Guys,
I was asked to write a historical synopsis of Ernst Barkmann's engagement with American forces near St. Lo, France, and specifically at a place which famously became known as Barkmann's Corner.
Barkmann was assigned to the 4.Kompanie, 2nd SS Panzer Division, Das Reich. During the fighting in and around Normandy, France, he found himself cut off from his kompanie on July 26. While trying to reach his unit with his Panther Ausf. A tank (Nr. 424), he stopped his tank near the village of Le Lorey (near Coutances) on July 27. Here he was told by German infantrymen that an American armored column was coming down the road to the village. Barkmann had two members of his tank crew go up the road to confirm the information he had received, and his crewmen reported that indeed an armored column was coming. Barkmann in turn positioned his tank under a copse of oak trees at the crossroads where the armored column would have to pass.
During Barkmann's one day engagement with American forces in the bocage country he knocked out nine M4A1 Sherman tanks of the U.S. 3rd Armored Division, Dog Company, 32nd Armored Regiment (CCA), during the action. Barkmann was supported by two platoons of SS Panzergrenadiers assigned to 3.Kompanie of Das Reich.
Alex II