U-boat War Badge

The U-Boat War Badge (U-Boots-Kriegsabzeichen) 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.

On October 13, 1939, the U-boat War Badge was reinstituted again, shortly after the war began. It was very similar to the original badge with the exception of the Prussian crown which was replaced with a German Eagle, a swastika was added, and a more modernized submarine now facing towards the left was used.

There were several ways to be awarded this medal. The most common would be the completion of two war patrols. 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. As a contrast, the Infantry Assault Badge was awarded after three combat actions, which meant that they could be earned on three separate actions all under a week. Completing two war patrols was not only longer, but it was equally dangerous as the U-boat has to endure constant attacks by allied aircraft and warships.

During the later part of the war, U-boat losses were so great that many crewmen never made it past the second war patrol. The other occasion when this badge was awarded was on completion of an especially successful first patrol or having been wounded or killed in action. In the event of death, the award was presented to the next of kin.

Classes
The award was bestowed in two classes:

U-Boat War Badge
The U-boat War Badge was given usually after two war patrols. Some of the very successful commanders were awarded the badge after only one patrol, like Rolf Thomsen onboard U-1202.

U-boat War Badge with Diamonds
The U-boat War Badge with Diamonds was a special issue award given to U-boat commanders who had received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. This award was not given based on certain merits and was not an official war decoration, but instead it was given as an additional token of regard to Oak Leaves recipients. It was usually presented after the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves was awarded.

It was instituted in 1941 and the badge was similar in design to the U-boat War Badge. Manufactured by the firm of Schwerin in Berlin, it was made of gilding silver and had nine small diamonds inlaid on the swastika with the medal. Approximately 30 were awarded with Admiral Karl Dönitz being one of the recipients. However, he uniquely wore a special version in which the wreath as well as the swastika was inlaid with diamonds. Dönitz also wore his WWI U-Boat War Badge alongside this badge on his uniform.

Recipients of the U-boat War badge with Diamonds

 * 1) Fregattenkapitän Albrecht Brandi
 * 2) Korvettenkapitän Heinrich Bleichrodt
 * 3) Korvettenkapitän Otto von Bülow
 * 4) Admiral Karl Dönitz (special grade)
 * 5) Korvettenkapitän Carl Emmermann on 1 October 1943
 * 6) Kapitanleutnant Engelbert Endrass on 18 July 1941
 * 7) Kapitänleutnant Friedrich Guggenberger
 * 8) Korvettenkapitän Robert Gysae
 * 9) Korvettenkapitän Reinhard Hardegen on 7 May 1942
 * 10) Kapitän zur See Werner Hartmann
 * 11) Korvettenkapitän Werner Henke
 * 12) Fregattenkapitän Otto Kretschmer
 * 13) Kapitänleutnant Hans-Günther Lange
 * 14) Korvettenkapitän Georg Lassen
 * 15) Fregattenkapitän Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock
 * 16) Fregattenkapitan Heinrich Liebe
 * 17) Kapitän zur See Wolfgang Lüth
 * 18) Korvettenkapitän Johann Mohr
 * 19) Kapitänleutnant Rolf Mützelburg
 * 20) Kapitän zur See Karl-Friedrich Merten on 30 January 1943
 * 21) Korvettenkapitan Gunther Prien
 * 22) Kapitänleutnant Joachim Schepke
 * 23) Korvettenkapitän Adalbert Schnee
 * 24) Kapitän zur See Klaus Scholtz
 * 25) Kapitän zur See Viktor Schütze
 * 26) Korvettenkapitän Herbert Schultze on 15 July 1941
 * 27) Fregattenkapitän Reinhard Suhren on 31 December 1941
 * 28) Kapitänleutnant Rolf Thomsen
 * 29) Fregattenkapitän Erich Topp on 11 April 1942