Nov 27, 2014
Kurt Knispel, ace of aces.
seen from Mauritania
seen from United States
seen from Denmark
seen from United States
seen from Australia
seen from Netherlands
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from Serbia
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Uruguay
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from Uruguay
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from Japan
Kurt Knispel, ace of aces.
Feldwebel Kurt Knispel taking a beer break, WWII.
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 3,000 metres (3,300 yd). He fought in virtually every type of German tank as loader, gunner and commander. He was awarded the Iron Cross, First Class, after destroying his fiftieth enemy tank and the Tank Assault Badge in Gold after more than 100 tank battles. When Knispel had destroyed 126 enemy tanks (with another 20 unconfirmed kills), he was awarded the German Cross in Gold. He became the only non-commissioned officer of the German tank arm to be named in a Wehrmacht communique. As commander of a Tiger I and then a Tiger II, Knispel destroyed another 42 enemy tanks.
In 1942 he knocked out an SS guard he caught beating a prisoner to death in Krakow trainstation. He wore specially cut outfits, grew a beard and distinguished himself with an unconventional lifestyle. He got killed about a week before the end of the war.