Schwere SS - Panzer - Abteilung 101 was formed in July 1943 with members drawn from the cadre of SS Panzer Division " Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler " and placed as part of the I SS Panzerkorps Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler .
At first he was under the command of 1 . SS - Panzer - Division " Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler " and was sent to Italy in August 1943. Two of his company then sent to the Eastern Front and remained there until April 1944.
Afterwards , schwere SS - Panzer Abteilung 101 was assigned as part of the 12 . SS - Panzer - Division " Hitlerjugend " and fought against Allied forces in Normandy to suffer heavy casualties .
This heavy tank battalion and equipped with extra tanks of the type Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger II ( Köningstiger ) in September 1944 and renamed as schwere SS Panzer Abteilung 501 .
501 fought in the Ardennes Offensive ( Battle of the Bulge ) that failed before being sent to the Eastern Front as a final assignment .
commander
SS - Sturmbannführer Heinz von Westerhagen ( July 19, 1943 - November 8 1943)
SS - Obersturmbannführer Karl Leiner ( 9 November 1943 - 13 February 1944 )
SS - Obersturmbannführer Heinz von Westerhagen ( February 13, 1944 - March 20 1945)
SS - Sturmbannführer Heinz Kling ( March 20, 1945 - 8 May 1945)
region Operations
Italy ( August 1943 - October 1943 )
Eastern Front ( October 1943 - April 1944 )
France ( April 1944 - September 1944 )
Germany ( September 1944 - December 1944 )
Ardennes ( December 1944 - January 1945 )
Eastern Front ( January 1945 - May 1945 )
Tank new campaign Transfers out Transfers incoming tanks Victim Type
Western Front 51 0 6 45 Tiger I
Eastern Front 37 0 6 31 Tiger II
Prestigious Medal Winner
Winner of the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold ( 3 )
1 . Amselgruber , Thomas , 14.02.1945 , SS - Untersturmführer dR , 3./s.SS-Pz.Abt . 501
2 . Brandt , Jürgen , 01.13.1945 , SS - Oberscharführer , s.SS - Pz.Abt . 501
3 . Rabe , Dr . Wolfgang , 11.14.1944 , SS - Hauptsturmführer , s.SS - Pz.Abt . 101
Winner of the Deutsches Kreuz in Silber (no )
Nobel Ehrenblattspange der Waffen - SS ( 1 )
1 . Philipsen , Johannes , 08.15.1944 , SS - Obersturmführer , 1./s.SS-Pz.Abt . 101
Knight's Cross winner des eisernen Kreuzes ( 1 ) ( 1 Schwerter )
1 . Wittmann , Michael [ 71 . Sw ] 06.22.1944 SS - 501 Obersturmführer Chef 2./s.SS-Pz.Abt
Prominent members
SS - Sturmbannführer Heinrich " Heinz " Kling ( generally credited 51 tanks were destroyed , but the exact number is unknown )
SS - Untersturmführer Karl - Heinz " Bobby " Warmbrunn ( generally credited 57 tanks were destroyed , but the exact number is unknown )
SS - Obersturmführer Helmut Wendorff ( usually gets credit 84 tanks were destroyed , but the exact number is unknown )
SS - Hauptsturmführer Michael Wittmann ( generally gets credit 138 tanks were destroyed , but the exact number is unknown )
SS - Oberscharführer Balthazar " Bobby " Woll ( generally gets credit 100 + tanks were destroyed , but the exact number is unknown )