Franz Bäke
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Franz Bäke was a German officer and tank commander during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords of Nazi Germany. In post-war popular cultu
Bäke in 1944
Adolf Hitler presents awards to Wehrmacht officers; Bäke is on the right
Grave in Hagen
Panzer ace
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Panzer ace is a contemporary term used in English-speaking popular culture to describe highly decorated German tank commanders and crews during World War II. The Wehrmacht as well as British and Ameri
Franz Bäke
…possible to determine reliably in the heat of the battle how many tanks were destroyed and by whom. Military historian Steven Zaloga uses the term "tank ace" in quotation marks in his 2015 work Armored Champion: The Top Tanks of World War II. Zaloga points out that most of the supposed panzer aces operated…
A Tiger I tank during the Battle of Kursk in June 1943. Most of the successful German tank commanders served in units equipped with Tigers during this period.
The grave of "panzer ace" Michael Wittmann and his tank crew in 2007