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|birth_date={{birth date|1921|9|20|df=y}}
|birth_date={{birth date|1921|9|20|df=y}}
|death_date={{death date and age|1945|4|28|1921|9|20|df=y}}
|death_date={{death date and age|1945|4|28|1921|9|20|df=y}}
|birth_place= [[Zlaté Hory|Salisfeld (Salisov)]], Czechoslovakia
|birth_place= [[Zlaté Hory|Salisfeld (Salisov)]], [[Czechoslovakia]]
|death_place= [[Vrbovec (Znojmo District)|Urbau]], Czechoslovakia
|death_place= [[Vrbovec (Znojmo District)|Urbau]], [[Czechoslovakia]]
|image= [[File:Kurt Knispel.jpg|140px]]
|image= Kurt Knispel.jpg
|caption= Photo of Knispel taken during World War II by Alfred Rubbel
|caption=
|nickname=
|nickname=Känonen
|allegiance={{flag|Nazi Germany}}
|allegiance={{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Germany]]
|branch=Heer
|branch=[[German Army (Wehrmacht)|Army (Wehrmacht)]]
|serviceyears=<!---- 1940–45---->
|serviceyears=1940–45
|rank=[[Feldwebel]]
|rank=[[Feldwebel]]
|commands=
|commands=
|unit=[[12th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|12th Panzer Division]] <br/> [[503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion]]
|unit=[[12th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|12th Panzer Division]] <br> [[503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion]]
|battles=[[World War II]]
|battles=[[World War II]]<br>[[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]]<br>[[Invasion of Normandy|Normandy]]
|awards=[[German Cross]] in Gold
|awards=[[German Cross]] in Gold}}

⚫
}}
'''Kurt Knispel''' (20 September 1921 – 28 April 1945) was a Czechoslovakian born [[Sudeten German]] [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|Heer]] panzer commander with a total of at least 168 confirmed tank kills;<ref name="Pg 125">Kurowski Pg 125</ref> He is widely considered the most successful tank commander in history. He commanded Tiger and Tiger II tanks, mostly on the eastern front. Despite his success, Knispel was never commissioned as an officer. This was likely due to his resentment of authority, most likely an incident involving the assault of a friendly officer who he caught abusing enemy prisoners of war. He served from the initial invasion of the Soviet Union until being killed in the last few weeks of the war.

==Early life and War service==

Knispel was born near the town of Cukmantel ([[Zlaté Hory]]) in the [[Sudetenland]], [[Czechoslovakia]]. His father worked in a Czech automotive plant, and he completed an apprenticeship to become an automotive factory worker. In early 1940, Knispel applied to join the armoured branch of the German Army.

===Training===
For his basic training, Knispel went to the Panzer Replacement Training Battalion at [[Żagań|Sagan]] in [[Lower Silesia]]. He received basic infantry training, learning to use the [[Kar98k]] [[rifle]], the [[P08]] [[pistol]], and the [[MG 34]] [[machine gun]], followed by tank training on the [[Panzer I]], [[Panzer II]], and [[Panzer IV]]. 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. This lasted until 11 June 1941 and consisted of courses at Sagan and Putlos.

===World War II===

Knispel was the gunner of a Panzer IV under Lt. Hellman during [[Operation Barbarossa]], where he participated in the initial assault as part of [[3rd Panzer Group|Panzergruppe 3]], LVII Army Corps (later LVII Panzer Corps), commanded by General [[Adolf-Friedrich Kuntzen]]. Knispel saw action from Yarzevo to the gates of [[Stalingrad]], in the north around the Leningrad-Tikhvin area, and also in the [[Caucasus]] under [[Eberhard von Mackensen]]. A photograph of November 1942 shows [[Gefreiter]] Knispel with the Panzerkampfabzeichen, the E.K.II, and the Verwundetenabzeichen in black.

A group of men from Putlos were sent to the 500th Panzer Battalion at [[Paderborn]]. These men, led by [[Oberfeldwebel]] Hans Fendesack, would become the 1st Company of the [[503rd heavy tank battalion (Germany)|503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion]] which fought at [[Battle of Kursk|Kursk]] as flank cover for the [[7th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|7th Panzer Division]] ([[Panzer Division Kempf|Armee Abteilung Kempf]]). According to his biography, ''"Kursk hatte den Namen von Kurt Knispel im Battalion bekannt gemacht"'' (Kursk has made the name Kurt Knispel famous in the battalion), Knispel saw further action during the relief attack on the [[Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket]], [[Vinnytsia]], [[Yampil]], and [[Kamianets-Podilskyi]]. Transferred from the east, the company was re-equipped with [[Tiger II]]s and fought around [[Battle for Caen|Caen]] and in the retreat from [[Normandy]]. Then the unit was transferred back to the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] and saw action around [[Mezőtúr]], [[Törökszentmiklós]], [[Cegléd]], [[Kecskemét]] and the Gran bridgehead, [[Gyula, Hungary|Gyula]], [[Nitra]], Bab Castle (in one action, Knispel reported 24 enemy hits on his Tiger II), [[Laa an der Thaya|Laa]] and finally [[Vlasatice|Wostitz]], where he was fatally wounded together with another tank commander Feldwebel Skoda. (Skoda was buried in [[Suchohrdly u Miroslavi|Socherl]].) Knispel died in a field hospital in [[Vrbovec (Znojmo District)|Urbau]] and was buried at a local cemetery. Ten days after his death, the war ended in Europe.

⚫
On April 10, 2013 Czech authorities confirmed that Knispel's remains were found with 15 other German soldiers behind a church wall in Urbau. He was identified by his dog tags.<ref>[http://files.kurt-knispel.webnode.cz/200000390-0c7110e669/Identifikační%20vojenská%20známka%20Kurta%20Knispela%20FOTO%20František%20Střecha%20OOV%20Znojmo_web.jpg Picture of the dog-tag - Nr. 812, 4. Kompanie Panzer Ersatz Abteilung 15]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/zpravodajstvi-brno/zpravy/222114-archeologove-objevili-hrob-nejvetsiho-tankoveho-esa-2-svetove-valky/ |title=Archeologové objevili hrob největšího tankového esa 2. světové války — Zprávy — Zpravodajství Brno — Česká televize |publisher=Ceskatelevize.cz |date=2013-04-09 |accessdate=2015-12-17}}</ref> On November 12, 2014 his remains were reburied at the military cemetery in [[Brno]] together, with 41 other German soldiers who fell in various places in Moravia and Silesia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mzm.cz/ulozeni-ostatku-kurta-knispela/ |title=MZM - Uložení ostatků Kurta Knispela |publisher=Mzm.cz |date= |accessdate=2015-12-17}}</ref>

==Legacy==

With at least 168 confirmed (possibly as many as 205) kills,<ref name="Pg 125"/> Knispel was by far the most successful tanker of the [[World War II|Second World War]].<ref name="Pg 125"/> He is even credited with knocking out a [[T-34]] at 3000 meters,<!-- several references state 2000 AND 3000. No need to change this--> besides destroying over 70 enemy anti-tank guns, and countless bunkers and field works. He fought in every type of German tank as a loader, gunner and commander. He was awarded the [[Iron Cross]], First Class, after destroying his fiftieth enemy tank, and the [[Panzer Badge|Tank Assault Badge]] in Gold after more than 100 tank battles. When Knispel's tally had reached 126 enemy tanks (with another 20 unconfirmed kills), he was awarded the [[German Cross]] in Gold. He became the only non-commissioned officer in the German tank army to be named in a [[Wehrmachtbericht|Wehrmacht communique]]. As commander of a Tiger I and then a Tiger II, Knispel destroyed another 42 enemy tanks. The total number of tanks destroyed by Knispel is unknown, due to his willingness to allow other tank commanders to claim any disputed kills.


Although he was recommended for it four times, Knispel never received the coveted [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]].
'''Kurt Knispel''' (20 September 1921 – 28 April 1945) was a German (of [[Sudeten Germans|Sudeten German descent]]) tank commander in the [[Wehrmacht]] during [[World War II]].


Knispel's slow promotion is attributed to his conflicts with higher Nazi authorities. Once, for example, he assaulted an [[SS]] [[Einsatzgruppen]] officer whom he saw mistreating Soviet POWs. Some historians also mention his general lack of military bearing by wearing a goatee and hair longer than regulations allowed. However, according to Lt Colonel Alfred Rubbel, Knispel was always willing to help others (immer gewillt zu helfen) and friendly (freundlich).<ref>Kurowski Pg 12</ref>
⚫
On April 10, 2013 Czech authorities confirmed that Knispel's remains were found with 15 other German soldiers behind a church wall in [[Vrbovec (Znojmo District)|Vrbovec]]. He was identified by his [[dog tag]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/zpravodajstvi-brno/zpravy/222114-archeologove-objevili-hrob-nejvetsiho-tankoveho-esa-2-svetove-valky/ |title=Archeologové objevili hrob největšího tankového esa 2. světové války — Zprávy — Zpravodajství Brno — Česká televize |publisher=Ceskatelevize.cz |date=2013-04-09 |accessdate=2015-12-17}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/remains-kurt-knispel-highest-scoring-wwii-tank-ace-located-grave-czech-republic.html |title= Remains of Kurt Knispel located ... |publisher= War History Online |date=2014-12-19 |accessdate=2017-01-28}}</ref>
On November 12, 2014 his remains were reburied at the military cemetery in [[Brno]] together with 41 other German soldiers who died in various places in [[Moravia]] and [[Silesia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mzm.cz/ulozeni-ostatku-kurta-knispela/ |title=MZM - Uložení ostatků Kurta Knispela |publisher=Mzm.cz |date= |accessdate=2015-12-17}}</ref>


==Awards==
==Awards==
* Iron Cross E.K.II (2nd Class)
* Iron Cross E.K. I awarded after actions at Kursk July 1943. He destroyed 27 T-34's in 12 days during this battle.
* [[Eastern Front Medal|Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42]], The Eastern Front Medal.
* Wound Badge (silver)
* Panzerkampfabzeichen [[Panzer Badge|Panzer Assault Badge]] (silver)
* Panzerkampfabzeichen 100 assaults.
* [[German Cross]] in Gold on 20 May 1944 as ''[[Unteroffizier]]'' in the 1./schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503<ref>Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 238.</ref>
* [[German Cross]] in Gold on 20 May 1944 as ''[[Unteroffizier]]'' in the 1./schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503<ref>Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 238.</ref>
* Mentioned in the [[Wehrmachtbericht]] on 25 April 1944
* The only NCO in the German Army mentioned in the [[Wehrmachtbericht]] on 25 April 1944 for the destruction of 101 enemy tanks, which was submitted by RKT Dr. Franz Baeke.

===Reference in the ''Wehrmachtbericht''===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Date
! Original German ''Wehrmachtbericht'' wording
! Direct English translation
|-
| 25&nbsp;April&nbsp;1944 || ''Der Unteroffizier Knispel in einer schweren Panzerabteilung im Osten schoß in der Zeit von Juli 1942 und März 1944 101 Panzer ab.''<ref>''Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 3'', p. 88.</ref> || ''The non-commissioned officer'' Knispel in a heavy tank detachment in the east destroyed 101 tanks in the timeframe from July 1942 and March 1944.
⚫
|}

== Footnotes ==
{{reflist|group="Note"}}


==References==
==References==
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;Bibliography
;Bibliography
{{Refbegin}}
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Kurowski |first1=Franz |title=Feldwebel Kurt Knispel |edition=Flechsig |date=July 2007 |isbn=3-88189-734-8}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Kurowski |first1=Franz |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=NSlQ0XuSOLIC&dq=Panzer+Aces+II:+Battle+Stories+of+German+Tank+Commanders+in+World+War+II&source=gbs_navlinks_s |title=Panzer Aces: German Tank Commanders of WWII |edition=Stackpole Books |date=15 Oct 2004 |isbn=0-8117-3173-1}}
* {{Cite book
* {{Cite book
|last1=Patzwall
|last1=Patzwall
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}}
}}
{{Refend}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web|url=http://kurt-knispel.webnode.cz/news/hrob-kurta-knispela-nalezen/ |work=Archeologové nalezli ostatky největšího tankového esa II. světové války 2 Awards |title=Archeologové nalezli ostatky největšího tankového esa II. světové války |accessdate=7 May 2013}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

Revision as of 03:23, 12 March 2017

Kurt Knispel
Photo of Knispel taken during World War II by Alfred Rubbel
Nickname(s)Känonen
Born(1921-09-20)20 September 1921
Salisfeld (Salisov), Czechoslovakia
Died28 April 1945(1945-04-28) (aged 23)
Urbau, Czechoslovakia
AllegianceNazi Germany Germany
Service/branchHeer
Years of service1940–45
RankFeldwebel
Unit12th Panzer Division
503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion
Battles/warsWorld War II
Eastern Front
Normandy
AwardsGerman Cross in Gold

Kurt Knispel (20 September 1921 – 28 April 1945) was a Czechoslovakian born Sudeten German Heer panzer commander with a total of at least 168 confirmed tank kills;[1] He is widely considered the most successful tank commander in history. He commanded Tiger and Tiger II tanks, mostly on the eastern front. Despite his success, Knispel was never commissioned as an officer. This was likely due to his resentment of authority, most likely an incident involving the assault of a friendly officer who he caught abusing enemy prisoners of war. He served from the initial invasion of the Soviet Union until being killed in the last few weeks of the war.

Early life and War service

Knispel was born near the town of Cukmantel (Zlaté Hory) in the Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia. His father worked in a Czech automotive plant, and he completed an apprenticeship to become an automotive factory worker. In early 1940, Knispel applied to join the armoured branch of the German Army.

Training

For his basic training, Knispel went to the Panzer Replacement Training Battalion at Sagan in Lower Silesia. He received basic infantry training, learning to use the Kar98k rifle, the P08 pistol, and the MG 34 machine gun, followed by tank training on the Panzer I, Panzer II, and Panzer IV. 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. This lasted until 11 June 1941 and consisted of courses at Sagan and Putlos.

World War II

Knispel was the gunner of a Panzer IV under Lt. Hellman during Operation Barbarossa, where he participated in the initial assault as part of Panzergruppe 3, LVII Army Corps (later LVII Panzer Corps), commanded by General Adolf-Friedrich Kuntzen. Knispel saw action from Yarzevo to the gates of Stalingrad, in the north around the Leningrad-Tikhvin area, and also in the Caucasus under Eberhard von Mackensen. A photograph of November 1942 shows Gefreiter Knispel with the Panzerkampfabzeichen, the E.K.II, and the Verwundetenabzeichen in black.

A group of men from Putlos were sent to the 500th Panzer Battalion at Paderborn. These men, led by Oberfeldwebel Hans Fendesack, would become the 1st Company of the 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion which fought at Kursk as flank cover for the 7th Panzer Division (Armee Abteilung Kempf). According to his biography, "Kursk hatte den Namen von Kurt Knispel im Battalion bekannt gemacht" (Kursk has made the name Kurt Knispel famous in the battalion), Knispel saw further action during the relief attack on the Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket, Vinnytsia, Yampil, and Kamianets-Podilskyi. Transferred from the east, the company was re-equipped with Tiger IIs and fought around Caen and in the retreat from Normandy. Then the unit was transferred back to the Eastern Front and saw action around Mezőtúr, Törökszentmiklós, Cegléd, Kecskemét and the Gran bridgehead, Gyula, Nitra, Bab Castle (in one action, Knispel reported 24 enemy hits on his Tiger II), Laa and finally Wostitz, where he was fatally wounded together with another tank commander Feldwebel Skoda. (Skoda was buried in Socherl.) Knispel died in a field hospital in Urbau and was buried at a local cemetery. Ten days after his death, the war ended in Europe.

On April 10, 2013 Czech authorities confirmed that Knispel's remains were found with 15 other German soldiers behind a church wall in Urbau. He was identified by his dog tags.[2][3] On November 12, 2014 his remains were reburied at the military cemetery in Brno together, with 41 other German soldiers who fell in various places in Moravia and Silesia.[4]

Legacy

With at least 168 confirmed (possibly as many as 205) kills,[1] Knispel was by far the most successful tanker of the Second World War.[1] He is even credited with knocking out a T-34 at 3000 meters, besides destroying over 70 enemy anti-tank guns, and countless bunkers and field works. He fought in every type of German tank as a 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's tally had reached 126 enemy tanks (with another 20 unconfirmed kills), he was awarded the German Cross in Gold. He became the only non-commissioned officer in the German tank army to be named in a Wehrmacht communique. As commander of a Tiger I and then a Tiger II, Knispel destroyed another 42 enemy tanks. The total number of tanks destroyed by Knispel is unknown, due to his willingness to allow other tank commanders to claim any disputed kills.

Although he was recommended for it four times, Knispel never received the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Knispel's slow promotion is attributed to his conflicts with higher Nazi authorities. Once, for example, he assaulted an SS Einsatzgruppen officer whom he saw mistreating Soviet POWs. Some historians also mention his general lack of military bearing by wearing a goatee and hair longer than regulations allowed. However, according to Lt Colonel Alfred Rubbel, Knispel was always willing to help others (immer gewillt zu helfen) and friendly (freundlich).[5]

Awards

  • Iron Cross E.K.II (2nd Class)
  • Iron Cross E.K. I awarded after actions at Kursk July 1943. He destroyed 27 T-34's in 12 days during this battle.
  • Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42, The Eastern Front Medal.
  • Wound Badge (silver)
  • Panzerkampfabzeichen Panzer Assault Badge (silver)
  • Panzerkampfabzeichen 100 assaults.
  • German Cross in Gold on 20 May 1944 as Unteroffizier in the 1./schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503[6]
  • The only NCO in the German Army mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 25 April 1944 for the destruction of 101 enemy tanks, which was submitted by RKT Dr. Franz Baeke.

Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
25 April 1944 Der Unteroffizier Knispel in einer schweren Panzerabteilung im Osten schoß in der Zeit von Juli 1942 und März 1944 101 Panzer ab.[7] The non-commissioned officer Knispel in a heavy tank detachment in the east destroyed 101 tanks in the timeframe from July 1942 and March 1944.

Footnotes

References

Citations
  1. ^ a b c Kurowski Pg 125
  2. ^ Picture of the dog-tag - Nr. 812, 4. Kompanie Panzer Ersatz Abteilung 15
  3. ^ "Archeologové objevili hrob největšího tankového esa 2. světové války — Zprávy — Zpravodajství Brno — Česká televize". Ceskatelevize.cz. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  4. ^ "MZM - Uložení ostatků Kurta Knispela". Mzm.cz. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  5. ^ Kurowski Pg 12
  6. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 238.
  7. ^ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 3, p. 88.
Bibliography
  • Kurowski, Franz (July 2007). Feldwebel Kurt Knispel (Flechsig ed.). ISBN 3-88189-734-8.
  • Kurowski, Franz (15 Oct 2004). Panzer Aces: German Tank Commanders of WWII (Stackpole Books ed.). ISBN 0-8117-3173-1.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
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