In order to reward outstanding bravery, very important results achieved in combat, or particularly meritoriously conducted combat operations, a soldier of the
Finnish Defence Forces, regardless of his military rank, may be appoint a Knight of the Mannerheim Cross of the Cross of Liberty, 1st or 2nd Class.
This addition to the decree establishing the order was made at the initiative of Marshal CGE Mannerheim.
He saw a flaw in the previous practice of decorations
According to which the dignity of the decorations awarded was based almost exclusively on military rank: the higher the military rank, the more valuable the decorations. The Mannerheim Cross, the most valuable decoration awarded for military operations,
could be awarded to both a soldier and a marshal, telegram number database if the actions so required. At the same time, the recipient of the cross received the title of Knight of the Mannerheim Cross.
Justification for the award of the Mannerheim Cross, source: The Knights of the Mannerheim Cross Foundation.
Sergeant Schadewitz proved to be a completely fearless fighter already in the Winter War
This is evidenced, among other things, by the many accounts of his actions when destroying enemy assault tanks. He has continued the same spirited and fearless actions during this war, of which it is
worth mentioning: In the Oravakytö terrain, design software solutions Sergeant Schadewitz was in ambush with his platoon when an enemy marching column came along the Vuosalmi–Oravakytö fork. At that time, by
unexpectedly opening fire, he destroyed 8 officers riding at the head of the column, threw the column into disarray and prevented it from joining the main body in the terrain at the Oravakytö fork.
When the enemy launched a major attack on our troops in one area,
Sergeant Schadewitz destroyed two machine gun crews in fierce close combat, decisively influencing the outcome of the battle, in which the enemy suffered considerable losses. In one of the front sections [Riihiö], during the capture of an enemy forward base,
Sergeant Schadewitz used a pile charge to bulgaria business directory destroy a nest, which greatly hindered the patrol’s operations. Being the first to advance in the trenches and effectively using his machine gun,
he contributed to the very rapid destruction of the base down to the last man and without the slightest loss of his own.
In a violent reconnaissance conducted a little later in the same place
he again volunteered to join, acting as the leader of the strike group. To a large extent, it is his brisk action and resourcefulness that is to be attribute to the rapid capture of the strong base of the
platoon again without losses and with only a few enemy men being able to escape. Sergeant Schadewitz has always been willing to volunteer to take on the most difficult and
dangerous tasks and has carried them out with cool-blooded courage and determination. His example has decisively enhanced the fighting spirit of the unit in difficult situations.