Finnish Forces

Knight #138

Eero Seppänen (1924–2004) Knight of the Mannerheim Cross #138. Because of his young age, Seppänen didn't get to the front untill 1943, when the war was stationary and no major battles occurred. But on June 9, 1944, Soviets started a major offensive and broke through, and after the general retreat to VKT- Line Pvt. Seppänen was given a brief training for panzerschreck and then his unit participated in the Battle of Siiranmäki. There he alone destroyed 6 enemy tanks during the night of June 14-15 and was slightly wounded but kept fighting and during the following 2 days he destroyed 2 more tanks. For these actions he was awarded the Mannerheim Cross, on July 4, 1944, and Eero Seppänen became one of the youngest Knight of the Mannerheim Cross.