Lauri Heino

Lauri Heino
Sergeant Lauri Heino (left) with Sergeant Matti Virtanen in front of a captured T-34 on 22 July 1944.
Born(1918-08-24)24 August 1918
Somero, Finland
Died3 February 2001(2001-02-03) (aged 82)
Somero, Finland
AllegianceFinland
BranchFinnish Army
RankStaff Sergeant
UnitFinnish Armoured Division
Battles / warsContinuation War
AwardsKnight of the Mannerheim Cross

Lauri A. Heino (24 August 1918 in Somero – 3 February 2001) was a Finnish soldier, awarded the Mannerheim Cross (2nd class) on 11 November 1943. At the time, he held the rank of sergeant and was serving as a tank driver in the 3rd Company, I Armoured Battalion of the Finnish Armoured Brigade.[1]

Heino was the first foreign soldier to capture an intact Soviet T-34 tank and drive it.

References

  1. ^ Hurmerinta, Ilmari (1994). Viitanen, Jukka (ed.). Suomen puolesta: Mannerheim-ristin ritarit, 1941 - 1945 (2 ed.). Helsinki: Ajatus. ISBN 951-9440-28-3.
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