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Ernst Barkmann (later Ernst Schmuck-Barkmann) (25 August 1919 – 27 June 2009)〔(Ernst Barkmann at Find-A-Grave )〕 was a German Waffen-SS soldier and panzer ace. Barkmann fought and rose to fame during World War II for his actions in command of Panther tanks. ==From Kharkov to Kursk== Barkmann was working as a farmer on his family's farm when he was drafted in 1939. He chose to join the SS-Standarte 2 ''Germania'' regiment, a unit of the ''SS-Verfügungstruppe'', and served in Poland and Russia. He was posted for a time as an instructor of SS volunteers in the Netherlands. Barkmann requested a transfer to the newly formed Waffen-SS panzer arm. In winter 1942/43 he was sent back to the Eastern Front to join the second company of I./SS-Panzer-Regiment ''Das Reich'', a part of 2.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division ''Das Reich''. Upon arrival at the front, Barkmann was posted as gunner to ''SS-Rottenführer'' Alfred Hargesheimer's PzKpfw III ausf J/1 tank. The ''Das Reich'' was attached to ''Obergruppenführer'' Paul Hausser's SS-Panzerkorps, under the overall command of ''Generalfeldmarschall'' Manstein's Army Group South. The SS-Panzerkorps was to form the vanguard of Manstein's efforts to halt the Soviet advance near Kharkov. Barkmann served with the regiment during the large-scale mobile operations to annihilate Mobile Group Popov. During these battles, Barkmann proved to be an excellent gunner. He was promoted to Unterscharführer and given command of his own Panzer III in time to take part in the ensuing Third Battle of Kharkov, scoring several kills. In July 1943, his division next took part in Operation Citadel, the operation to destroy the Kursk salient. Barkmann saw action during the mammoth tank battles around Prokhorovka. During the offensive, the Heer's ''Grossdeutschland'' Panzer Division had been equipped with the state-of-the-art Panther Ausf. D tanks. Their combat debut was poor, with many vehicles suffering mechanical problems before entering combat. After the failure of the offensive, as the division was rapidly transferred to the Mius river line, where along with 3.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division ''Totenkopf'' it was engaged in ferocious defensive battles. In August, Barkmann was transferred to the fourth company, equipped with the new Panther D's, which had by now overcome their early mechanical problems. As a commander in 4./I./2.SS-Panzer-Regiment ''Das Reich'', Barkmann was responsible for the destruction of many enemy tanks. In the course of these operations, he was awarded both classes of the Iron Cross. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Ernst Barkmann」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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