became immobilized. I then shot up everything that was still there, had no radio contact so I couldn’t lead my company anymore. My tanks didn’t follow me because they weren’t ready quick enough. [Reporter:] So you stood with one Tiger against this entire regiment in the village? [Wittmann:] I stood with my single Tiger against this entire tank and armored personal carrier group. [Reporter:] And you were completely uncamouflaged? [Wittmann:] Yes, I was camoufl…, no, uncamouflaged, I just drove into the column. [Reporter:] And, well, Obersturmführer, you said that there was an APC-battalion, you shot them up as well and they broke apart? [Wittmann:] Yes, they couldn’t even get away from the road, they were so surprised they ran away, but not with their vehicles, they got out and I shoot them up while driving past them. [Reporter:] But in a way you could say that every shot had to hit? [Wittmann:] Yes, first shot first hit, while driving. [Reporter:] And how many combat vehicles were there in total, Obersturmführer? [Wittmann:] I could destroy 21 combat vehicles, and then on top of that the armored personal carriers, but I cant remember how many of them were there, this has to be determined later. Anyway, when I received that AT-Gun hit, my tank became immobilized, I couldn’t radio anymore and I was cut off from my company, right amongst the Tommy. I first shot up everything and then decided to leave my tank, to my weapons with me as far as we could carry them, didn’t blew up the tank because I believed we could recover it later, I then muddled through to a division, about 15 kilometers, had to bypass enemy tanks several times and had the opportunity to destroy them in close combat, but had no AT-weapons, so I had to give up on that with a heavy heart. So I came to the division and reported to the division and to my corps immediately, and then an atta…counterattack, a counterattack was launched, and the enemy was destroyed. And with that, the tank regiment with its armored personal carrier- battalion was largely destroyed. [Reporter:] Destroyed by one Tiger and by the most successful German tank commander. Obersturmführer, you achieved your 138. kill today.