Who Am I

Hagen · #1 (**permalink**) March 4th, 2008, 08:27 PM

I fought in virtually every type of tank as loader, gunner,and commander. I was awarded the Iron Cross First Class after destroying my 50th enemy tank and the Panzer Assault Badge in Gold well after my 100th tank battle. When I destroyed my 126th enemy tank I was awarded the German Cross in Gold. I scored many more victories but never received the Knights Cross. This picture was taken at Sennlager training grounds during a parade, I'm shaved for this one, although you may recognize me easier if I had a goatee. As fortunes go I and my crew were KIA on 29 April 1945.

Jim O · #2 (**permalink**) March 4th, 2008, 10:05 PM

Kurt Knispel. Ironic that he died a few days before V-E Day.

Here he is in with a more "familiar appearance":

Kurt_Knispel.jpg

Hagen · #3 (**permalink**) March 5th, 2008, 08:09 PM

Right you are Jim! With 168 credited kills he's Germany's leading panzer ace. 168 kills and no Knights Cross, probably do to the Cracow incident.

In the summer of 1942 while on rail transport to the Ost front they were shunted off to the side in Cracow. While there Knispel was talking with friend Alfred Rubble when Kurt Knispel noticed two people coming towards them, one in prisoners garb and the other his guard. The prisoner kept stopping and the guard hit him with his rifle butt and then kicked him as a signal to move on. According to Alfred Rubble, Knispel said softly, "Damn it, I'm going to straighten that fellow out". Rubble warned Kurt that he could get into a lot of trouble. Knispel replied; "I don't care. I just can't watch and keep my mouth shut". Knispel actually pulled his pistol but then ended up slapping the regional defense soldier with an open hand. The soldier then pointed his rifle at Knispel who wrenched it from his hand. Knispel swung the rifle down and broke the stock on a rail. Then he kicked the guard in the backside a couple of times!! After leaving the station the transport was stopped at the next station and MP's got on the train looking for Knispel but they never found him. Somehow someone up the chain of command must have gotten Kurts name and it was held against him from then on.
You would think this enough excitment for one train trip but Knispel and friends got curious to the content of the sealed box cars of the SS unit that was traveling with them. Knispel broke into a couple of them and discovered a treasure of food stuffs and schnapps! Knispel and friends actually wrapped up the schnapps bottles in cloth and shoved them all down the barrels of their slightly raised 75mm cannons. They covered up their theft so well the SS were none the wiser even after unloading.

I sure would have enjoyed drinking with this man!!