By January 1945, the Allies had reinforced and regained much of the lost territory in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge.
On the night of January 16th, 1945 Obersturmführer Erwim Bachmann of the 10th Panzer Division was tasked with making a breakthrough into the Allied lines through the town of Herrlisheim.
With only 2 Panther tanks at his disposal and no infantry or artillery support, Bachmann mounted on a motorcycle, armed with only a pistol and a Panzerfaust, and headed towards the town in order to recon the area.
He snuck past the heavy presence of allied tanks and then took out one Sherman with his Panzerfaust. He then directed the two Panthers into the town..unbeknownst to him that he would be up against 21 Shermans.
Under fire and completely exposed, he manuvered the pair of tanks into critical positions, destroying a total of 9 Shermans without aking any serious damage.
His attack and leadership skills were so successful, the American forces simply surrendered to Bachmann and his two Panthers. The aftermath resulted in capturing 60 Americans, 12 intact Sherman tanks and the release of 20 German prisoners.
The captured Sherman tanks (pictured) were formed into the 13th Company, 10th SS Panzer Regiment and used on the Eastern Front until the end of the war.
Bachmann was awarded the Knights Cross and later admitted that aggressive maneuvering and communication are key to any attack, even if completely outnumbered. #tankwarfare #ww2 #stayzero #zerofoxtrot