The U-Boat badge can trace its origins back to the days of the Kaiser's Navy. It was first introduced on 1 February 1918 to reward those U-Boat crews who had participated in at least three war cruises against the enemy. The badge consisted of an oval wreath of laurel leaves across the centre of which lay a U-Boat facing to the viewer's right. The wreath was wrapped in ribbon and at its top sat a Hohenzollern crown.
The badge was die struck in brass or bronze and fire gilded. Several prestigious firms were involved in the manufacture of this badge, the most highly sought after being the firm of Walter Schot. Examples by this firm carry the firm's name at the base of the reverse face, over the abbreviation 'fec'. (for the Latin Fecit, or 'created by'). This term is widely used in German badge marking to indicate the designer of the award, some badges carrying two names, one prefixed by 'Fec' for the designer of the award, and the other by 'Ausf' (for Ausfuhrung or 'executed by') indicating the maker of that actual example. The presence of the abbreviation Fec on the Schot-made badges may indicate either that this firm had a hand in designing the award, and/or that they were the first to manufacture it.
Due to the late date of introduction of this award, photographic evidence of it being worn during WWI is scant to say the least. There is no such shortage of photographic evidence however from the inter-war period or indeed from WWII, when several WWI veterans continued to wear the Imperial badge (including Grand Admiral Dönitz!).
On the outbreak of war in September 1939, the U-Boat badge was reintroduced. This time it was officially entitled the U-Boat war badge. The design was basically similar to the old Imperial style, but with some amendments. The laurel wreath remained but lost its ribbon embellishments but for a small crossed ribbon tape at the base of the wreath. The U-Boat motif was updated to represent a Type VII, the boat that was to become the mainstay of the U-Boot Waffe throughout the war. This time, the boat was represented facing towards the viewers left.
The biggest change was the removal of the Hohenzollern crown and its replacement with the National Socialist eagle and swastika emblem. The new badge was to be awarded to those U-Boat crewmen who had participated in at least two war cruises. Those who were killed in action could be awarded the badge posthumously, and those who were wounded in action or earned a gallantry award on their first cruise could also be given the U-Boat war badge.
Given that most Army war badges required participation in three actions, the two war cruises required for the U-Boat badge might seem rather low. However, it should be borne in mind that the typical Army war badge could be earned with three combat actions on three separate days so the badge could conceivably be won within a single week. U-Boat war cruises could easily run into months in some cases, so before winning the U-Boat war badge, a crewman might have had to endure several months at sea under regular, often constant, attack by Allied aircraft or warships. During the latter half of the war, U-Boat losses were so great that many crewmen were killed on their first cruise and never had the chance to complete the second cruise required for normal award of the badge. The U-Boat war badge could never under any circumstances be considered 'easy' to earn.
Principally the firm of Schwerin in Berlin produced the early issues of the U-Boat war badge. These were die struck in a bronze/brass alloy known as Tombak, and then delicately fire-gilded to give a matt gold finish with highly burnished highlights. A mint condition example of one of these early badges is a very attractive and desirable item.
As the war dragged on economies required the use of cheaper metals, and the U-Boat war badge began to be struck or die cast – another economy measure so that the badge hinge could be made integrally with the badge itself and save one stage in the manufacturing process – in zinc. These badges, whilst as well detailed as their earlier counterparts, had a poorer anodised or lacquered finish, which quickly deteriorated to leave a rather unattractive dull grey. Well over 20 different firms are believed to have manufactured this award, so that the collector has a wide choice of subtle manufacturer variants to choose from. Small lapel pin miniatures were also produced for wear on civilian clothing.
As can be imagined, the wearing of metal badges in the close confines of a submarine where there were a million and one obstacles for such a badge to snag on, was not recommended. A cloth version was therefore authorised which could be firmly stitched to the uniform to avoid snagging. The lack of photographic evidence of such badges being worn suggests however that they were very unpopular and rarely used.
When presented, the Badge was accompanied by an award document. These were predominantly in A4 portrait format (11.25 in. by 8.25 in.) though smaller A5 certificates (8.25 in. by 5.625 in.) were introduced later in the war. The document had a decorative border and was topped with a drawing of the award itself. The recipient's details were typed in and the document signed, usually by the Flotilla Commander or the Flag Officer U-Boats. Surviving examples are now very rare and sought after.
A special version of the U-Boat badge was produced on the authority of Grand Admiral Raeder (and continued by his successor Grand Admiral Dönitz) for award to particularly successful U-Boat commanders who had been decorated with the Oakleaves to the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. The badges were ordered from the firm of Schwerin, who produced the original striking of the war badge. This version had a solid silver swastika, set with 9 small rose-cut claw-mounted diamonds, overlaid on the original swastika of the basic badge. Two basic forms exist. The first uses the standard badge; in fire-gilded Tombak with a large overlaid swastika. The second type has the badge made from solid silver, gilt and with a slightly smaller overlaid swastika. The total number actually awarded is uncertain but 28 U-Boat commanders were awarded the Oakleaves and so would have technically qualified. It should be noted that this version's official title was 'U-Boat badge with diamonds'. Note the lack of the definition 'war badge'. It may well be that this was to indicate that this was not an official version of the war badge, but was manufactured on the orders of the C in C Navy and bestowed by him as a personal token of esteem. There is no official award document, each recipient merely being given a personal letter confirming the award from the C in C. Dönitz, himself an Oakleaves winner, wore a special version in which the wreath as well as the swastika was set with diamonds. This was taken from him at the end of the war at the same time as his Grand Admiral's Baton was stolen.
In May 1944 a new award was introduced. This was the U-Boat front clasp, intended to reward continued combat service by those who had already earned the basic badge. There were no fixed award criteria, each recommendation by a U-Boat commander for a member of his crew being considered on its own merits. The award consisted of a smaller version of the U-Boat war badge with a small pair of crossed swords at the base of the wreath and at each side a spray of six Oakleaves. These badges were designed by artist Wilhelm Ernst Peekhaus and manufactured by Schwerin of Berlin. They were originally die struck, then die cast in zinc and given a plating of bronze. This plating, over a period of time, often reacted with the base metal so that many surviving examples will show a bubbling effect to the plating. The clasp was worn above the left breast pocket.
In November 1944, a higher-grade version was introduced with a silver finish. Once again there were no fixed award criteria and each recommendation was considered on its merits. A small A5-sized award certificate was given with the U-Boat front clasp, similar in its design concept to the late war A5-sized document for the basic badge. The award of the basic badge and the clasp was recorded in the seaman's Soldbuch (Pay Book) and other military records. In 1957 most military awards of the Third Reich were once again authorised for manufacture and wear, but in a new 'de-Nazified' form. In the case of the U-Boat war badge, the eagle and swastika were removed and the boat moved up slightly higher to sit in the exact centre of the wreath. When one considers the estimated 80 per cent losses suffered by the U-Boot Waffe during WWII, the U-Boat war badge truly is a symbol for many of the ultimate sacrifice of so many young seamen.
by Gordon Williamson
Further reading
Hadley, Michael L., Count not the Dead; The Popular Image of the German Submarine (McGill-Queen's University Press, 1999)
Kaplan, Philip, and Currie, Jack, Wolfpack (Aurum Press, 1997)
Mallmann-Showell, Jak P., U-Boats under the Swastika (Ian Allan, 1998)
Mallmann-Showell, Jak P., U-Boats in Camera (Sutton Publishing, 1999)
Mallmann-Showell, Jak P., U-Boat Commanders and Crews (Crowood Press, 1998)
Miller, David, U-boats; The Illustrated History of the Raiders of the Deep (Pegasus Publishing, 1999)
Mulligan, Timothy P., Neither Sharks nor Wolves (Chatham Publishing, 1999)
Stern, Robert C., Type VII U-Boats (Arms & Armour Press, 1991)
Williamson, Gordon, New Vanguard 59: German E-Boats 1939-45 (Osprey, 2002)
Williamson, Gordon, Warrior 37: German Seaman 1939-45 (Osprey, 2001)
Williamson, Gordon, Fortress 3: U-Boat Bases and Bunkers 1941-45 (Osprey, 2003)
Williamson, Gordon, Elite 60: U-Boat Crews 1914–45 (Osprey, 1995)
Williamson, Gordon, Warrior 36: Grey Wolf: U-Boat Crewman of World War II (Osprey, 2001)
Williamson, Gordon, New Vanguard 50: U-Boats of the Kaiser's Navy (Osprey, 2002)
Williamson, Gordon, New Vanguard 51: Kriegsmarine U-Boats 1939-45 (1) (Osprey, 2002)
Williamson, Gordon, New Vanguard 55: Kriegsmarine U-Boats 1939-45 (2) (Osprey, 2002)
Williamson, Gordon, General Military: Wolf Pack - The Story of the U-Boat in World War II (Osprey, 2005)