Help!: Kurt Knispel(a) 1./s.H.Pz.Abt. 503 the truth, Turmnummer

James Laver

Diskuse

Hello all, its been very exciting to read some of the excellent research done on Knispel (Knispela) by this forums members.


I am about to assemble a 1/6th scale all metal Tiger II R/C model made by an english company called Armortek UK . I would very much like to base the model & prime; s design and finish (paint etc) on one of Knispel & # 8242; s Tiger IIs (As well as Trojca & prime; s excellent artwork). The BIG question is what Turmnummer (s)/Turret numbers were assigned to him? And did he serve in both early "Porsche" turreted Tiger IIs or only the serien-turm later turret?


As well as this, and perhaps more important to me is finding out how he died and why he never got the Knight & # 8242; s cross. If he was the greatest Ace of the war then WHY do no German sources detail his history in a way that recognizes his heroism and talent? The last few months of his life must have been the most arduous and hard any fighting man could have endured. A struggle that deserves recognition.


None of the references on Tiger warfare and design give any detail on his Kompanie or Zug (no tank numbers or details of colleagues other than Skoda). I include here references such as Jentz, Trojca, Schneider, Forty. Hauptmann von Diest Koerber did not say very much, was this because of the manner of Knispel and Skoda & # 8242; s deaths?


From what I can understand of this forum & # 8242; s contents, you guys have got much closer to finding out what happened late April 1945 near Altenmarkt, Nova Ves and Strondorf.


Regards and thanks,


James Laver
Swindon, UK
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Help-Kurt-Knispel-a-1-s-H-Pz-Abt-503-the-truth-Turmnummer-t87274#323478 Version : 0
Hi James,
greetings to Swindon, havent been there for years Smile, but lovely city ! And that crazy place with all the roundabouts nearby in Cirencester ? Smile

About your questions, i will translate them into English so my colleagues may give you some answers and translate them back for you. We have one large thread about Kurt Knispel and some of your questions may be already answered there, so let us check and come back to you with (hopefully) the answers Very Happy



Translation : James b RC model Tigru II in scale 1:6 (tim, I could ride to work Smile ), and advice would built it like a tank Kurt Knispela. The question is, jake mel the tank number on the version ? And what version is carrying actually his tank mel, early porsche, or only the late version ?

Dale there are questions around his death and why he wasn't awarded the Rytirskym the crisscross, but it is the file in the discussion that we are having in paralelnim tematu.

If someone can provide the answers to the te navy and cislu tank, it would help, prelozim then back to AJ Smile

Thanks.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Help-Kurt-Knispel-a-1-s-H-Pz-Abt-503-the-truth-Turmnummer-t87274#323480 Version : 0
THANKYOU very much Thanks...

James.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Help-Kurt-Knispel-a-1-s-H-Pz-Abt-503-the-truth-Turmnummer-t87274#323507 Version : 0
I'm glad that our research help you. Unfortunately, I can't answer your first question, because not specializing on marking and camouflage issues. As far As I know, To.Knispel served in the "serien-turm" turreted Tiger II during his battles on territories of Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Austria in the period from October 1944 till April 1945. Maybe in France To.Knispel served in the early "Porsche" turreted Tiger II during the Normandy campaign of summer 1944. Hopefully, somebody else will comment this question in more details.

Regarding details of To.Knispel's last battle we have analysed all relevant sources, which we were able to find during the last couple of years. Based on the results of our research I can state, that To.Knispel had been mortally wounded near Stronsdorf (Austria) on 28th April 1945 in combat against Soviet tanks and assault guns. He had been evacuated a field hospital in Urbau (Vrbovec in Czech Republic), but died shortly afterwards. Then To.Knispel was buried on 29th April 1945 on the small military cemetery in this village. He rest in peace with other German soldiers who died in the same field hospital during the last two weeks of April and the first week of May 1945.

Why To.Knispel never got the Knight's cross? The answer is quite simple – he was excellent fighter but also undisciplined soldier. Somebody who is criticising his superior commanding officers and who is breaking the rules of non-combat service, such a soldier has no chance to be awarded in any armed forces. The German Wehrmacht wasn't exemption and To.Knispel's commanders at least three times refused proposal that decorate him with the Knight's cross..
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Help-Kurt-Knispel-a-1-s-H-Pz-Abt-503-the-truth-Turmnummer-t87274#323511 Version : 0
Dear colleague,
some info on the camouflage of the German tanks from the fighting in Moravia (1945) can be found in the English written modelářsko-historical study of masters: Milos Louis, Pavel Nejedlý and George Špinara: Tanks on the Dyje river.

History and plastic modelling 2006, no. 2, p. 22-31 and no. 3, pp. 29-35 (ISSN 1210-1427).

I can add scans.

I can convey the contact to the authors.


Please translation.

Dear colleague,
certain amount of information on camo schemes of German tanks used during the fighting in the Moravian region (1945) could be found in military historical study written by authors: Mr. Milos Louis, Mri. Pavel Nejedlý and Mri. George Špinar and titled "Tanks he (river) Thaya".
I am not sure whether there are bilingual picture captions there, but the text of the study is only English. The study was published in the History and plastic modeling (monthly magazine) nr. 2/2006, pages 22-31 and 3/2006, pages 29-35 (ISSN 1210-1427).
Mr. Tintera is willing to provide scans of this study and could mediate contact that above mentioned authors.

A request was heeded. #Evil Bat.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Help-Kurt-Knispel-a-1-s-H-Pz-Abt-503-the-truth-Turmnummer-t87274#323536 Version : 0
Mr. Tintera, Thankyou very much for your reply. The article is about events in the Zjnomo region and so it would be very useful to me. I have not seen this particular photograph before but I think I recognise the Tiger II tank from other Czech photographs.

I would be very interested to know of any specific Tiger 2's from s. Pz.Abt. 503 with their turret numbers as well as any information about Kurt Knispela or any of the other tank Kommanders.

The Tiger II in the picture (no. 323) looks like it was from 3./s. SS-Pz.Abt 501 (SS-Oscha)? - mainly because of the yellow an blue number painting.

(described clearly in a book would Waldemar Trojca (Polish): 'Konigstiger' in colour.)

I can get the original article translated and so and PDF copy would be very useful.

Many thanks,

James


Mr. Tintero, thank you very much for Your reply. This article is about the events in the area of Znojmo, so would be very handy. This particular photo I have seen before, but perhaps I can find another Tiger II on images of Bohemia (and Moravia).

I would very much like to learn something about the other tanks Tiger II from s. Pz.Abt. 503 and knew their tower numbers. So, I'm interested in any information about the Court Knispelovi and other commanders (tanks of this unit).

The Tiger II in the picture (tower number 323) looks like it belongs 3. (platoon?)/s. SS-Pz.Abt 501 (given the rank of commander SS - Oberscharführer) probably due to a combination of blue and yellow colors in numerical designation. The picture is in better quality given in the book of Waldemar Trojcy: "Königstiger in colour".

The article I translated, so I threw in .pdf format.

Thank you very much.

James

shiner #Evil Bat.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Help-Kurt-Knispel-a-1-s-H-Pz-Abt-503-the-truth-Turmnummer-t87274#323633 Version : 0
Dear colleague "AbyssalPlain",
on your SZ I placed instruction for download of scans HPM 2006 no 2 and 3.

Please translate.

It AbyssalPlain:
Dear colleague,
I have sent a PM with instructions how to download scans of HaPM Nos 2 and 3 as mentioned above. Check your PM box here.

The supplication was granted #Evil Bat.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Help-Kurt-Knispel-a-1-s-H-Pz-Abt-503-the-truth-Turmnummer-t87274#324254 Version : 0
Thanks very much...

RGDS,

James.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Help-Kurt-Knispel-a-1-s-H-Pz-Abt-503-the-truth-Turmnummer-t87274#324274 Version : 0
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