Who Killed Michael Wittmann ? Wittmann's final battle Normandy 1944

In this short documentary we will discuss the circumstances surrendering the last battle and death of infamous Tiger Ace on August 8 1944
sources:
Battle Detective Documentary:
• Michael Wittmann's Las...
Warfare History Article:
warfarehistorynetwork.com/art...
Battle Detective Article:
www.battledetective.com/battl...
Traces of War: (modern photos of the battlefield)
www.tracesofwar.com/sights/21...

[@HamilkarBarkasScaleModelling]

Dude, you have such a great narrative voice, you should consider to do short documentaries more often! Very nice editing work too.

[@longlance67]

haha Thanks Michi! I really enjoyed going down the rabbit hole on this one. I was such a nice change from my normal style. Yet I hope it will compliment my build videos. I am already a few stories I want to make short docs on to go alongside my builds

[@brucethemodelnoob]

Great video Shane! Very professionally done. I’m obviously biased, but you point out the facts that make the Sherbrookes the more likely unit to have hit 007.

[@longlance67]

Thanks Bruce! I was trying to be neutral going in and just see what the evidence points too. And to my eye it had to be the Sherbrookes. Even by the simple logic that no tank crew is gonna ignore a Tiger driving up on their position at a 150 meters distant lol

[@milepost465historyhobbies4]

Very good! To us older modelers, a few early books on the subject (mainly the old Squadron Series Books) said that Whittmann was most likely killed in a carpet bombing raid by the Allies which always shrouded his demise in a mystery. While the outcome is still the same, the more we look at the subject, the more we learn. Great job!

[@longlance67]

That is a fascinating theory. And in the time before the photos of 007 were widely disturbed to the public. The idea of Wittmann and 100's of other Germans getting swept aside by the massed aerial bombardment would hold salt. As very similar happened in earlier operations in Normandy at that stage too. Operation Cobra comes to mind where the bombers literally threw Panzers off the road from their impacts. And also caused one of the worse friendly fire instances in the US. Army. Where many bombers accidently dropped their ordnance onto their own lines by mistake.

[@gary6300]

Hi Shane great mini documentary you've done. loved the footage looking forward to part 2 mate i think you should do more buddy. Cheers Gary 🇬🇧

[@longlance67]

Thanks mate, I've always wanted to a few mini docs for the channel. Acting as nice companion pieces to the models we are building giving a little context to the events these M4s found themselves in. So I'm super excited to see that you guys are enjoying this little video. I am currently writing the script for the next video now

[@garylawless3608]

A very well done and informative video Shane. The narrative was also excellent. You should do a few more of these short docos, as you obviously have a handle on production. Well done again, and greetings from Australia 🇦🇺!

[@longlance67]

Cheers mate. It was a lot of fun to create this little doc. Got to put film college to use lol Kind regards from Ireland

[@ljscalemodels526]

Hey Shane - what a brilliant video, fascinating thanks for sharing, cheers Liam

[@longlance67]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mikehufnagl8696]

Awesome Shane! Should be proud of this. Well done sir.

[@longlance67]

thanks mate! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I plan on doing more of this style of video in the future

[@ole5539]

Excellent presentation Shane. As others have said, you really need to continue with these offerings. Your talent in the narrative is as precise as your modelling skills. With appreciation, from the US, and the desert of Arizona. PS - Your Sherman work is my go to...

[@longlance67]

Thank you! That really means a lot mate! I'm working on the next little mini doc. I have two great accounts of Sherman engagements I want to make videos on. I might put it up to vote on which one you guys want to see first once I get more along with my research

[@Gcscalemodels]

Excellent work!

[@longlance67]

Glad you liked it!

[@davidarmstrong7549]

Brilliant video! 😊

[@longlance67]

thank you! really glad you enjoyed it

[@lesthiele4921]

Hi Shane, this video was truly excellent, as others have said, you have a excellent doco style, and your verbal delivery was perfect, hope to see more videos like this, best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia 👍👍👍👍

[@longlance67]

Glad you enjoyed it and that I didn't drone on too much lol!

[@lesthiele4921]

@@longlance67 hi Shabe, you definitely did not drone on too much, it was a really enjoyable video, all I will say is GO THE ALL BLACKS, cheers mate.

[@MikeUSA67]

Very well done, Shane - my compliments! 👏👏👏I didn't know you were a hobby historian? Please do more of that kind.

[@longlance67]

Cheers mate! I've always been fascinated by the history around the different Sherman's I build. So I've always wanted to do little doc videos to go along with the build videos. I'm already researching a few other engagements to recount in later videos

[@MikeUSA67]

@@longlance67 Can't wait to see them. Btw, I don't know if anybody has ever told you but your handle "longlance" sounds like straight out of LIFE OF BRIAN - Biggus Dickus??? 🤣I sense a wee bit of Irish hubris there...

[@blaircalvin5025]

Wittmann’s tank was in dead ground for Ekins. The Sherbrookes definitely made the kill, especially when the impact was on the left rear of the tiger, the opposite side from which Ekins was firing.

[@The_last_prime]

Wonderful video

[@longlance67]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@michaeldean1289]

Hi Shane Nice narrative and great stock footage to back it up! Look out Mark Felton!!!! I was waiting for you to announce that this was going to be an introduction to a new diorama that was in the pipeline 😂 Great piece of work mate ❤😊

[@longlance67]

Thanks mate! I'm super glad you enjoyed it. Its not as advanced as some of the proper history videos out there. But I'm thinking more of a story style format. Like a tanker retelling an event to recruits kind of vibe. But don't worry this is indeed part of a larger project. Where we will be building Major Radley Walter's Sherman III. Sergeant Gordan's / Joe Ekins Firefly and finally Wittmann's 007

[@longlance67]

I know this is a day late, but wanted to do as good as job as I could to try understand and tell this story as well as I could

[@vincentjohnston4661]

Thank you 🙏 Shane, Canada continually gets thrown to the side regarding our involvement and sacrifice during WW2 as a proud Canadian I commend you 🇨🇦🇨🇦 cheer's

[@longlance67]

Was my honor to help share the story of the Sherbrookes that day! Speaking as an Irishmen, I know too well what it is like for your nation's efforts to go unheeded. 1000's of Irishmen fought in the world wars and is no largely forgotten

[@davidconnellan6875]

​@@longlance67well the brits are always happy to take credit for anything Irish it seems

[@longlance67]

@davidconnellan6875 their military history is full of that unfortunately. As an interesting aside they say all of the pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain have passed away. However there is one left but he is from the Republic of Ireland and has been lett out of the all British narrative

[@michaelkenny8540]

The actual position of 007 means it (and all the other Tigers with it) drove past the walled area where the M4s are normally placed and none of those Tigers are visible to those Shermans. If 007 was hit by a Canadian M4 then it must be one at the extreme northern end of the chateau grounds. There were two other Tigers advancing on the road and those two would be clearly visible to the walled Shermans and easy targets. The 1944 and post-war air views of the area do not show it very well but IGN have very good air views from 1937 that are much more useful for working out who was in line of sight.

[@michaelkenny8540]

The Sherman shown at 9:21 is an OP tank from an artillery unit. The artillery 'RC' marking on the front.

[@ToddSauve]

Well done and logical. It is completely irrational for so many videos to claim it was Ekins' tank that destroyed Wittmann's Tiger when the shot came from the opposite direction. I think they don't live in the current universe where the laws of physics do not allow for a tank shell to travel one kilometre and then turn around 180 degrees to destroy Tiger 007. 🙄🤷‍♂

[@longlance67]

Thanks mate, I always felt that the particulars of this engagement where often glazed over in favor of his exploits at Villers Bocage. Now don't claim to have definitive answer to what happened that day. As there is such legend surrounding anything to do with him, but I tried to give a honest assessment based on the scant reliable evidence I could find

[@AriesStyreneBistro]

great work, almost makes me wanna build a Tiger lol

[@longlance67]

thanks mate! I'm really glad you enjoyed it, as I know its a little different from my normal videos. But think I might do a few more of these style short docs to act as companion to our larger build videos also you can never have too many Tigers! I've got RFM's Tiger Late that will be built as 007 in the near future!

[@Krogulec1982]

There are also books (one of them was writen by Stephen Badsey, Roger Cirillo and others, D-Day...) saying, that Witmann was killed by polish Sherman Fireflay from 2 sq 1 Tank Div. But it seems that polish attack was half hour later?

[@longlance67]

I recall hearing that claim years ago too. But I feel its even weaker than the RAF's claim. Also if I recall going off memory I think the Poles were several miles away further up the line. But I would have look further into it to see if their claim holds any merit

[@davidconnellan6875]

The map layout shows Tiger 312 blocking the line of sight of 007 from the British firefly.

[@seegurke93]

0:41 wow where did you get this footage from? I need to know. te ambulance is a model I just bought and will be building. I need to know the exact location etc so I can get the right unit decals. I love this shot! Grüße

[@seegurke93]

Would be nce if you reply Shane :)

[@longlance67]

It is from Canadian Newsreel of the "Battle for Carpiquet Airfield - Normandy 1944" if you type it into KZbin search you will find it. I won't link directly in case its mistook as spam

[@milossacha3255]

From the sound and information point of view it's really good job done. But to see the same pictures 10 times is a span of 11 minutes is a bit irritating to me because there is a plethora of documentary films from that time. Anyhow, thank you very much for your effort and sorry for my criticism.

[@longlance67]

I agree as regard to the images. However something to bear in mind, though there is indeed a massive amount of newsreel footage from Normandy. In the last few years it seems that most of it on KZbin has been bought by these so called "archives" that plaster their logos over the center of the screen. Which would have been way more frustrating to endure.

[@milossacha3255]

@@longlance67 🤣🤣🤣, right, it really would be!!

[@user-se5gc8jt3m]

Top class presentation which will really spark more healthy debates on the subject matter. Brilliant, free flowing, crystal clear narrative with unobtrusive background music. Very well done Shane. You should be proud.

[@jimleffler7976]

Joe Ekins, Firefly 😊

[@davideldridge4479]

Great video! I wish soeone would make the kangaroo, the only one i know of is the old italeri kit.

[@longlance67]

That would be cool!

[@dral9657]

Sorry about that Wittmann , eh !

[@jacktattis]

It was the Ist Northampton Yoemanry by Trooper Joe Ekins from 800 metres in a Firefly . The Canadian Sherbrooke Fusiliers were at 1100 meters and the 144th RAC were at 1400 metres Source Stephen A Hart Sherman Firefly V Tiger Normandy 1944 Pages 63/64/65 Any complaints Address your letter to Dr S A HART Senior Lecturer Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Sorry I do not have the address

[@jimleffler7976]

Interesting when you're that much of a jerk people are jockeying for who killed you... Like the" Red Baron"...Capt Brown , Australian ground gunners... I think it would up being the Australians

[@longlance67]

Ya it is one of those funny things in history. People tend to put too much energy into these characters without looking at the greater picture of the events they were part of. With all attention being poured into who fired the fatal shot. Rather than exploring the idea that entire Tiger Platoon was wiped out in a few minutes and tactics that made it so. And don't get me started on Villers Bocage lol

[@nkirk8740]

So it wasn't a rocket firing Hawker Typhoon destroying Michael Wittmans Tiger 1 witnessed by the Canadian Sherbrooke fusiliers? So it was a Sherman? Sherman fire flies makes more sense at least. What ever it's all academic now but it's wonderful the Canadians have some recognition for their proud mighty service in WW2 rather than the American narrative of Americans winning the 1939 to 1945 or sorry for America in Europe mid 1942 to 1945, World War Two single handedly. I give my heart felt respect to all the Allied forces engaged in World War Two. 👍👊✌️🇬🇧🌍. PS, WW2 was an improvement on the WW1, 1914 to 1918 or for America 1917 to 1918, better late than never.

[@rickbarg3980]

My Dad was through there FIELD GUNNER Sergeant 🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@longlance67]

That is awesome family connection. Some very brave lads indeed!

[@rickbarg3980]

🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦