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WITTMANN - PANZER ACE
by Richard Taylor
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Only TWENTY mounted prints are available worldwide, each with at least TWENTY EIGHT original autographs
SS-Hauptsturmführer Michael Wittmann, commander of Kompanie 2, SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101, during a short respite with the crew of his Tiger tank close to the frontline in Normandy, June 1944.
If anyone sought to identify the most successful tank commander of World War II it would arguably be SS-Hauptsturmführer Michael Wittmann. A veteran of Kursk and the bitter fighting on the Eastern Front, in January 1944 Hitler had personally awarded him with Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross after destroying 117 enemy tanks. By June 1944 his skills as a tank commander had brought him and the Tigers of Kompanie 2, SS Heavy Panzer Group 101 to Normandy.
It was here in the village of Villers-Bocage on 13 June 1944 that Wittmann ambushed elements of the British 7th Armoured Division, in the process destroying fourteen tanks, fifteen personnel carriers and two anti-tank guns within the space of 15 minutes. The action gained him the award of Swords to his Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves. His success, however, was short-lived. On 8 August it was Wittmann's turn to be ambushed in an apple orchard near Caen, his Tiger destroyed by a bulls-eye hit from a British Sherman Firefly. There were no survivors.
In his detailed drawing 'Wittmann - Panzer Ace' Richard Taylor takes a moment to reflect on the last days before his death. Away from the heat of battle, Wittmann and his men enjoy a brief but well-deserved moment of respite away from the front line.
Only TWENTY mounted prints are available worldwide, each with at least TWENTY EIGHT original autographs - all of whom were recipients of the Knight's Cross having served with Panzer tank divisions in the German army.
Since 1975 the Military Gallery, Richard's exclusive publisher, has been signing with and collecting original autographs of those who took part in the battle for Normandy, from both sides of the bitter conflict. Thanks to the latest printing technology, Richard's detailed drawing has been faithfully reproduced on fine art paper which dates back many years and has been personally signed by a staggering TWENTY EIGHT German WWII Panzer veterans.
Each COLLECTOR'S EDITION print is then mounted to full conservation standards to include a museum-quality reproduction Panzer Badge.
For the serious collector, the extremely limited VETERAN'S EDITION offers staggering historical authenticity. With all components of the Collector's Edition, also included in the matting are two RARE and hard-to-come-by ORIGINAL autographs that have taken a number of years to source and collect - the famous tank commander depicted, Michael Wittmann, along with his reliable gunner, 'Bobby' Woll. Not only did Woll serve as best man at Wittmann's wedding, but he was also the first and only SS tank gunner of the war to be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
The Collector's Edition
The 28 names read as follows:
Oberwachtmeister WILLI BACHOR
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords
Leutnant LÜDWIG BAUER
Knight's Cross
Major WERNER FREIHERR von BESCHWITZ
Knight's Cross
Oberfähnrich FRITZ BIRNBAUM
Knight's Cross
Untersturmführer KARL BROMMANN
Knight's Cross
Oberleutnant OTTO CARIUS
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
Obersturmbannführer FRITZ DARGES
Knight's Cross
Obersturmführer PAUL EGGER
Knight's Cross
Hauptmann GERHARD FISCHER
Knight's Cross
Oberscharführer GERHARD FISCHER
Knight's Cross
Generaloberst HEINZ GUDERIAN
Knight's Cross
Hauptsturmführer WILLI HEIN
Knight's Cross
Major CLEMENS von KAGENECK
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
Obersturmbannführer PAUL ALBERT KAUSCH
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
Oberfeldwebel ALBERT KERSCHER
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
Oberleutnant ERWIN KRESSSMAN
Knight's Cross
Oberstleutnant NORBERT KUJACINSKI
Knight's Cross
Generalmajor OTTO KUMM
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords
Hauptsturmführer KARL HEINZ LICHTE
Knight's Cross
Hauptmann HANNIBAL von LÜTTICHAU und BÄRENSTEIN
Knight's Cross
Major KUNO von MEYER
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
Oberscharführer RICHARD RUDOLF
Knight's Cross
Untersturmführer OSKAR SCHÄFER
Knight's Cross
Major FRITZ-RUDOLF SCHULTZ
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
Hauptsturmführer HANS SIEGEL
Knight's Cross
Oberleutnant WILHELM WEIDENBRÜCK
Knight's Cross
Hauptmann ERICH WEISE
Knight's Cross War Merit
Major ALFRED WOLF
Knight's Cross
The Veteran's Edition
With all signatures listed above, the Veteran's Edition also includes:
SS-Hauptsturmführer MICHAEL WITTMANN
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords
SS-Rottenführer BALTHASAR 'BOBBY' WOLL
Knight's Cross
Image Size: 8.5 inches wide x 6 inches high
Overall Mounted Size: 14.5 inches wide x 22 inches high
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The Collectors Edition
US $2795.00 UK £1995.00
Edition Size - 12
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In Stock |
The Veterans Edition
US $4195.00 UK £2995.00
Edition Size - 8
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Sold Out |
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