Finnish Forces

Sgt. Gerdt (Knight #95)

Kaiho Tuomas Albin Gerdt (Born May 28, 1922) is Knight of the Mannerheim Cross #95, and other one of the 2 knights who still live. "From the beginning of the war has sergeant Gerdt did his job as a combat messenger specially well, having to keep contact between different command levels, in very difficult conditions. Not only courage, his job also requires quick independent decisions and quite amount of natural contrivance. Once, the enemy had managed to surprise the company that he was part of, and Gerdt independently acting ran to get artillery support. At this time he had to go across area where he was fired at by 10 machineguns and about dozen submachineguns and light machineguns, and the enemy continuously concentrated heavy mortar fire to the area. With this action, sgt. Gerdt saved his company from great casualties, as they got artillery support. In many tight situation he has done cold blooded unselfish actions, which value can only be known by someone who has had to lead troops in situations where all the other connections have been cut, and only thing you can trust when you need to deliver an order or a report is the man's physical condition and bravery. On July 20–21, 1942 in Karelian Isthmus during the battle of Sevastopoli Sgt. Gerdt volunteered to the unit which was ordered to counter-attack. As first man he pressed on forward, killing dozens of enemies with his submachinegun and grenades, also taking as 5 prisoners. Disregarding extremely heavy enemy fire, he carried badly wounded captain Toffer to safety, after which he continued fighting in very active and brave way untill he was wounded. His example effected the successful result of the final counter-attack.” For these actions he was awarded the Mannerheim Cross on September 8, 1942. He was promoted as 2nd Lieutenant, on February 29, 1944.