Finnish Tank Destruction Badge
By Juha Hujanen

http://www.skalman.nu/third-reich/ax...wards-tank.htm



Badge with 2 stripes belonged to 1st Leutenant Gregotius Ekholm, CO of Jaeger Company/3rd Brigade.

Five classes of award are issued:

1 tank destroyed-one wide stripe with figure.
3 tanks destroyed-above figure stripe one narrow stripe without figure.
5 tanks destroyed-above figure stripe two narrow stripes without figure.
10 tanks destroyed-above figure stripe three narrow stripes without figure.
15 tanks destroyed-above figure stripe four narrow stripes without figure.

It is also interesting to note that while the Germans used a German (!) tank (a Panzer IV) to symbolize a destroyed enemy tank, the Finns used a Soviet T-34 tank.

When German award was given only for tank destroyed with hand held weapon, Finnish badge was given to gunners of tank/assault gun or gunner of anti-tank gun.

The highest award, badge with 4 stripes, was given to Lance Corporal Toivo Ilomäki. While being an gunner to 75 K/40 anti-tank gun in 24th Gun Company, he destroyed 22 Russian tanks.

Highest number of tanks destroyed with handheld weapons had Lance Corporal Ville Väisänen from 2nd Borderjaeger Battalion. He destroyed 8 tanks with Panzerfaust in one day. Later on same day he became MIA. Private Eero Seppänen destroyed 7 tanks with Panzerschreck.

In heavy battles during summer 44, 950 Russian tanks were destroyed by Finns. Of those 612 were destroyed by Army (Armoured Division and Infantry formations). Majority of tanks destroyed by army were credited to men operating Panzerschrecks and Panzerfausts. They were proud carriers of Finnish tank destruction badge.

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