Michael Wittmann (April 22, 1914 - August 8, 1944) was a German SS-Hauptsturmführer during World War II. Wittman's crews (chiefly gunner Balthasar "Bobby" Woll, also a Knight's Cross holder) are credited with the confirmed destruction of 138 tanks and 141 artillery pieces, along with an unknown number of other armoured vehicles. Together with Johannes Bölter, Otto Carius and Kurt Knispel (the top scoring German panzer ace of the war with 168 confirmed tank kills) he is considered to be one of the greatest tank commanders in history.

He is famous for his June 13, 1944, ambush of elements of the British 7th Armoured Division's, 22nd Armoured Brigade, at the Battle of Villers-Bocage while commanding a Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger.

The circumstances behind Wittmann’s death have presented some debate and discussion over the years, but it has been generally accepted that Trooper Joe Ekins in a Sherman Firefly commanded by Sergeant Gordon of the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry was his killer. However in recent years some commentators have suggested that the Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment may be the actual killers of Michael Wittmann.

(http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk307/minimischutter/th_wittmann1_zps74eb9686.jpg) (http://s283.photobucket.com/user/minimischutter/media/wittmann1_zps74eb9686.jpg.html)

Famous pose on his Tiger tank.

(http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk307/minimischutter/th_withpeiper_zps8a9ee83e.jpg) (http://s283.photobucket.com/user/minimischutter/media/withpeiper_zps8a9ee83e.jpg.html)

Meeting with Joachim Peiper.

(http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk307/minimischutter/th_wittman2_zps894bb7b2.jpg) (http://s283.photobucket.com/user/minimischutter/media/wittman2_zps894bb7b2.jpg.html)
With his crew.

Dates of rank
SS-Mann: April 01, 1937
SS-Sturmmann: November 11, 1937
SS-Unterscharführer: April 20, 1939
SS-Oberscharführer: November 09, 1941
SS-Untersturmführer: December 21, 1942
SS-Obersturmführer: January 30, 1944
SS-Hauptsturmführer: June 21, 1944

Notable decorations
Iron Cross Second (1941) and First (1941) Classes
SS-Honour Ring
Knight's Cross (1944)
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves (1944)
Kinght's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (1944)
Wound Badge in Black (1941)
Panzer Badge in Silver (1941)
Eastern Front Medal (1942)
Sudetenland Medal (1938)
Anschluss Medal (1938)
Soldier's Cross Of The Order Of Bravery 2nd Class (Tsardom Of Bulgaria) (1941)
Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht