Kriegsmarine GWL U-Boat Badges

[Flak88]

Here is a great story, so bear with me.

Bottom line - many of the crew of U-706 received the U-Boat badge by GWL. I find it interesting that they would all get one maker. Does that mean they got a shipment to the base from that maker - looks logical to me.

I contacted a u-boat vet based on a newspaper story. I just spent 4 days interviewing him and have over 9 hours of material. His experience was amazing - after spending all his time on 706 he was transferred to 732. On her next mission the 706 was sunk, with four survivors. The 732 tried to run Gibralter and was sunk, Max was one of 19 survivors. So many stories, I hardly know where to start. But here he is in 1942 when he got his badge, and now in 2005 with me. He had MANY photos and many of them were studio shots of the crew. We sat down with Gordon Williamson for coffee one day. Gordon said he has never seen such clear photos of the badge to the point he could ID the maker without a question. And all the guys on the boat had - GWL.

1942:

2005:

badge:

[Flak88]

Here we are at coffee with Gordon (guess what is in that blue case!!!):

Edited December 14, 2005 by Flak88

[Bob Hunter]

Congratulations on capturing a unique piece of oral history.

[Al P]

Thanks for sharing this story and going out to talk to this gentleman to begin with. Preserving history consists of more than polishing up a few baubles.

Al