Battle of Villers-Bocage

Michael Wittmann[?], an SS-Obersturmfuhrer, led a unit of six PzKpfw VI Tigers from the 501st Battalion to secure the N175 road near Villers-Bocage, south of Caen. They arrived on the night of June 12-13 and set up to the north-east of the village.

At around 0830 on the 13th a British force approached from the north-west, two battalions - one of armour the other motorized infantry, both of the 7th Armoured Division[?]. Wittmann's tank was in an advanced position and he recklessly charged his vehicle into the British column, splitting it and then engaging the British forces at very short range before passing along and across the British line into the village. The other tanks of his unit moved up and the British column suffered heavy losses.

The British vehicle losses for that day were 20 Cromwells, 4 Fireflys, and 3 Stuarts, as well as 30 halftracks or gun carriers. Wittmann's personal tally is uncertain, most sources say nine, but estimates range to over thirty vehicles. His tank was disabled in the village but he escaped on foot and reported to division headquarters which sent a further fifteen tanks and also Panzer Grenadiers into the village. Fierce fighting ended with the village in British hands but they were forced to withdraw the following day. The village was almost totally destroyed.

Wittmann was flown to Germany on June 25 to be personally decorated by Adolf Hitler. He returned to France and was killed in August in fighting around Falaise.