Awards of
World War IIThis award is not a badge for any particular military merit; it was simply a distinguishing mark for tankers of the Condor Legion, distinguishing them from other similar units in Spain.
The first award of the Condor Legion Tank Badge took place on November 16, 1936. Until the end of the war, the badge was awarded to newly arrived German tankers in Spain; a total of 415 people received the award throughout its existence.
The only copy of this badge was made of gold and presented to Ritter von Thoma by members of his group in Spain. This presentation took place during a ceremonial parade in Madrid after the successful conclusion of the war. The badge was granted official award status on July 10, 1939.
The Legion's tank unit was armed with 180 PzKpfw I light tanks armed with a coaxial machine gun. German instructors trained Spanish crews for them. The unit later also used several dozen captured Soviet T-26 tanks.
The badge consists of a three-row wreath of oak leaves, the wreath entwined with a ribbon at the bottom. At the top of the badge is a raised image of a skull and crossbones, and at the bottom is a miniature German PzKpfw I tank. A distinctive feature of this badge, compared to other similar awards, is the absence of a swastika.
The reverse of the badge features a vertical pin for attaching it to clothing. The badge itself is solidly stamped with a hollow backing, made of silver or silver-plated brass. This special gold badge, a one-off piece, is one of the rarest awards of World War II.
The badge's dimensions may vary, depending on the manufacturer: 47 x 58 mm or 48 x 60 mm; the smaller badge is rarer.
The Condor Legion tank badge, like similar awards, is worn on the left breast pocket of the tunic, and if the recipient has the Iron Cross 1st Class, it is worn underneath.