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Section Leaders:
Pictures and captions
by Madmatt
Although two of
Barkmann's platoon were taken out, including his own tank,
both crews survived intact and the overall destruction wrought by these
three Panthers halted the American advance in this sector and bought
the retreating Germans needed time to recover.
While Barkmann holds back waiting for the eventual breakthrough he orders his wingmen to flank to both sides. The left wing was able to use some small dirt auxiliary roads to come around behind this column of Shermans (upper right) while the right wing engages a mixed group of tanks, half-tracks and armored fire-support vehicles.
By this point in the battle the right wing has succumbed to overwhelming American firepower and abandoned their badly damaged tank. Barkmann has now rushed into the fray (upper center) with cannon ablaze and again two Panthers score hits at the same moment.
Barkmann has pulled up beside this farmhouse for protection. The wheat field ahead is strewn with the burning and abandoned hulks of his victims. Forced to button up from a maelstrom of small arms and mortar fire, Barkmann turns to his Nahverteidigungswaffe to deal out further chaos.
Historical Perspective Sergeant Ernst Barkmann was a tank commander in the SS Panzer Regiment 2 of the Das Reich Division. Beginning the war in Poland as an infantryman, he later transferred to the Panzer Corps. It was here that he proved to be one of Germany's top tank aces. Early in 1944 the Das Reich Division was transferred to France. To counter a possible breakout from the beaches by American forces, the division was assembled in the area south of St Lo. On July 8th, Barkmann registered his first American kill, an M4A3 Sherman. His last engagement before the major retreat to Germany would take place on July 26th, 1944. Receiving reports that strong American tank forces were advancing south from St. Lo following the massive air raid in the area, Barkmann and two other Panther tanks set up an ambush in the hedgerows near the village of Le Lorey. Positioning his tank in an ideal ambush position at a crossroads, Barkmann sighted a long column of enemy vehicles approaching him. His gunner, Corporal Pooggendorf, estimated the distance at around 200 yards. Barkmann tersely gave the order to fire. The Panther shuddered as its main gun erupted flame and smoke. Almost instantaneously, more flames erupted from the lead American tank. The German sergeant coolly surveyed the terrain, found more targets and fired upon them. His keen eyes spotted two Shermans flanking his position through the thick haze of battle. His 7.5 cm gun barked. Though a heroic stand was made, it could not last. By now Barkmann's Panther, # 424, had taken numerous hits. The escape hatches were twisted and jammed. His driver had suffered a serious neck wound and screamed hysterically in pain. One track on the massive steel cat had been blown away. The zimmerit protective covering of the tank had been peeled back by armor piercing 75mm rounds. Armor flaking inside the turret from enemy hits had created further wounds to his crew. Enemy artillery shells were bursting all around his position. He had done all he could. Barkmann spoke to his driver calmly, reassuring him. The driver immediately came back to his sense, climbed into his seat, and wrestled the tank into reverse. He then slowly backed it out of the fight, the tank twisting and waddling in a crab-like motion. Once out of the action, German infantry was stationed nearby. Witnesses to the battle, they were stunned. They dramatically attested that Barkmann in this engagement had taken out well over a dozen enemy vehicles. His tally included halftracks, trucks, a jeep and nine Sherman tanks. His sacrificial stand at the crossroads would be recognized by his later receiving the award of the Ritterkruez (The Knight's Cross).
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