U-boat War Badge

The U-boat War Badge (German: U-Boot-Kriegsabzeichen) was a German war badge that was awarded to U-boat crew members during World War I and World War II.

U-Boat War Badge
U-boat War Badge from World War II
Type	Badge
Awarded for	Completing two or more U-boat war patrols
Presented by	German Empire and Nazi Germany
Eligibility	Military personnel
Campaign(s)	World War I World War II
Established	February 1, 1918 and October 13, 1939
U-boat War Badge seen on the tunic of a sailor being presented with the German Cross in gold.
Precedence
Next (higher)	U-boat Front Clasp

History

The U-boat War Badge was originally instituted during the First World War on February 1, 1918. It was awarded to recognize U-boat crews who had completed three war patrols. The badge was worn on the lower left side of the uniform and was oval shaped resembling a wreath of laurel leaves. A submarine lay across the center and the German State Crown (Reichskrone) was inlaid at the top center of the wreath.[1][2]

On October 13, 1939, the U-boat War Badge was reinstituted.[3] It was very similar to the original badge with the exception of the imperial crown being replaced with a German Eagle above a swastika, and a more modernized submarine now facing towards the left was used.[1][2] The new version was first made of bronze metal, with later ones made of zinc with a "gold wash".[4]

Classes

The award was bestowed in two classes:

U-Boat War Badge

There were several ways to be awarded this medal. The most common would be the completion of two or more war patrols.[3] Although the completion of two war patrols might seem a lowly requirement, but a typical U-boat war cruise would often run into months at a time. Completing two war patrols could be equally dangerous as the U-boat has to endure constant attacks by Allied aircraft and warships. The other occasion when this badge was awarded was having been wounded during a patrol or killed in action.[5]

U-boat War Badge with Diamonds

The U-boat War Badge with Diamonds was instituted by Großadmiral Karl Dönitz after he had received from Grand Admiral Erich Raeder a special solid gold version of the U-boat War Badge in which the wreath as well as the swastika were inlaid with diamonds.[6][7]

The badge was a special issue award given to U-boat commanders who had received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.[6] This version was made of gold plate over silver. Manufactured by the firms Schwerin u. Sohn and Gebr. Godet & Co. It was the same as the basic pattern but with nine small diamonds inlaid in the swastika.[8] This award was more of a personal award by Dönitz.[9] Approximately 30 were awarded, including the original one to Admiral Dönitz.[9]

Recipients of the U-boat War badge with Diamonds

1. Albrecht Brandi[10]
2. Heinrich Bleichrodt
3. Otto von Bülow
4. Karl Dönitz[6]
5. Carl Emmermann
6. Engelbert Endrass
7. Friedrich Guggenberger
8. Robert Gysae
9. Reinhard Hardegen
10. Werner Hartmann
11. Werner Henke
12. Otto Kretschmer
13. Hans-Günther Lange
14. Georg Lassen
15. Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock
16. Heinrich Liebe
17. Wolfgang Lüth[10]
18. Johann Mohr
19. Rolf Mützelburg
20. Karl-Friedrich Merten
21. Gunther Prien
22. Joachim Schepke
23. Adalbert Schnee
24. Klaus Scholtz
25. Viktor Schütze
26. Herbert Schultze
27. Reinhard Suhren[10]
28. Rolf Thomsen
29. Erich Topp

Notes

1. Angolia 1987, pp. 118, 119.
2. Ailsby 1987, p. 118.
3. Angolia 1987, p. 118.
4. Angolia 1987, p. 119.
5. Angolia 1987, pp. 119–121.
6. Angolia 1987, pp. 119, 120.
7. Ailsby 1987, p. 121.
8. Angolia 1987, pp. 121, 122.
9. Angolia 1987, pp. 120, 121.
10. Angolia 1987, p. 121.

References

• Ailsby, Christopher (1987). Combat Medals of the Third Reich. Harpercollins. ISBN 978-0850598223.
• Angolia, John (1987). For Führer and Fatherland: Military Awards of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 0912138149.