FROM TANK TO PANZER

With tanks in two World Wars.

(author’s collection)

When I found the above photo, I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw that the Panzer Feldwebel (second from the right) is not only wearing the regular Second World War Panzerkampfabzeichen (Panzer Assault Badge), but also the Erinnerungsabzeichen für die ehemaligen Besatzungen deutscher Kampfwagen (Tank Crew Commemorative Badge), which was awarded to deserving tank crew members of the First World War!

Here we have a man who saw combat in tanks in both world wars!

Iron Cross 1st Class (top), Panzer Assault Badge (left centre), Tank Commemorative badge (right centure) and Silver Wound Badge (bottom).

According to the few sources available, the Tank Crew Commemorative Badge was claimed by 99 men when it was first introduced in 1921 - that's out of a total of around 1400 German tank crew members in the First World War, of whom around a third would have qualified for the badge (having fought three combat missions in a tank, or having been wounded in a tank, or having performed a feat of bravery in a tank). There were probably some additional requirements when the Nazis came to power and the Wehrmacht was created. So generally speaking, it is almost impossible to find a photograph of anyone wearing the First World War Tank Crew Commemorative Badge.

However, this photo goes one step further, as this Feldwebel is also wearing the Second World War German Tank Assault Badge (awarded for three tank assaults on three different days, or when in the course of an assault, or for having earned a gallantry award in the course of an assault).

I dare say that this is likely to have been the only soldier of the German army in the Second World War to have been so decorated. Is he really one of 17 Million? If only we knew the man's name, or his unit. The photo was likely taken in France, although even that assumption is based only on the amount of champagne bottles on the table -where else but it in France could that be!? Feel free to comment if you can help to ID the man.

Panzerkampfabzeichen and Erinnerungsabzeichen für die ehemaligen Besatzungen deutscher Kampfwagen (M. Garlasco)