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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.
| 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 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]
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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.[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
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
- 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
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