U-boat War Badge

Award

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

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.

## History

[edit]

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

[edit]

The award was bestowed in two classes:

### U-Boat War Badge

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

* Albrecht Brandi[10]
* Heinrich Bleichrodt
* Otto von Bülow
* Karl Dönitz[6]
* Carl Emmermann
* Engelbert Endrass
* Friedrich Guggenberger
* Robert Gysae
* Reinhard Hardegen
* Werner Hartmann
* Werner Henke
* Otto Kretschmer
* Hans-Günther Lange
* Georg Lassen
* Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock
* Heinrich Liebe
* Wolfgang Lüth[10]
* Johann Mohr
* Rolf Mützelburg
* Karl-Friedrich Merten
* Gunther Prien
* Joachim Schepke
* Adalbert Schnee
* Klaus Scholtz
* Viktor Schütze
* Herbert Schultze
* Reinhard Suhren[10]
* Rolf Thomsen
* Erich Topp

## Notes

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

* 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.

* v
* t
* e

Orders, decorations, and medals of Nazi Germany

Decorations to all services|

* Bandit-warfare Badge
* Clasp to the Iron Cross
* Condor Legion Tank Badge
* Driver Proficiency Badge
* Eastern Medal
* German Cross
* German Occupation Medals
* Grand Cross of the Iron Cross
* Honour Roll Clasp
* Iron Cross
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
* Spanish Cross
* War Merit Cross
* War Merit Medal
* Wehrmacht Long Service Award
* West Wall Medal
* Wound Badge

Wehrmacht / Waffen-SS|

* Army Anti-Aircraft Badge
* Blue Division Medal
* Close Combat Clasp
* General Assault Badge
* Infantry Assault Badge
* Mountain Guide Badge
* Panzer Badge
* Sniper's Badge
* Tank Destruction Badge

Luftwaffe|

* Aircrew Badge
* Air Gunner Badge
* Anti-Aircraft Flak Battle Badge
* Aviator badge
* Balloon Observer's Badge
* Flyer's Commemorative Badge
* Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
* Glider Pilot Badge
* Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe
* Luftwaffe Honor Goblet
* Luftwaffe Honor plate
* Observer Badge
* Parachutist Badge
* Pilot/Observer Badge
* Radio Operator Badge

Kriegsmarine|

* Auxiliary Cruiser Badge
* Blockade Runner Badge
* Destroyer War Badge
* Fast Attack Craft War Badge
* High Seas Fleet Badge
* Minesweeper War Badge
* Naval Artillery War Badge
* Naval Front Clasp
* U-boat Front Clasp
* U-boat War Badge

‎Campaign Shields|

* Cholm Shield
* Crimea Shield
* Demyansk Shield
* Kuban Shield
* Lapland Shield
* Narvik Shield
* Warsaw Shield

‎Campaign Cuff Titles|

* Crete Cuff Title
* Africa Cuff Title
* Metz 1944 Cuff Title
* Courland Cuff Title

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template