Many men served in the armies of WWII. For the most part they did their job as best they could and tried to go home at the end. They were average soldiers.

Some men excelled at being soldiers. This thread is about them. The ones who rose to the top and became the best of the best.

This is a thread of the elite. What has become known as the Aces.

I would ask the support of all of you to contribute to this thread especially. This is not about divisions with thousands of men in them. It is about the accomplishments of single men or tank crews.

Many earned their nation's highest awards.

Germany: Ritter Kreuz (RK) - Knight's Cross (KC)

Soviet Union: Hero of the Soviet Union (HOSU)

United Kingdom: Victoria Cross (VC)

United States: Congressional Medal of Honor (CMOH)

German Tank Aces

1. Knispel, Kurt, SS-Unterführer: 168 Kills (schw.SS-PzAbt. 503) - King Tiger
2. Carius, Otto: 150 Kills (schw.PzAbt. 502) - Tiger I - Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves
3. Bölter, Johannes (Hans): 139 Kills (schw.PzAbt. 502) Tiger - Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves
4. Wittmann, Michael: 138 Kills (schw.SS.PzAbt. 101, SS-PR 1 LAH) - Tiger I - Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Diamonds
5. Sandrock, Hans: 123 Kills (Fsch.Pz.Rgt “HG“, Fsch.StuG.Abt. “HG“, zuletzt HJ-Einheit) - Knight’s Cross
6. Egger, Paul: 113 Kills (schw.SS Pz. Abt. 102/502) - Tiger - Knight’s Cross
7. Giesen, Arno, SS-Unterführer: 111 Kills (SS “Das Reich“)
8. Rondorf, Oberfähnrich: 106 Kills (schw.SS-PzAbt. 503) - King Tiger
9. Gärtner, Feldwebel: 103 Kills (schw.SS-PzAbt. 503) - King Tiger
10. Körner, Karl: mehr als 100 Kills (schw. SS-PzAbt. 503) - King Tiger - Knight’s Cross
11. Kerscher, Albert: 100 Kills (schw.PzAbt. 502) - Tiger - Knight’s Cross
12. Woll, Balthasar (Bobby): 100 Kills, 81 als Panzerschütze (13. / SS-PR 1; schw.SS-Pz.Abt. 101) - Knight’s Cross
13. Wendorff, Helmut: 84 Kills (schw. SS-PR 1 LAH, schw.SS-Pz Abt.101) - Tiger - Knight’s Cross
14. Barkmann, Ernst: 82 Kills (SS-PR 2 “Das Reich“) - Panther - Knight’s Cross
15. Litzke, Erich: 76 Kills (schw.PzAbt. 509) Tiger - Knight’s Cross
16. Bix, Hermann: 75 Kills (PR 35, 4. PD) - Knight’s Cross
17. Strippel, Hans: 70 Kills (PR 1) - Pz. IV - Knight’s Cross
18. Seibold, Emil: 69 Kills (SS-PR 2 “Das Reich“) - Pz IV and captured-T-34 - Knight’s Cross
19. Knauth, Dr. Wilhelm: 68 Kills (PzAbt. 505) - Tiger - Knight’s Cross
20. Brommann, Karl: 66 Kills (schw.SS.PzAbt. 503) - King Tiger - Knight’s Cross
21. Rohr, Hans-Babo von: 58 Kills (PR 25) - Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves (posthumously)
22. Warmbrunn, Karl Heinz, SS-Untersturmführer: 57 Kills (schw.SS-Pz. Abt. 101) - Tiger
23. Ernst, Albert: 55 Kills (schw.Pz.Jäger-Abt. 519) - Nashorn - Knight’s Cross
24. Kling, Heinz: 51 Kills (SS-PR 1, SS-PR 12, schw.SS-Pz.Abt. 501) - Tiger - Knight’s Cross
25. Müller, Johann: 50 Kills (Pz.Jäg.Abt. 502 [mot]) - Knight’s Cross
26. Dallmeier, Josef: 50 Kills (Fhr. Pz.Jäger-Kp. 1183 / 6. VGD) - Hetzer - Knight’s Cross
27. Kramer, Heinz: 50 Kills (schw.Pz.Abt. 502) - Tiger - Knight’s Cross
28. Carpaneto, Alfredo: 50 Kills (schw.Pz.Abt. 502) - Tiger – Knight’s Cross
29. Mausberg, Heinz, Feldwebel: 50 Kills (3. / schw.Pz.Abt. 505) - Tiger
30. Bostell, Wolfgang Hans Heimer Paul von: 48 Kills - (Pz.Jäger-Kp. 1023, Pz.Jäger-Abt. 205) - Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves
31. Brandt, Jürgen: 47 Kills (schw.SS-Pz.Abt. 101) - Tiger.
32. Roy, Rudolf: 36 Kills (SS-Pz.Jäg.Abt. 12 “HJ“) - JagdPz. IV - Knight’s Cross
33. Teriete, Heinrich: 22 Kills (schw.Pz.Jg.Abt. 635) - Knight’s Cross
34. Staudegger, Franz: 22 Kills (SS-Pz.Rgt. 1 “LSSAH“) - Knight’s Cross
35. Kretschmer, Franz: 21 Kills (schw.Pz.Jäg.Rgt. 656) - Knight’s Cross
36. Feldheim, Hermann: 16 Kills (schw.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654)
37. Ribbentrop, Rudolf von: 14 Kills (SS-Pz.Rgt. 1 “LSSAH“) - Knight’s Cross
38. Freyer, Siegfried: 11 Kills in a single day (Pz. Rgt. 24) - Knight’s Cross

German Sturmgeschutz  Aces

1. Lang, Fritz, Wachtmeister: 113 Kills (3. / Stu.Gesch.Brig. 232)
2. Schmitt, Johann "Hans" - 75 kills - StGAbt 261 – Knight’s Cross on 30/04/1945
3. Primozic, Hugo: 68 Kills (StuG.Abt. 667) - Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves
4. Sauer, Konrad - 65 kills - StGBr 353 - Knight’s Cross on 30//04/1944
5. Brandner, Josef (Sepp): 61 Kills (StuG.Brig. 912) - Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves
6. Timpe, Heinrich Karl - 59 kills - StGBr 300 (F) - Knight’s Cross on 07/05/1945
7. Rohrbacher, Josef - 56 kills - StGBr 245 - Knight’s Cross on 04/05/1944
8. Witte, Albert - 56 kills - StGBr 394 kills - Knight’s Cross on 11/03/1945
9. Kochanowski, Johannes - 55 kills - StGAbt 201 - Knight's Cross on 15/10/1942
10. Engelmann, Richard: 54 Kills (StuG.Abt. 912) - Knight’s Cross
11. Stier, Gottwald: 53 Kills (StuG.Abt. 667) - Knight’s Cross
12. Feibig, Walter: 50 Kills (StuG.Brig. 301)
13. Adamowitsch, Felix: 50 Kills (StuG.brig. 904) - Knight’s Cross
14. Zillmann, Erich - 48 kills - StGBr 245 - Knight’s Cross on 11/03/1945
15. Spielmann, Johann - 48 kills - StGBr 202 - Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves on 28/03/1945
16. Lutz, Waldemar - 47 kills - StGAbt 245 - Knight’s Cross on 02/10/1942
17. Hoper, Ahrend - 47 kills - StGBr 202 - Knight’s Cross on 26/11/1944
18. Muller, Edo - 46 kills - StGAbt 244 - Knight’s Cross on 25/01/1943
19. Przedwojewski, Felix - 45 kills - SS.StGAbt 3 "Totenkopf" - RK on 16/12/1943
20. Deutsch, Heinz: 44 Kills (Fsch.StuG.Brig. 12) - Knight’s Cross
21. Pfreundtner, Karl: 43 Kills (StuG.Abt. 244) - Knight’s Cross
22. Amling, Fritz: 42 Kills (in 48 Std. with StuG.Abt. 202) - Knight’s Cross
23. Aman, Herbert - 42 kills - StGAbt 905 - Knight’s Cross on 10/02/1944
24. Wegener, Paul - 40+ kills - StGAbt 237 - Knight’s Cross on 18/10/1943
25. Schwalb, Helmut - 40 kills - StGBr 190 - Knight’s Cross on 23/08/1044
26. Tornau, Gottfried - 40 kills - StGBr "Führer Begleits Brigade" - Knight’s Cross on 05/03/1945
27. Tadje, Friedrich - 39 kills - StGAbt 190 - Knight’s Cross on 21/10/1943
28. Henke, Friedrich - 38 kills - SS StGAbt 1 - Knight’s Cross on 12/02/1944
29. Laubmaeir, Ludwig - 38 kills - StGBr 191 - Knight’s Cross on 04/10/1944
30. Angel, Otto - 36 kills - PzJgAbt 6 - Knight’s Cross on 15/03/1945
31. Malachowski, Wilhelm von - 35+ kills - StGAbt 228 - Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves on 06/03/1943
32. Kramer, Richard Otto - 35 kills - StGBr 232 - Knight’s Cross on 30/04/1944
33. Brandt, Gerhard Alfred - 35 kills - StGBr 202 - Knight’s Cross on 12/12/1944
34. Serck, Julius - 32 kills - StGBr 300 (F) - Knight’s Cross on 23/03/1945
35. Kirchner, Kurt - 30+ - StGBatterie 667 - Knight’s Cross on 20/02/1942
36. Schramm, Richard - 30+ kills - StGAbt 202 - Knight’s Cross on 23/12/1943
37. Tragner, Josef - 30 kills - StGAbt 667 - Knight’s Cross on 23/08/1943
38. Buhr, Martin - 29 kills - StGAbt 202 - Knight’s Cross on 11/09/1943
39. Bausch, Albert - 29 kills - StGAbt 285 - Knight’s Cross on 10/02/1944
40. Schliessmann, Kurt - 29 kills - StGBr 286 - Knight’s Cross on 15/01/1945
41. von Bostell, Wolfgang - 28 kills - StGAbt 205 – Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves on 30/04/1945
42. Alex, Ernst - 27 kills - StGAbt 243 - Knight’s Cross on 01/08/1941
43. Ertel, Reinheld - 27 kills - StGAbt 276 - Knight’s Cross on 31/01/1944
44. Schwarzenbacher, Josef - 25+ kills - StGBr 912 - Knight’s Cross on 27/08/1944
45. von Santa Truxa, Rolf - 25 kills - StGBr 190 - Knight’s Cross on 17/12/1943
46. Dath, Friedrich - 25 kills - StGBr 286 - Knight’s Cross on 09/12/1944
47. Chozonsz, Günther - 23 kills - StGAbt 277 - Knight’s Cross on 12/11/1943 (later changed his name to Carsten)
48. Angelmaier, Heinz - 23 kills - StGBrigade 279 - Knight’s Cross on 18/02/1945
49. Wagner, Klaus Herbert - 22 kills - StGAbt 667 - Knight’s Cross on 04/09/1942
50. Zitzen, Kurt Heinrich - 22 kills - StGAbt 177 - Knight’s Cross on 04/08/1943
51. Sowada, Bernhard - 21+ kills - StGAbt 237 - Knight’s Cross on 12/10/1943
52. Nippes, Kurt - 17 kills - StGAbt 275 - Knight’s Cross on 29/11/1944
53. Berg, Karl Erich - 12+ kills - StGAbt 191 - Knight’s Cross on 06/04/1944
54. Bertram, Ludwig - 12+ kills - StGBr 237 - Knight’s Cross on 12/08/1944
55. FeldKamp, Heinrich - 12 kills - StGBr 341 - Knight’s Cross on 14/04/1945
56. Wagner, Hans-Joachim - 9 kills - StGBr 286 - Knight’s Cross on 25/01/1945
57. Scharf, Heinz: 40 Kills (StuG.Brig. 202) - Knight’s Cross
58. Oberloskamp, Walther: 40 Kills (StuG.Abt. 667) - Knight’s Cross
59. Tadje, Fritz: 39 Kills (StuG.Abt. 190) - Knight’s Cross
60. Trägner, Josef: 30 Kills (StuG.Brig. 667) - Knight’s Cross
61. Schramm, Richard: 30 Kills (StuG.Brig. 202) - Knight’s Cross
62. Banze, Karl Heinrich: 27 Kills (13 in a single day, StuG.Abt. 244) - Knight’s Cross
63. Naumann, Horst: 26 Kills (StuG.Abt. 184) - Knight’s Cross
64. Metzger, Eugen: 23 Kills (StuG.Abt. 203) - Knight’s Cross
65. Rade, Hans Dietrich: 23 Kills (StuG.Abt. 244) – German Cross in Gold
66. Wagner, Klaus: 18 Kills (in 2 days, StuG.Abt. 667)
67. Engel, Heinrich: 15 Kills (StuG.Abt. 259) - Knight’s Cross
68. Moj, Wachtmeister: 12 Kills (StuG.Abt. 190)
69. Regeniter, Alfred - 10 Kills (StuG.Abt. 276) - Knight’s Cross

Soviet Tank Aces

1. Guards Capt. Samokhin Konstantin, 4th Tank Brigade, BT-7, T-34 died in 1942 - 69 + 13 other AFVs, 82 guns, 117 motor vehicles
2. Lt. Lavrinenko Dmitry (T-34, 4th Tank Brigade), Hero of the Soviet Union (1985!), died in Nov. 1941 - 52 includes StuGs, some guns, mortars and AC cars. In October of 1941 his T-34 destroyed 16 German tanks in a single combat. Scored 52 victories in 28 engagements before he was killed defending Moscow in 1941.
3. Sr. Lt. Kolobanov Zinovy (KV-1, 1st tank division) - 23 + 3 ATGs; destroyed 22 tanks + 2 ATGs on 19 August 1941 in 3 hours. His KV withstood 135 hits.
4. Guards Lt. Maksakov Vladimir (T-34/85, 45th Guards tank brigade) - 18 Including three Tigers.
5. Jr.lt. Kashnikov P.M. (T-34, 6th Guards mech corps) - 17 inc. StuGs
6. Lt. Konovalov Semen (KV-1, 15th tank brigade) - 16 + 2 armoured cars and 8 cars (all tanks destroyed in one combat on 13 July 1943)
7. Lt. Khoroshilov Pavel (KV-1, 12th tank regiment) - 16 includes 4 SPGs + other vehicles
8. St. Nurtynov (SU-122), 1945 - 15 + 20 guns and mortars
9. Salnikov Mikhail - 15
10.Guard Lt. M.Pobedinsky - 13 altogether, the total includes both Panthers and Tigers.
11.Guards Lt. Bessarabov Georgy (T-34, 1st Guards tank brigade), Dec. 1943 - 12 Including 5 Tigers.
12. Lt. Deputatov Ivan (JS-2, 36th tank brigade) , 1945 - 11 including 2 StuGs and 3 halftracks
13. Lt. Silachyev Alexey (1943) - 11 All in the same combat in 1943.
14. Lt. Dmitriev Maxim (1943) - 11
15. Stepanov Konstantin (46th tank brigade) - 11 and 5 antitank guns.
16. Lt. Gudz Pavel (KV-1, 89th separate tank battalion) - 10 and 4 antitank guns, All during a single combat
17. Guards Lt. Sokolov Yury Sergeyevich (T-34, 45 Guards tank brigade) - 10 includes 9 StuGs, 2 antitank guns, 2 strongpoints, 8 halftracks and 15 cars
18.Sr lt. Khazov Vladimir (6th tank brigade) - 10+
19. Major Sankovsky (SU-152) - 10 during 1 day in 1943.
20. Jr.lt. Miljukov Alexander (KV, T-34-76, T-34-85, 53rd Guards tank brigade), Hero of the Soviet Union, 1945 - 9 tanks and some antitank guns. (Includes 6 Tigers + 1 Panther)
21. Lt. Lazeykin N. (14th tank regiment) - 9 during 1 combat , including three Tigers.
22. Lt. Kukarin (T-34, 4th tank brigade) - 9 during 1 combat;
23. Ljubushkin Ivan (SU-122), Hero of the Soviet Union - 9 including 5 StuGs and 15 antitank guns.
24. Capt. Bosov Alexey (KV-1) - 8 and 1 plane(rammed) on 18th November 1941; also destroyed some guns on 27th August 1939.
25. Korolkv Ivan (T-34, 133rd tank brigade) - 8 and 2 guns, during 1 combat in 1942 near Khar'kov.
26. Borisov I.F. (T-34/85, 36th Guards tank brigade) 18 to 21 february 1945 - 8 tanks and 5 halftracks.
27. Lt. Zhabin I.N. (KV, 10th tank division) - 8 tanks and many cars, during a single days combat in 1941.
28. Sr. lt. Sholokhov Dmitry (KV, 158th tank brigade) 1942 - 8 tanks and 10 cars, in one combat.
29. Jr.lt. Kurlyand (T-34, 3rd Guards tank brigade) - 8 during a single combat
30. Lt. Sergeev (KV-1, 1st tank division) - 8 tanks during one combat.
31. Guards Lt. Tokarev (T-34/85, 52rd Guards tank brigade) - 8 during a single combat. (Including two Tigers and three Panthers)
32. Guards Lt. Nagumanov Deylegay (166th Guards separate eng.-t. brig.), 1944 8 - during a single combat
33. Lt. Zamula Mikhail (200th tank brigade) , 1944 - 7 (All seven were Tigers.)
34.Guards Jr.lt. Golub Ivan (T-34/85, 13th Guards tank brigade) , 1944 - 7 tanks and 5 antitank guns. (including 3 Tigers and 2 Panthers)
35. Jr.lt. Ljaschenko (18th tank brigade) - 7
36. Jr.lt. Babkov A. (T-34) - 7 tanks (this includes 1 Ferdinand)
Guard Colonel N.G.Zhukov (1945), 10th Guard Tank Corps - 7 tanks. (Includes Panthers)
37. Gorobets (T-34; 21st tank brigade) - 7
38. Guards Capt. Danilov Alexey (T-34, 3rd Guards mechanised corps) - 7 tanks destroyed on 24th September 1943
Lt. Ivan Lupov, Hero of the Soviet Union, 1941 (Katukov Brigade) - 7 tanks, 2 antitank guns and 5 mortars.
39. Dashinsky (KV-1) - 6 tanks, 18 guns and 6 mortars, on 3rd October 1942
40. Andronov V. (143rd tank regiment) - 6 tanks and 2 antitank guns
41. Lt. Brazhnikov Grigory (T-34), 1943 - 6 tanks (Including 5 Tigers)
42. Guards Jr.lt.Yermolaev Vasily (T-34/85, 12th Guards tank brigade), Hero of the Soviet Union - 6 during 1 combat. (This includes four Tiger II's)
43. Guards Jr.lt. Stepan Kraynev (T-34, 52rd Guards tank brigade) - 6 during 1 combat. (the total includes two Panthers)
44. Simenchuk Nikolay - 6 during 1 combat
45. Lt. Minenko (T-34) - 6 on 21st November 1941
46. Lt. Alexey Yerohin (T-34) - 6 all StuG's during 2 days in 1943.
47. Lt. Chuchuka (T-34, 197 tank brigade) - 6 all StuG, 1943
48. Guards Jr.lt. Oskin Alexander (T-34/85, 53rd Guards tank brigade) Hero of the Soviet Union - 6 tanks (Including three Tiger II's during the first engagement between King Tigers and Soviet forces.)
49. Jamaletdinov Shagiy (T-34, 41st Guards tank brigade) - 5 tanks, 8 antitank guns and 3 halftracks
50. Capt. Reshetnikov Nikolay (25st tank brigade) - 5 including 1 StuG and 12 cars
51. Guards Lt. Hitzenko Ivan (JS-2), died in 1945 - 5 during 1 combat. (includes a Tiger II)
52. Lt. Pechnikov S.K. (1st tank division) - 5 tanks and 3 mortars;during 4 days in 1941,
53. Lt. Frolov M. (178th tank brigade) - 5 during 1 combat. (includes three Tigers)
54. Lt. Stropin - 5
55. 1st lt. Lobanov Andrey (T-34) , 1943 - 5 during a single combat

One of the biggest controversies of WWII center around the US 3rd Armored Division tanker SSG Lafayette G. Pool. He served in 3rd Platoon, "I" Company, 32nd Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division from 1941 to 1944.

Pool was born on July 23,1919, on a farm in Odem, Texas. He graduated from high school in Taft, Texas in 1938. Pool tried to enlist in the Navy. He was turned down due to an eye injury, although his twin brother was accepted. He then enrolled in an all boys Catholic Academy where he graduated as class valedictorian. Afterwards, he enrolled in Texas, A and I College, as an engineering major.

He quit to enlist in the Army on June 13, 1941. He took basic training at San Antonio, Texas, and then was sent to Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, to the newly forming Third Armored Division. Pool joined the Third Battalion, 32nd Armored Regt, when the division was reorganized in January of 1942. He took time out from training to get married to Evelyn Wright in December of 1942.

Pool had been a boxer in college and he joined the divisions golden gloves team. He became regional champ in his weight class and was to go to the national meet in Chicago, Illinois in the spring of 1942. He turned down the opportunity because the division had gotten a shipment of new M-4 Sherman Tanks and Pool wanted to start training with his men on the M-4 immediately.

Pool was a tall, lanky 6'3" Texan, who drove his men and himself and trained them rigorously. He always wanted things done right and would not tolerate slipshod methods, whether in maintenance, gunnery, or driving. He demanded the best out of his men and got it.

In 83 days of combat, Sgt. Pool and his tank crew were credited with destroying 258 enemy vehicles. This included tanks, SP guns, and armored cars. He and his crew killed over 1,000 enemy soldiers and took over 250 prisoners.

He participated in, and was the lead tank in 21 engagements. He commanded 3 different Sherman tanks, all named "In The Mood". All 3 of them were shot out from under him. He knocked out no less than 12 German tanks, most of which were superior to the Sherman. He had a habit of going after Panthers and was known to get in and mix it up.

All 3 of SSG Pools tanks were named "In the Mood". All 3 were shot out from under him. From the 22 September 1944 edition of YANK magazine, in an interview with Pool's driver Cpl. Wilbert Richards and bow gunner Pfc. Bert Close, we are given the locations that the tanks were lost. The first M4 Sherman named IN THE MOOD was lost near the town of La Forge Bois de Bretel, France. The second  would be lost in a "friendly fire" incident when the USAAF bombed elements of CCA in the town of Fromentel. The third was lost near Munsterbusch, Germany.

The first two "In the Mood" vehicles were 75mm armed Shermans. The last was a M4A1(76)W.

At Namur, Belgium, SSG Pool and his crew destroyed sixteen enemy vehicles, including assault guns, self-propelled anti-tank guns, plus several armored personnel carriers in one day.

Pool was twice recommended for the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was turned down for the CMOH because it was determined to be an individual achievement and not for those of a tank crew.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Merit, the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart. He also received the Belgian Fourragère and the French Legion of Honor.

Lafayette Pool died in 1991 and is buried at the military cemetery on Fort Sam Houston, Texas.



Primary Sources:

http://www.3ad.com/history/wwll/pool.pages/ordnance.journal.htm (http://www.3ad.com/history/wwll/pool.pages/ordnance.journal.htm)

http://www.3ad.com/history/wwll/pool.pages/pool.photo.pages/in.mood.3ad.htm (http://www.3ad.com/history/wwll/pool.pages/pool.photo.pages/in.mood.3ad.htm)

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8201 (http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8201)

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-4346.html (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-4346.html)

http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58498 (http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58498)

Documents from the Patton Museum, Fort Knox Kentucky



Good Hunting.

MR