Wittmann's Heavies by Richard Taylor

Prints are signed by the artist and numbered 11 Veteran Editions Matted size: 24" x 16 1/2" Mounting includes a museum-quality reproduction a SS Heavy Panzer badge

Led by SS-Hauptsturmführer Michael Wittmann, a company of MkVI Tiger tanks from SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101 heads towards the small Normandy town of Villiers-Bocage, June 1944.

If Hitler had deployed his reserve Panzer divisions earlier the Germans might well have stymied the Allied advance off the Normandy beaches. But he dithered, still convinced that the long-expected invasion would come in the Pas-de-Calais. It took valuable time for the German armour to reach the front line by which time the Allies were probing deep inland.

Artist Richard Taylor has superbly created this impressive drawing depicting SS-Hauptsturmführer Michael Wittmann, arguably the most successful Panzer Ace of the war, leading his company of Mk.VI Tiger tanks west towards the heavy fighting around Caen. On the morning of 13 June Wittmann surprised a squadron of British Cromwell tanks in the town of Villiers-Bocage where, in the space of just 15 minutes, he and his small force destroyed 14 British tanks and a large number of other vehicles and guns.

Hitler was thrilled, awarding Wittmann Swords to his Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, but the jubilation was short-lived. On 8 August Wittmann himself was ambushed, this time in an apple orchard south of Caen, when his Tiger was destroyed by a timely hit from the 17-pounder anti-tank cannon of a British Sherman Firefly. The legendary Panzer Ace was dead.

Signatures:

SS-Hauptsturmführer MICHAEL WITTMANN Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords - One of the most successful tank commanders of WWII with 138 official tank victories

Obergefreiter HENRY METELMANN - Tank driver with the 22nd Panzer Division

Sturmann KARL-HEINZ DECKER - Tank crewman with the 12th Waffen SS Panzer Division