U-boat War Badge

Template:Use shortened footnotes Template:Short descriptionTemplate:Template other The U-boat War Badge (Template:Langx) was a German war badge that was awarded to U-boat crew members during World War I and World War II.

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.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

On October 13, 1939, the U-boat War Badge was reinstituted.Template:Sfn 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.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The new version was first made of bronze metal, with later ones made of zinc with a "gold wash".Template:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

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.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn This award was more of a personal award by Dönitz.Template:Sfn Approximately 30 were awarded, including the original one to Admiral Dönitz.Template:Sfn

Recipients of the U-boat War badge with Diamonds

• Albrecht BrandiTemplate:Sfn
• Heinrich Bleichrodt
• Otto von Bülow
• Karl DönitzTemplate:Sfn
• 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 LüthTemplate:Sfn
• Johann Mohr
• Rolf Mützelburg
• Karl-Friedrich Merten
• Gunther Prien
• Joachim Schepke
• Adalbert Schnee
• Klaus Scholtz
• Viktor Schütze
• Herbert Schultze
• Reinhard SuhrenTemplate:Sfn
• Rolf Thomsen
• Erich Topp