# Tank Memorial Badge

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For the World War II medal, see [Panzer Badge](/source/Panzer_Badge).

The **Tank Memorial Badge** ([German:](/source/German_language) *Kampfwagen-Erinnerungsabzeichen*) was a military decoration of the [Weimar Republic](/source/Weimar_Republic) awarded to former tank crewmen who fought in [World War I](/source/World_War_I).

Officially known as *Memorial Badge for former German tank crews* (German: *Erinnerungsabzeichen für die ehemaligen Besatzungen deutscher Kampfwagen*) it was usually referred to as *Tank Memorial Badge* or simply *Tank Badge* (*Kampfwagenabzeichen)*. Draft cards of this era show that it was sometimes written as *Tank-Abzeichen*.

## History and criteria

The Tank Badge was instituted by the Minister of Defence [Otto Gessler](/source/Otto_Gessler) on 13 Jul 1921 and laid down in the *Heeres-Verordnungsblatt Nr. 41* of 15 July 1921.[1][2] It was to be issued to veterans of [World War I](/source/World_War_I) who qualified by: being a crewman (commander, driver, gunner, loader, mechanic, signaller or messenger) of a tank; either an [A7V](/source/A7V) or a *Beutepanzer* (captured tank), and either participated in three armored assaults or being wounded during an armored assault.[2]

Potential recipients had to apply to the Inspectorate of Motorized Troops to receive a certificate; the actual badge had to be obtained privately. Because of this unusual method of application the badge was officially certified in only 99 cases.[3][4]

## Design

The silver oval-formed badge featured a *[Totenkopf](/source/Totenkopf)* ([skull and crossbones](/source/Skull_and_crossbones_(symbol))) on the top in reference to the [Brunswick skull](/source/Brunswick_skull). It was enclosed by a two-part wreath, oak leaves on the left and laurel leaves on the right; both tied with a bow at the bottom. The central piece was a stylized [A7V](/source/A7V) tank crossing a barbed wire entanglement from east to west with three bursting [shrapnels](/source/Shrapnel_shell) above it. It was to be worn as a stick-on decoration below the left breast pocket.[2]

## See also

- [Tanks in World War I](/source/Tanks_in_World_War_I)

## Notes

1. Higgins, p. 31

1. *Heeres-Verordnungsblatt. 3. Jahrgang, Berlin den 15. Juli 1921, Nr. 41*, pp. 299–300

1. Künker, p. 137

1. Haupt, p. 18

## Resources

- Higgins, David E. (2013). *Mark IV vs A7V: Villers-Bretonneux 1918*. Oxford, UK.: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-7809-6005-0.
- Haupt, Werner (1990). *A History of the Panzer Troops, 1916-1945*. Lancaster, UK.: Gazelle Book Services. ISBN 0-8874-0244-5.
- *Künker Auktion 253 - Orden und Ehrenzeichen I 10. Ordensauktion des Hauses Künker*. Osnabrück, Germany. 2012.
- *Heeres-Verordnungsblatt. 3. Jahrgang, Berlin den 15. Juli 1921, Nr. 41*. pp. 299–300.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tank Memorial Badge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_Memorial_Badge) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_Memorial_Badge?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.