The incredible story of Erwin Bachmann

Question

And he looked so mild-mannered and gentle in his picture!  (4:48)  :-O

Answer 1

I've seen lot's of these videos and used parts of them in the games I work on.

The Panther was probably one of the best tanks of WW2. Good armor and a high velocity gun. Shermans were thinner skinned and lacked the firepower of the German tanks. Germans made the best weapons but couldn't supply them fast enough nor had enough manpower. Of course, the S.S. units were always outfitted with the newest and best equipment.

Never let the looks fool you! The S.S. were merciless soldiers.

Comments

Well, Bachmann certainly was tough, and took all kinds of chances.

But he survived, and lived to age 88, dying in 2010.

https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Erwin_Bachmann

Answer 2

Good tanks but they didn't do so well at their baptism of fire at Kursk!

Comments

Yes, but the Germans were vastly outnumbered by then, 6 months after Stalingrad.

The war in Russia was as good as lost.

https://www.historyhit.com/the-battle-of-kursk-in-numbers/

Answer 3

It's just a remarkable episode in the war, Tink, ty for posting.

Other thoughts -- all that going on so close to the end of the war, such courage and enterprise for the Fatherland. Second thought, all this going on unbeknownst to me at the time, busy as I was being a baby only 2 1/2 months old. 

He lived until 2010, died 88 years old, I hope his life was peaceful and content, such a brave man.