WW2 German SS Porcelain Award, Michael Wittmann

World War 2 German SS Porcelain Presentation Urn to SS Untersturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann to commemorate his award of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, January 30 1944. Neoclassical style urn with gilt decoration and hand painted scene of an oncoming Tiger I tank with 1st SS insignia and Wittmann at top. Reverse with hand painted Knights Cross with oak leaves hanging from tri-color ribbon and "30. Januar 1944". Base in blue with panels emblazoned "Michael Wittmann" and "1. SS - Pz. DIv. LSS21St" and "SS Untersturmfuhrer". Vase constructed in two piece mold with bolt attachment underneath. Excellent condition with wear to bottom panel only. Measures: 15.75" H.
Michael Wittmann (1914-1944) was Germany's "Ace of Aces" Panzer commander during WW2, credited with destroying 138 enemy tanks and 132 anti-tank guns and field artillery pieces during his combat service from September 1, 1939 to August 8, 1944. This porcelain award was to further recognize Wittmann's frontline leadership and daring with his Tiger I Panzer crews on the Eastern Front against the Soviet Army. Prior to the award, Wittmann received a press release from Hitler "On January 13, 1944 the army information department named SS Untersturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann, holder of the Knight's Cross and platoon leader of the 2nd Company of the SS Panzer Regiment 'Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler' out of Vogetal, Upper-Palatinate, was the three hundred eighteenth soldier to receive the Oakleaf from the Fuhrer on January 30, 1944, adding to the Knight's Cross and the Iron Crosses already in his possession." Hitler followed with a telegram stating "In thankful recognition of your heroic deeds during the battle for the future of our countrymen, I grant you,as the 380th soldier of the German Wehrmacht, the Oakleaf (medal) to accompany your Knight's Cross and Iron Crosses."
A few months after this award, Wittman and the SS Panzer Regiment Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler was reassigned to the Western Front, where Wittmann gained added fame by ambushing elements of the British 7th Armoured Division during the Battle of Villers-Bocage, Normandy on June 13, 1944, where he destroyed 25 Allied armored fighting vehicles with the loss of only four German heavy and medium panzers. In recogntion of this action, Wittmann was awarded the crossed swords to his Knight's Cross on June 22, 1944, and was promoted to SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer. Just two months later, on August 8, 1944, during the Battle for the Falaise Pocket, Wittmann and his Panzer crew were killed in action by a British 17pdr "Firefly" Tank of the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry, No. 3 Troop, in the village of St. Aignan-de-Cramesnil.