Perhaps Ernst Barkmann's exploits in 1944 France are better able to convey the merits of the Panther than any statistic or comparison of numbers. His story also aptly describes how the Germans went about repairing and maintaining their tanks (I've marked these passages in bold):
In late 1943, Ernst Barkmann was promoted to the rank of SS-Unterscharfuhrer. In early 1944, the entire division was transferred to Bordeaux area in southern France for rest and refitting as a panzer division. Following the D-Day (June 6 of 1944), 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich was ordered to move northwards and was committed to battle.
In early July of 1944, Das Reich was moved to Saint Lo to halt the advance of the US Army's 9th and 30th Infantry Divisions and the 3rd Armored Division. On July 8th, Barkmann's Kompanie was a spearhead of Regiment's attack on the advancing American units. On this day, Ernst Barkmann knocked out his first Allied Sherman tank near St.Lo. On July 12th, he destroyed two more Shermans while disabling the third one. During that engagement Barkmann moved his camouflaged Panther to ambush position and awaited for more Allied armor, knocking out three Shermans.
After that Ernst Barkmann's tank was hit by an anti-tank gun which caused a fire. He decided to evacuate his burning Panther and along with his crew he quickly put out the fire. After that engagement his Panther ended up in the workshop for repairs. After a day of rest, in morning of July 14th, Barkmann was ordered to recover four Panthers that had been cut off behind enemy lines. He succeeded in his task and added three more Shermans to his score. On the same day at noon, Ernst Barkmann was ordered by the Regimental Commander SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer Tychsen to recover wounded German soldiers from their American captors. Once again he succeeded and in the evening his own Panther was returned to him from the workshop. On July 26th, Barkmann's Panther suffered from engine problems and was sent to the field workshop. While the mechanics were working on it, the field workshop was attacked by Allied fighter-bombers and Barkmann's Panther was hit in the engine compartment. By dawn of July 27th, his Panther was repaired but he was cut off from the rest of the Kompanie and was on his way to rejoin it.
On his way back, near the village of Le Lorey, Barkmann was stopped by retreating German infantrymen who reported that the Americans were closing in. Ernst Barkmann decided to send two of his men to verify that report. They soon returned with news of an American column made up of some 15 Shermans and other vehicles approaching. Barkmann then moved his tank up the road to the crossroad where he positioned his Panther in the surrounding oak trees, awaiting the enemy. When the American column approached, Ernst Barkmann opened fire, knocking out the two leading tanks and then a tanker truck. Two Shermans tried to go around the burning wreckage that blocked the road and one of them was knocked out followed by the other one seconds later. In response, the Americans retreated and called up tactical fighter support and Barkmann's Panther was damaged with some of the crew members wounded. Using the element of surprise two Shermans attacked wounded Panther but were also knocked out.
Barkmann and his crew repaired their Panther and knocked out single Sherman while retreating. His driver managed to move their damaged Panther to safety in the nearby village of Neufbourg. During that brave engagement often called "Barkmann's Corner", Ernst Barkmann destroyed approximately nine Sherman tanks and many other vehicles.
On July 28th, Barkmann reached Coutances and joined the rest of his Kompanie. During two day period, he destroyed fifteen Shermans and several other vehicles. On July 30th, the Americans surrounded Granville
but Barkmann towing one more damaged Panther was able to break out. In order to destroy their disabled Panther their crew decided to set it on fire and soon by mistake both Panthers caught fire. Both crews were forced to make their way to the German lines 7 kilometers away on foot. Barkmann reached Avranches on August 5th, and was warmly welcomed by his comrades who heard about his exploits. For his bravery and skills Ernst Barkmann was recommended for the Knight's Cross which was accepted on August 27th, and was awarded on September 5th.
SS-Oberscharfuhrer Barkmann continued his successful career and took part in the Ardennes Offensive in December of 1944, where on December 25th he was seriously wounded. During the Ardennes Offensive, Barkmann's Panther drove into a group of American tanks from the 2nd Armored Division. Quickly combat ensued and though outnumbered Barkmann managed to knock out a few Sherman tanks. One Sherman rammed Barkmann's Panther but didn't cause much damage although both tanks got stuck and Panther's engine stalled. After few minutes, Barkmann's mechanic managed to restart the engine and the Panther retreated with a jammed turret. Even with the damage, Barkmann knocked out the Sherman that was pursuing him and retreated to safety.
In March of 1945, Barkmann was once again fighting the Soviets in the area around the town of Stuhlweissenburg, where he knocked out four T-34s and brought the total score of the Das Reich Division for the war so far to 3000 enemy tanks destroyed. At the time Das Reich was exhausted by non-stop fighting and lack of replacement tanks. Barkmann's unit alone had only nine fully operational vehicles from which three were soon lost to Soviet Josef Stalin tanks. The remaining six Panthers were ordered to link up with the remnants of the Panzer Regiment of the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler commanded by SS-Standartenfuhrer Jochen Peiper. By April of 1945, Barkmann saw action south of Vienna during the fighting in Austria. There his Panther was accidentally hit by friendly fire and Barkmann along with his crew members were wounded. Later on his Panther was disabled in a huge bomb crater and was destroyed by its crew. Ernst Barkmann was able to reach the British zone of operations where he surrendered and was taken captive.
During his very successful career, Ernst Barkmann earned Knight's Cross for his bravery and skills along with the Panzer Assault Badge for 25 and 50 engagements with the enemy. He survived the war and lives in Kisdorf, Germany, where he for most of his postwar years served as the fire chief and also as mayor.
