SS PANZER BATTALION 501: Tigers in the Ardennes

1-240130

Examines Tiger tank battalion N501 (schwere SS-Panzer Abteilung 501) in the Battle of the Bulge with a summary of their actions, unit history, and a tank-by-tank analysis of the causes of destruction. In total, the authors found 16 different examples, and the machines lost one by one in the Ardennes make it possible to follow the unit's course throughout the conflict. Although the unit had exceptional crews, including some of the most emblematic aces of the Panzerwaffe, and benefited from the element of surprise, it suffered a bitter failure in the Ardennes. How could a vehicle considered to be among the most powerful of the conflict suffer almost 100 percent losses? In hindsight, can we speak of a tactical failure?