Jim Bates of the US Army Signal Corps captured them on film.

Wisps of smoke coil out of the traumatized stump. Crewmen from an accompanying M4 run to assist him. The commander hops onto the back of the tank. The gunner tumbles out of a hatch and falls to the street headfirst. They stagger and stumble like concussed boxers, bleeding and rattled, not caring how they fall. It’s not a pretty thing, men bailing out of a stricken tank. The commander’s hatch opens, venting smoke. Special thanks to Robert Rath (author) and Karl Brezdin (illustrator) from Extra Credits who prepared a short story on the most remarkable event during this battle: the tank duel between a Panther and a Pershing.Ĭologne, Germany They don’t see the Panther until it’s too late.Ī shot punches through the Sherman’s gun shield. The story concludes at the link in the comments.Today, we would like to present to you a piece of history: the Battle of Cologne. Just then, the Pershing came around the corner. The tank’s turret was turned so that its muzzle was aimed at the side street.

Inside the German tank, the crew sensed that something wasn’t right.

Its commanding officer hoped to attack the Panther from a side street before the Germans knew what was coming. One crew was nearby and swung into action. Indeed, that Panther soon knocked out a pair of M4 Sherman tanks, killing or wounding several of our soldiers.īut Americans had another, newer tank: the Pershing. The Panther tanks were heavier and tougher than the American Sherman tanks. Instead, he made a last stand in front of Cologne Cathedral, one of the few buildings to remain mostly intact. Yet the commander of one German Panther tank refused to go. Now, as World War II was coming to an end, Germans began to flee before the oncoming American tanks. The town had already been shattered by years of aerial raids. On this day in 1945, Americans capture the city of Cologne, Germany.

This Day in History: A memorable WWII tank battle in Cologne

Ww2 tank battle cologne