Front page - The Men - Decorations

W3C
12 May, 2008
Server time: 07:41

This page should show the decorations, which was given in the U-boat arm, both the usual Wehrmachts decorations and also the special U-boat decorations.

Das Eiserne Kreuz

(The Iron Cross)

The most awarded and famous German war decoration.

Das Deutsche Kreuz in Gold

(The German Cross in Gold)

The German Cross in Gold was stationed between the Iron Cross and the Knights Cross in rank. It was awarded to 530 U-boat men.

Spanienkreuz

(The Spanish Cross)

The Spanish Cross was given for outstanding service during the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939. Only a handful of U-boat men were decorated for service on U-boats in Spanish waters with the Spanish Cross.

Kriegsverdienstkreuz

(The War Merit Cross)

Similiar to the Iron Cross it was awarded to non-combattant achievments. For U-boat men mostly in the training flotillas. A Knights Cross also existed, it was only awarded twice, to Admiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg and to Krvkpt Otto Salmann both on the Bdu staff.

Das Ritterkreuz

(The Knights Cross)

The highest class of the Iron Cross. Roughly 7300 of these were awarded during the war and 144 went to the U-boat service.

U-Boots-Kriegsabzeichen 1939

(The U-boat war badge 1939)

The decoration was awarded from October 1939, usually after two patrols.

U-Boots-Kriegsabzeichen mit Brillanten

(U-boat badge with diamonds)

From this version of the U-Boots-Kriegsabzeichen were only 29 given, usually after receiving the Oak leaves.

U-Boot-Frontspange

(U-boat front clasp)

The decoration was awarded from May 1944. Two classes existed: Silber and Bronze.

Leistungsabzeichen der Kleinkampfmittel

(merit badge for midget forces)

The badge was awarded in seven grades according to number of patrols.

Other decorations

Decorations that do not specially refer to the U-boat service as such but many members of the U-boat service were given those either before or after their service on U-boats.

	Kriegsabzeichen für Minensuch, Ubootsjagd und Sichrungsverbande (The Sweeper War Badge) Given to minesweepers and U-boat hunters. Given for either 3 patrols, outstanding achievements or other acts of valor.
	Hilfskreuzer Kriegsabzeichen 1941 - 1945 (The Merchant Raider Badge) Given for acts of valur in the face of the enemy. Some 1500 of those were awarded. A version with diamonds existed but it was only given once, to Bernhard Rogge for his work on the raider Atlantis.
	Beobachterabzeichen The Luftwaffe (German Air Force) Observer Badge.
	Schnellbootkriegsabzeichen Award given to those serving on fast boats (S-boats, or E-boats as the allies called them). It was first awarded on 30 May, 1941 and 1900 of those were awarded.
	Flottenkriegsabzeichen (The Fleet War Badge) First awarded on 30. April, 1941 this medal was given to men serving on the German surface warships (battleships, cruisers etc.) Some 2400 of those were given.
	Zerstörerkriegsabzeichen (The Destroyer War Badge) Installed on 4 June, 1940 and about 6000 were awarded.
	Verwundeten Abzeichen (Wound Badge) Awarded to those wounded in action. Three grades existed, black for those wounded once or twice, silver (3 or 4 seperate injuries) and gold (5 or 6 seperate injuries). Silver and Gold could also be awarded for more serious injuries (brain damage, loss of a limb or such.)