When the Allied forces technically managed to surpass the earlier German tanks in battle, they still had to face the experience and skills of the German tank crews and most powerful and technologically advanced later tanks, such as the Panther, the Tiger I and Tiger II, which had the reputation of being fearsome opponents. In the subsequent more troubled and prolonged campaigns, German tanks proved to be adaptable and efficient adversaries to the Allies. German tanks were an important part of the Wehrmacht and played a fundamental role during the whole war, and especially in the blitzkrieg battle strategy. In addition to domestic designs, Germany also used various captured and foreign-built tanks. This story corrects that battle was nine months after D-Day, not three weeks.Nazi Germany developed numerous tank designs used in World War II.
The ceremony featured an actual Sherman tank, several of Smoyer's old World War II comrades and a speech by Pennsylvania Sen. And he brought Smoyer to Washington on the pretense of a book-signing at the Pentagon.Īs he stepped out of the car and saw the crowds gathered at Washington's World War II Memorial, Smoyer smiled broadly and asked, "Am I getting a Bronze Star?" He helped convince the Army to reverse what he saw as an injustice. Smoyer's story was detailed in "Spearhead" by author Adam Makos, and it was Makos who helped engineer Wednesday's events. Meanwhile, Smoyer's tank commander and the military cameraman who filmed the battle received Bronze Stars of their own. A military police officer saw him searching his pockets for bubble gum to give to a crowd of German children and charged him with fraternization with the enemy. Smoyer was told he would receive the Bronze Star, but a few days later he ran afoul of a minor disciplinary issue that cost him his medal. The battle was captured on film and Smoyer became known as the "Hero of Cologne." Smoyer, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, was part of a famous March 6, 1945, duel in Cologne, Germany, where his Pershing tank destroyed a German Panther tank about nine months after D-Day. Instead, he found a full Army colour guard and ceremony awarding him a Bronze Star, almost 75 years after the battle that made him a hero. WASHINGTON - When 96-year-old Clarence Smoyer came to Washington Wednesday, he thought he was heading to the Pentagon to sign copies of "Spearhead," a recent book detailing his exploits as a World War II tank gunner.
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