Destroyed Tiger Tank No.121 at Villers-Bocage, Normandy 1944
September 14, 2025 - Reading time: 4 minutes
German Tiger tank No.121 destroyed at Villers-Bocage, Normandy, 1944, after Wittmann’s famed battle against the British “Desert Rats”.
This striking photograph shows the wreck of a German Tiger I heavy tank (No.121) from the 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion, destroyed at Villers-Bocage, Normandy, June 1944. The tank was lost during the Battle of Normandy, shortly after the legendary clash in which Michael Wittmann and several Tigers devastated a British armored column.
On June 13, 1944, Wittmann’s Tiger spearheaded a sudden assault against the 7th Armoured Division’s “Desert Rats”, destroying 11 British tanks, 2 anti-tank guns, and 13 armored vehicles in mere minutes. This bold action temporarily halted the British advance but also drew massive Allied attention to the presence of Tigers in Normandy.
The Tiger in the photo, commanded by SS-Untersturmführer Ernst, was knocked out soon after. Reports suggest that it was damaged by Allied aircraft and also struck by shells from the formidable Sherman Firefly, whose 17-pounder gun was one of the few Allied weapons capable of penetrating Tiger armor. Ernst was killed in action.
The wreck of Tiger 121 symbolizes both the power and the vulnerability of Germany’s most feared tank. While Tigers could dominate on the battlefield, Allied numerical superiority, air support, and improved weapons eventually turned the tide.
Technical photo data:
📍 Location: Villers-Bocage, Normandy, France
📅 Date of photo: June 1944
📝 Event: Battle of Normandy (Wittmann’s actions at Villers-Bocage)
📷 Source: WWII photo archives
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