On this weekend 72 years ago the best tank commander ever was killed in action, Kurt Knispel. A true warrior dedicated to his men and what he felt was right.
http://worldwartwo.filminspector.com/2014/07/kurt-knispel-portrait-of-warrior.html
Jager
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72 Years Ago Today
Jager52
Joined: October 25, 2012
KitMaker: 9 posts
Armorama: 6 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 12:33 AM UTC
PanzerKarl
Joined: April 20, 2004
KitMaker: 2,439 posts
Armorama: 1,980 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 01:09 AM UTC
Best tank ace ever 168 kills.
Bodeen
#026
Joined: June 08, 2002
KitMaker: 1,744 posts
Armorama: 1,359 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 02:11 AM UTC
Thanks for this...I am a huge fan of military history and have never heard of Kurt Knispel. I will be researching his story and will attempt to model his last tank. This is so cool. I just got the Meng King Tiger. 
bulldawg380
Joined: August 19, 2009
KitMaker: 347 posts
Armorama: 338 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 05:14 AM UTC
Thank you very much for that. It is ggod to see that foks out there like to publish real history. 
exgrunt
Joined: December 17, 2013
KitMaker: 301 posts
Armorama: 301 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 05:49 PM UTC
Sorry but I'll pass on any celebration memorializing this guy. He was fighting for the Nazi's and got his just reward. No big loss to humanity.
PanzerKarl
Joined: April 20, 2004
KitMaker: 2,439 posts
Armorama: 1,980 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 06:31 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Sorry but I'll pass on any celebration memorializing this guy. He was fighting for the Nazi's and got his just reward. No big loss to humanity.
You have been watching too much on the History channel
j76lr
Joined: September 22, 2006
KitMaker: 1,081 posts
Armorama: 1,066 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 07:00 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Sorry but I'll pass on any celebration memorializing this guy. He was fighting for the Nazi's and got his just reward. No big loss to humanity.
i totally agree. ss nazi .
darreng
Joined: January 21, 2006
KitMaker: 789 posts
Armorama: 382 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 07:18 PM UTC
He wasn't a Nazi that's just the point. He was regular army. Not a member of the SS either. And not all German's were Nazi's. Plus Knispel was Czech by birth.
Biggles2
Joined: January 01, 2004
KitMaker: 7,600 posts
Armorama: 6,110 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 07:35 PM UTC
Hmmm...an opportunity for a Dragon "Special Edition" Knispel Tiger l, Tiger ll, etc.
PanzerKarl
Joined: April 20, 2004
KitMaker: 2,439 posts
Armorama: 1,980 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 07:41 PM UTC
Quoted Text
He wasn't a Nazi that's just the point. He was regular army. Not a member of the SS either. And not all German's were Nazi's. Plus Knispel was Czech by birth.
Someone with a bit of sense
Because you wear a German uniform does not mean your a Nazi.
Chuck4
Joined: November 13, 2013
KitMaker: 403 posts
Armorama: 401 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 08:04 PM UTC
Successful, sure, but best ever?
TopSmith
Joined: August 09, 2002
KitMaker: 1,742 posts
Armorama: 1,658 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 08:18 PM UTC
One of the reasons he didn't get much notoriety was due to him not being in the party. I don't know of any photo's of his tank.
Chuck4
Joined: November 13, 2013
KitMaker: 403 posts
Armorama: 401 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 08:50 PM UTC
Also he was a nonconformist who wore a beard and hair far longer than regulation, salute in a manner that makes officers cringe, and generally didn't further the propaganda image of the stiff, brutal and yet slavishly obedient aryan party soldier fawning at an unseen superior or fuhrer just out of the frame.
obg153
Joined: April 07, 2009
KitMaker: 1,063 posts
Armorama: 1,049 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 09:20 PM UTC
Seemed to me that this was more in the vein of noting the death of a warrior, as opposed to any celebration or parade. We're all aware that history, especially military history, is written by the victors. But I don't see the rationale for ignoring people simply because they fought on the losing or "wrong" side. If so, then names like Lee, von Richtofen, Yamamoto, and many others, should also be ignored. Respect can be given for their abilities even though their efforts supported terrible causes.
long_tom
Joined: March 18, 2006
KitMaker: 2,362 posts
Armorama: 2,005 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 09:26 PM UTC
Hans Ulrich-Rudel was the world's most successful bomber pilot. In his case, though, he was a genuine Nazi, even after the war.
Jager52
Joined: October 25, 2012
KitMaker: 9 posts
Armorama: 6 posts
Posted: Sunday, April 30, 2017 - 04:45 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Seemed to me that this was more in the vein of noting the death of a warrior, as opposed to any celebration or parade. We're all aware that history, especially military history, is written by the victors. But I don't see the rationale for ignoring people simply because they fought on the losing or "wrong" side. If so, then names like Lee, von Richtofen, Yamamoto, and many others, should also be ignored. Respect can be given for their abilities even though their efforts supported terrible causes.
Thank you. My intent was merely to recognize a valiant and successful warrior and his story. No political agenda intended. Even enemies respect fellow warriors.
AmTrac1833
#431
Joined: February 20, 2014
KitMaker: 376 posts
Armorama: 311 posts
Posted: Sunday, April 30, 2017 - 05:11 AM UTC
Very interesting. The fanfare typically goes Michael Wittmann in this arena. Like how the story explained that too.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing.
jonvan
Joined: August 23, 2015
KitMaker: 170 posts
Armorama: 43 posts
Posted: Sunday, April 30, 2017 - 05:55 AM UTC
Thanks, VERY interesting. He sounded like a down to earth real hero, one that didn't want notoriety.---John
Pumpkinking01
Joined: April 01, 2007
KitMaker: 12 posts
Armorama: 10 posts
Posted: Sunday, April 30, 2017 - 07:20 PM UTC
Great Information! Nothing wrong with learning about real warriors from both sides of any conflict whether they were in the right or in the wrong. No Knights Cross though? Must be because he was not a Nazi party member. Thanks again.
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