Before the two years period was gone, the Finnish Volunteer Battalion was transferred to Auerbach in Grafenwöhr from the front. From there battalion continued to Ruhpolding, Bavaria, for rest together with the Replacement Company.  

Farewell ceremonies were held on the 23rd of May 1943. Former commander of the SS-Division "Wiking" and commander of the III SS-Panzerkorps, SS-Obergruppenführer Felix Steiner inspected the battalion with Finnish Major Erkki Kokko and took the parade.

SS-Obersturmbannführer Collani on the left and Steiner standing in his car. The nearest SS-man of the first row is the hero of Malgobek, SS-Unterscharführer (Senior Corporal)  Arvi Pyyhtiä.

The battalion left Ruhpolding by train on the 28th of May and was loaded to ships at Tallinn harbour, Estonia, on the 1st of June 1943.  Home-coming ceremonies were held next day in Hanko, Southern Finland. Two days later battalion was trasported to Tampere where a celebration was held.

Officers from left to right: 
SS-Obergruppenführer Felix Steiner, Finnish Lieutenant-General Lauri Malmberg, commander of home-troops and Civil Guard and SS-Obersturmbannführer Kalervo Kurkiala.

On the first row from left to right: 
SS-Sturmbannführer Heldman,  SS-Gruppenführer Matthias Kleinheisterkamp, commander of the 6. SS-Geb.Div. "Nord" and German Ambassador in Finland, Wipert von Blücher, taking the parade with Finnish Lieutenant General Hugo Österman and an unknown Finnish Colonel.

After a one month leave battalion was gathered again in Hanko waiting for the dissolution. On the 11th of July 1943 battalion was officially disbanded.  

Battalion Commander, SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) Hans Collani awarded 45 Iron Crosses and shook hand with every single man in the battalion. Battalion wore then Finnish uniforms.

The band is from the 6. SS-Gebirgsdivision "Nord" which was in Northern Finland.

Battalion was disbanded and men were separated to various Finnish Army units. 88 men from the battalion were already commanded to Finnish reserve officer courses in Niinisalo.  

Finnish Armoured Division received many ex-volunteers, because they were well experienced in motorized warfare. They proved their high quality in the summer of 1944 when Soviet Union's massive attack to Finland began.   

19 former SS-men served in Assault Gun Battalion. For example SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant, also in Finnish Army; later Captain) Mauri Sartio was the leader of the 1./Assault Gun Battalion. SS-Standartenjunker (Officer Trainee; Staff Sergeant in Finland) Börje Brotell was the top assault gun commander in Finland. His Sturmgeschütz III G number Ps.531-10 (nickname "Bubi") destroyed a total of 11 Russian tanks between 25.6. - 12.7.1944 (Assault Gun Battalion scored a total of 87 Russian tanks in 1944).