France, Normandy coast. Eighth day of the Allied operation “Overlord” to open a new front in Europe. Trying to advance towards the strategic city of Caen, the British are ambushed by the German 101st Heavy Tank Battalion.
The engagement began with an attack by Lieutenant (Obersturmführer) SS Michael Wittmann, who attacked with his only Tiger tank against stationary elements of the British 22nd Armoured Brigade in the town of Villers Bocage, destroying several tanks, armoured vehicles and trucks in 15 minutes before withdrawing for resupply. The conflict then became generalised with the reappearance of Wittmann and several tanks of the 101st.
The battle lasted six hours before the British withdrew with heavy losses. The Germans would be reinforced by the Panzer Division “Lehr” and would attack the British in the following days, who would be entrenched in a square. Villers Bocage would finally be captured in early August after being leveled by British aviation.
