Now that you have found the website, seen the photographs and read the books, the next thing is to make your way to some of the places mentioned to follow the trail of Michael Wittmann’s tracks. While some places are naturally understated and not on the natural “war tours” trail, others are hidden gems. Further, the fact that you might just be left alone to take your time without stumbling across a stall selling tourist tat can only be a good thing.

While Prokhorovka is pretty much out of the way and Wittmann’s birthplace of Vogelthal in Bavaria has returned to being a sleepy little village, the important Wittmann-related sites located in Normandy are a must and can be seen properly over the best part of a week.

Given that it was the scene of what would become a famous and much written about battle, a number of places in and around the centre of the town of Villers-Bocage have been signposted for the casual tourist, but around more obscure places like Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil you are more likely to encounter a cow, sheep or fellow Wittmann enthusiast rather than armies of loud visitors.

At present this section just has the essential travel details and information, but the plan is to build on it with more detailed maps and photographs. Any feedback, additional travel tips and hotel/B&B recommendations are helpful – so if you are able to help, please do contact us.

The Destinations

Gaumesnil / Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil, Basse-Normandie, France
Soldatenfriedhof, La Cambe, Basse-Normandie, France
Battlefield State Museum, Prokhorovka, Belgorodskaya oblast’, Russia
Villers-Bocage, Basse-Normandie, France
Vogelthal bei Beilngries, Bayern, Germany