101st SS Heavy Panzer Detachment
Encyclopedia
SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 101 (in German Schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101, commonly abbreviated as s.SS-Pz. Abt. 101 was one of Waffen-SS
's elite armored units, acting as a fire brigade and a crack assault unit on all fronts. With the introduction of new Tiger II - "King Tiger"
tanks in late 1944, it was redesignated Schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501.
It was created on July 19, 1943 as a part of the I. SS-Panzerkorps
, by forming two new heavy tank companies consisting of Tiger I
tanks and incorporating the "13th (Heavy) Company" of 1st SS Panzer Regiment. It was attached to 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" and sent to Italy on August 23, 1943 where it stayed until mid-October. The 1st and 2nd company were then sent to the Eastern Front
while the rest of the unit stayed in the West
.
approaching, elements of the battalion in the East were ordered to the West in April 1944. On June 1, 1944, the battalion was located near Beauvais
, north-west of Paris
, of its 45 Tigers, 37 were operational and eight more in repair. With D-Day
landings on June 6 it was ordered to Normandy
where it arrived despite heavy aerial bombardment on June 12. After weeks of heavy fighting, most famously at the Battle of Villers-Bocage
, by July 5 the battalion had lost 15 of its 45 Tigers.
At this time units surplus crews were pulled back from the front and started being outfitted with the new Tiger II tanks. By August 7 the remainder of the division left in Normandy numbered 25 Tigers of which 21 were still operational.
On 8 August 1944, three of their seven Tigers committed to a counter-attack near Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil
were knocked out by British Fireflies and Michael Wittman was killed.
The battalion lost virtually all its remaining Tigers during the heavy fighting at the Falaise pocket
and subsequent German retreat from France.
On September 9, the remains of the unit were ordered to rest and completely refit with the new Tiger II's, with this change on September 22, 1944, it was redesignated Schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501.
On March 15, 1945 it reported a strength of 32 tanks, of which 8 were operational.
Over its history, the 101 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion lost 107 tanks for 500 enemy tanks destroyed - a kill ratio of 4.67
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
's elite armored units, acting as a fire brigade and a crack assault unit on all fronts. With the introduction of new Tiger II - "King Tiger"
Tiger II
Tiger II is the common name of a German heavy tank of the Second World War. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B,Panzerkampfwagen – abbr: Pz. or Pz.Kfw. Ausführung – abbr: Ausf. .The full titles Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf...
tanks in late 1944, it was redesignated Schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501.
It was created on July 19, 1943 as a part of the I. SS-Panzerkorps
I SS Panzer Corps
The I SS Panzer Corps Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler or I SS Panzer Corps was a German Waffen-SS panzer corps which saw action on both the Western and Eastern Fronts during World War II.-Formation and training:...
, by forming two new heavy tank companies consisting of Tiger I
Tiger I
Tiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank developed in 1942 and used in World War II. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. It was an answer to the unexpectedly formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of...
tanks and incorporating the "13th (Heavy) Company" of 1st SS Panzer Regiment. It was attached to 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" and sent to Italy on August 23, 1943 where it stayed until mid-October. The 1st and 2nd company were then sent to the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
while the rest of the unit stayed in the West
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
.
Normandy
With the anticipated Allied invasion of Western EuropeWestern Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
approaching, elements of the battalion in the East were ordered to the West in April 1944. On June 1, 1944, the battalion was located near Beauvais
Beauvais
Beauvais is a city approximately by highway north of central Paris, in the northern French region of Picardie. It currently has a population of over 60,000 inhabitants.- History :...
, north-west of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, of its 45 Tigers, 37 were operational and eight more in repair. With D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
landings on June 6 it was ordered to Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
where it arrived despite heavy aerial bombardment on June 12. After weeks of heavy fighting, most famously at the Battle of Villers-Bocage
Battle of Villers-Bocage
The Battle of Villers-Bocage took place during the Second World War on 13 June 1944, one week after the Allies landed in Normandy to begin the liberation of German-occupied France. The battle was the result of a British attempt to improve their position by exploiting a temporary vulnerability in...
, by July 5 the battalion had lost 15 of its 45 Tigers.
At this time units surplus crews were pulled back from the front and started being outfitted with the new Tiger II tanks. By August 7 the remainder of the division left in Normandy numbered 25 Tigers of which 21 were still operational.
On 8 August 1944, three of their seven Tigers committed to a counter-attack near Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil
Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil
Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-Personalities:...
were knocked out by British Fireflies and Michael Wittman was killed.
The battalion lost virtually all its remaining Tigers during the heavy fighting at the Falaise pocket
Falaise pocket
The battle of the Falaise Pocket, fought during the Second World War from 12 to 21 August 1944, was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy...
and subsequent German retreat from France.
On September 9, the remains of the unit were ordered to rest and completely refit with the new Tiger II's, with this change on September 22, 1944, it was redesignated Schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501.
On March 15, 1945 it reported a strength of 32 tanks, of which 8 were operational.
Over its history, the 101 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion lost 107 tanks for 500 enemy tanks destroyed - a kill ratio of 4.67
Notable members
- Karl Möbius (usually credited with 125 destroyed but the exact number is unknown)
- Heinz Kling (usually credited with 51 destroyed tanks but the exact number is unknown)
- Karl-Heinz Warmbrunn (usually credited with 57 destroyed tanks but the exact number is unknown)
- Helmut WendorffHelmut WendorffHelmut Max Ernst Wendorff was an Obersturmführer in the Waffen SS. He was issued with the SS number 365 017 and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.Wendorff was born on 20 October 1920 in Gauwinkel...
(usually credited with 84 destroyed tanks but the exact number is unknown) - Michael WittmannMichael WittmannMichael Wittmann was a German Waffen-SS tank commander during the Second World War. Wittmann would rise to the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer and was a Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross holder....
(usually credited with 138 destroyed tanks but the exact number is unknown) - Bobby WollBalthasar WollBalthasar "Bobby" Woll was a Oberscharführer in the Waffen SS who was also awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He was born in Wemmetsweiler on 1 March 1922, ....
(usually credited with 100+ destroyed tanks but the exact number is unknown)
Knight's Cross recipients
- Heinrich KlingHeinrich KlingHeinrich Kling was a Sturmbannführer in the Waffen SS, his SS number was 39 402 and he was a member of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler.....
- Michael WittmannMichael WittmannMichael Wittmann was a German Waffen-SS tank commander during the Second World War. Wittmann would rise to the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer and was a Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross holder....
- Franz StaudeggerFranz StaudeggerFranz Staudegger was a Oberscharführer in the Waffen-SS and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.As a Unterscharführer Franz Staudegger was the first member of the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Tiger tank commanders to win the Knight's Cross On 7 July 1943, a single...
, (The 1st Tiger commander to be awarded the Knights Cross, destroyed 22 tanks on 8 July 1943) - Balthasar WollBalthasar WollBalthasar "Bobby" Woll was a Oberscharführer in the Waffen SS who was also awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He was born in Wemmetsweiler on 1 March 1922, ....
- Helmut WendorffHelmut WendorffHelmut Max Ernst Wendorff was an Obersturmführer in the Waffen SS. He was issued with the SS number 365 017 and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.Wendorff was born on 20 October 1920 in Gauwinkel...
- Alfred GüntherAlfred GüntherAlfred Günther was a Untersturmführer in the Waffen SS who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.Günther, SS service number 392 402, commanded the 3rd Company, 1st SS Sturmgeschütz Battalion...
See also
- SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 102
- SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 103
- German heavy tank battalions
- List of Knight's Cross recipients of the SS Heavy Panzer Battalions