Bartholomeus Benjamin Badger in WW II

Some might know a book called "An unknown soldier" by Finnish author Väinö Linna.
 
It is rumored that Mr Linna picked up some of the characters for his book from real life events during the years of war. Particularly one character.

Before  the war, Bartholomeus Benjamin Badger lived in small village in Eastern Finland where he had his farm. When the war broke, he was called to military service. There were stories of some pretty heroic acts already during the winter war. But only during the much longer 2nd phase from 1941-1944 the name of Badger came more widely known among those who knew what happened in the battlefront. 

Bartholomeus Benjamin Badger served in a machine gun platoon. One winter night his commanding officer was worried that the enemy would flank from side and pouch the platoon with horrible consequences. As he needed a seasoned fighter, so he decided to send Bartholomeus Benjamin Badger with a rookie to the left side to secure the perimeter.

Turns out the commanding officer was correct, the sneaky enemy did send a commando patrol of 40 soldiers armed up to their teeth to flank from the very side where poor Badger was earlier sent.

Bartholomeus Benjamin Badger was determined to keep his platoon safe and had earlier set his machine gun behind a log on a slightly elevated hillside where he had the perfect view over a frozen lake beneath him. Little did the enemy soldiers know when they came through this very route to harms way that carried the name of Badger.

Bartholomeus Benjamin Badger was later rewarded with leave of two weeks for his heroism. As he was a practical Bagder, he used his leave to reap the crop of barley at his farm to brew some tasty beverage.
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Mr Linna heard the story of Bartholomeus Benjamin Badger and - according to well advised sources - based the character of one Antti Rokka to the achievements of this Finnish Badger.