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

[@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

[@bigwoody4704]

@@longlance67 it was the Sherbooke's Battlefield Mystery's The death of Panzer Ace Michael Wittman type that in to the search bar The Sherbrooke's were literally right across the road behind a wall at the château. The researchers used surveying equipment,aerial photos from 1944 and GPS to analyze and plot their positions/distances. Wittman was 1100/1200 yds away from the Yeomanry and that was at the far range of a 17pdr against TIGER armor. And extremely lucky to be effective beyond that No one from the Sherbrookes in the video state that Eakins or any of the yeomanry killed Wittman The Sherbrooke's were at 157yds and had a side shot - not bad odds at all. The Canucks made damn sure they didn't miss.It didn't seem to be a big deal who it was they wanted to eliminate any threat That Video is 42 min. long but you can start at 25 min. in and still get the gist of it

[@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

[@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

[@ljscalemodels526]

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

[@longlance67]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@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.

[@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...

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@TimMallick]

Hi, very well done, his remains were discovered in 1983, just an FYI. you have a great voice for Narration and I enjoyed this

[@longlance67]

thanks for clarification! I don't know why I got the 90's for his recovery in my head! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@Gcscalemodels]

Excellent work!

[@longlance67]

Glad you liked it!

[@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

[@davidarmstrong7549]

Brilliant video! 😊

[@longlance67]

thank you! really glad you enjoyed it

[@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

[@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

[@The_last_prime]

Wonderful video

[@longlance67]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@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!!

[@ThomasCSmyth]

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.

[@michaelkenny8540]

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

[@davidconnellan6875]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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!

[@Blair338RUM]

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.

[@longlance67]

Yes it seems that people like to overlook that simple fact. You cannot engage what you cannot see and you cannot hit a side you have no angle on. I understand why the British claim this event to the level they do. Especially when you consider the debacle of Villers Bocage and the oversights in not forming a defensive perimeter in hostile territory. It was an embarrassment paid in many life's that needed a win to make right. But the ground is the ground. I get many angry comments from those coming in to bat from the Yeomanry. And full credit to their crews that day, as they most of the heavy lifting in destroying the Tigers was indeed done by them. And no small achievement. But the Tiger in question I feel belongs to the Sherbrookes. As they seem forget that this was company level deployment with multiple troops(platoons) engaging and all containing Fireflys as Commonwealth Armored doctrine would have demanded. Though at the close ranges found at the end of the ambush on the Sherbrooke's side, the humble 75mm would too have been lethal. I find that sometimes peoples logic often likes to overlook this, and instead on focusing on supposed truths like the wall was too high to see Wittmann's Tiger even though the surviving Canadian crews talk about knocking firing loops, and run of bricks off the wall to clear their lanes of fire.

[@Blair338RUM]

@@longlance67 Best summation of the discussion in 80 years! Excellent points, including some I’d never considered, the shame the Brits felt for Villers Bocage. Thank you for the long and thorough reply.

[@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!

[@jimleffler7976]

Joe Ekins, Firefly 😊

[@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

[@dral9657]

Sorry about that Wittmann , eh !

[@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.

[@bigwoody4704]

true but european hostilities usually had the britsh right in the middle of it.

[@rickbarg3980]

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

[@longlance67]

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

[@rickbarg3980]

🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦