Wodin Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 The body of a German tank ace has been found Kurt Knispel.. "The remains of a German soldier regarded as the world's greatest ever tank ace have been found in a grave the Czech Republic. The remains of Kurt Knispel - who was the tank warfare equivalent of what the Red Baron was to flight - were found by historians at the Moravian Museum in Vrbovec lying in an unmarked grave for German soldiers at a cemetery in Znojemsko." http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/Around_the_World/2013-04-17/32974/TIGER_IN_THE_TANK_-_Historians_Find_Body_Of_German_War_Hero 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Childress Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Glad you brought this up, Wodin. Wiki: Kurt Knispel (20 September 1921 – 28 April 1945) was a Sudeten German Heer panzer loader, gunner and later commander, and was the highest scoring tank ace of World War II with a total of 168 confirmed tank kills; the actual number, although unconfirmed, may be as high as 195. He is counted with Johannes Bölter, Ernst Barkmann, Otto Carius and Michael Wittmann as being one of the, if not the, greatest tank ace of all time. Though he was recommended for it four times, Knispel never received the coveted Knight's Cross, a standard award for most other World War II German tank aces. Unlike some other commanders, Knispel was not consumed by the pursuit of decorations and did not suffer from a "sore throat", Heer slang for those who lusted after the Knight's Cross. When there were conflicting claims for a destroyed enemy tank, Knispel always stepped back, always willing to credit success to someone else. Knispel's slow promotion is attributed to several conflicts with higher Nazi authorities (for instance, he assaulted an Einsatzgruppen officer whom he saw mistreating Soviet POWs) and general lack of military bearing, sporting a goatee and hair longer than regulations. Only his impressive track-record saved him from ending up in a military prison. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwolf Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Not German regulation all right 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erwin Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Who knew young Richard Branson was a WW2 tank ace AS WELL!!!? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broadsword56 Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 He might have felt more at home as a U-boat captain. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazing 88's Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Read about this person in one of the three 'Panzer Ace's' books. Thanks. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wodin Posted May 1, 2013 Author Share Posted May 1, 2013 Thanks to The Few Good Men facebook page..thats where I got the story from. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieseltaylor Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Sounds a good guy. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwolf Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Looking like that in the Heer is worth not being promoted any time. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Wodin, Pretty cool! I don't recognize Boelter at all, had maybe heard of Knispel once, but certainly had no idea he surpassed Wittmann. To me, Knispel looks like Burt Lancaster. Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanonier Reichmann Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 He might have felt more at home as a U-boat captain. He'd almost certainly be just as dead then... only sooner. Regards KR 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wodin Posted May 2, 2013 Author Share Posted May 2, 2013 Not German regulation all right Cool looking dude... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForwardObserver Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Rest in peace, Klaus. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 It's good that they've been able to find and identify such a great tank ace. I'm surprised he's not being sent back to his family in Germany for burial. But I'm glad to see he's being buried with high honors. Rest easy, soldier. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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