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Tank Destruction Badge
Diekirch Museum German Soldier
German Soldier wearing the Golden and Silver Award
National Museum of Military History (Luxembourg)
Awarded by Nazi Germany
Type Badge
Eligibility Military personnel only
Awarded for Destroying an enemy tank with hand held explosives
Campaign World War II
Statistics
Established March 9, 1942
Distinct
recipients
~18.500 (Silver)
~400 (Gold)
Tank Destruction Badge in Black
Tank Destruction Badge in Black

The Tank Destruction Badge (German language: Sonderabzeichen für das Niederkämpfen von Panzerkampfwagen durch Einzelkämpfer) was an award given to individuals of the Wehrmacht who destroyed an enemy tank single-handedly by a hand-held weapon. Anti-tank units were not eligible for this award. It was established by Adolf Hitler on March 9, 1942, but could be awarded for actions after June 22, 1941 (Operation Barbarossa). It was given in two versions. A silver badge was given for each kill, and when five were reached they were replaced by one gold.[1]

Notable recipients[]

Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-712-0472-02, Russland, Verleihung Panzervernichtungabzeichen

Awarding the tank destruction badge

Name Tank Kills Notes
Günther Viezenz 21
Adolf Peichl 11
Eugène Vaulot 10
Johannes-Matthias Hönscheid 7
Michael Pössinger 5
Bodo Spranz 4
Oskar Wolkerstorfer 4
Josef Beckmann 4
Hinrich Ahrens 4
Hans-Georg Borck 4
Walter Kuhn 4 He destroyed 4 Russian tanks within 20 minutes and received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for that action
Franz Bäke 3
Ekkehard Kylling-Schmidt 3
Urbano Gómez García 2
Ewald Ehm 2
Hans Dorr 2
Sylvester Stadler 2
Günther-Eberhardt Wisliceny 2
Karl Auer 1
Ernst-Günther Baade 1
Rudolf Demme 1
Heinz-Georg Lemm 1
Werner Mummert 1
Joachim Peiper 1
Theodor Tolsdorff 1

References[]

External links[]

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