Croatia, Independent State. An Extremely Rare Ww2 Croatian Tank Badge, By S. Johnson, Milano

Badge in die struck silvered bronze, partially enameled, 73.5mm x 26.8mm, weighs 16.7 grams; unmarked, but with typical hardware on reverse used by Italian maker "S. Johnson, Milano", circa 1942. Badge of very fine quality manufacture, in extremely fine condition and extremely rare. Sold with a photo of an Ustaša Officer, in Ustaša tunic, wearing this exact type of the badge; photo measures 70mm x 90mm, stamped on reverse "Foto Vekic Zagreb", and in excellent condition; an extremely rare photo of Croatian Ustasha tankist, one of very few photos known to exist. Also sold with a set of tankist collar tabs, in stamped metal.

Footnote: most of the tanks used by Ustasha army (Ustaska Vojnica) were of Italian manufacture. Italians who were closely allied at the outbreak of the War with Croatian authorities also supplied Italian instructors/Officers, and it is believed these Italian made badges were worn by this personnel. It is very probable some of these badges were given to fellow Croatian Officers.