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The greatest tank Ace
With 168 confirmed (possibly as high as 195) kills, Knispel was by far the most successful tanker of the Second World War and is even credited with knocking out a T-34 at 3,300 yd. He fought in virtually every type of German tank as loader, gunner and commander. He was awarded the Iron Cross.Though he was recommended for it four times, Knispel never received the coveted Knight's Cross because he assaulted an Einsatzgruppen officer whom he saw mistreating Soviet POWs). -
Basic Training
After completing his apprenticeship in an automobile factory in early 1940, Knispel applied to join the armoured branch of the German Army. On 1 October 1940, he was transferred to the 3rd Company of the 29th Panzer Regiment, 12th Panzer Division. Knispel completed his training as a loader and gunner in a Panzer IV. Training lasted until 11 June 1941 and consisted of courses at Sagan and Putlos. -
First Action
Knispel first saw action in August 1941 in a Pz IV tank. During Operation Barbarossa he quickly rose to the position of gunner under the command of Lt. Hellman. -
First Victories
He won the Iron Cross 2nd Class sometime during this period. Third Panzer remained in the northern stretches of the front, and Knispel steadily accumulated kills, having 12 credited to his name by the end of 1942. -
Coming Back for more....
By January 1943 Knispel had returned to Putlos to undergo his training in the new Tiger tank and at the time he was already credited with 12 tanks victories. -
The battle of Kursk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWKfpOtFtBc#t=31 The main addition was the Tiger 1. Knispel's training group was designated the 1st Company of the 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion, "Heavy" being a designation for Tiger tank formations. Knispel, now a tank commander, then took part in Kursk, where he reputedly destroyed 27 Russian T-34 tanks in 12 days. -
Controling the sitution
In late March 1944, Knispel was transferred to the western front and given command of a new Tiger II, the most fearsome tank in any army. He participated in the defense of Caen, the German strongpoint that held open the lifeline for retreating German forces after the Allied breakout at Avranches. After that situation was secure, Knispel returned to the East and fought in the Budapest area, scene of some of the hardest fighting of the last year of the war. -
The fronts are falling in pieces
By 1945 only the toughest German tanks stood a chance of success against the overwhelming forces arrayed against them. Those who like to argue that the heavy Tiger tanks represented wasted resources should ponder that. -
The battle of Cologne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBI9d0-IfEM#t=42
The battle for Cologne. Tank duel at the cathedral, March 06, 1945. The US army, 3rd AD, enters Cologne. Chronic and analytical presentation of the famous tank duel at the Cologne cathedral. See the fascinating original film with descriptions. 10 minutes of interesting film scenes show the destruction of a Sherman tank, the destruction of a Panther tank and the escaping crew members. -
The last battle
Kurt Knispel fought in the front lines until the end, but the front was collapsing all around him and he wasn't one to just give up. Knispel was fatally wounded during the final battles in Southern Czechoslovakia after Budapest and Vienna had fallen, getting hit in Wostitz on April 28 1945
