クルト・クニスペル
[b]Kurt Knispel[/b] (20 September 1921 – 28 April 1945) was a [[germany|German]] [[tank]] commander during [[World War II]]. Knispel was a Sudeten German born in [[Czechoslovakia]] who started his career as a [[Panzer IV]] and [[Tiger I]] gunner (in [[Tiger 101]]). 

He is considered the [b]greatest tank ace ever[/b] with [b]168 confirmed kills[/b] during the war. Heavily disliked by the most fanatical Nazi officials, he never rose through the ranks more than commander because of an incident where Knispel defended a [[Soviet Army]] P.O.W. after seeing him being beaten by a [[Waffen-SS]] [[soldier]]. Kurt pointed his sidearm at the SS guard and forced him to stop. Knispel was also usually seen [[beard]]ed, hairy and umkept, what went against regulations. The look of the character [[Sergeant Oddball]] from [[Kelly's Heroes]] was actually based on Knispel.

Knispel was severely wounded on 28 April 1945 by shrapnel to his head when his [[Tiger II]] was hit during battle with [[Soviet]] tanks in the Eastern Front. He died two hours later in a German field hospital nearby just a few days before the end of the war.

h4. See also
* "Wikipedia article":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Knispel

* [[Michael Wittmann]]
kurt knispel