hucks216 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Here is a very early U-Boat Badge grouping. They all belonged to Mechanikermaat Helmut Welsch of U-18 from U-Flottille 'Lohs' (which was renamed 3 U-Flottille.) The U-Boat Badge citation is dated for 19th October 1939 and as the badge was instituted on the 13th October 1939 I am assuming this citation would be a backdated one. The Service Award IV Class bears the signature of Doenitz while the 1st Oct 1938 Award citation is signed by Hans Eckermann. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hucks216 Posted October 11, 2010 Author Share Posted October 11, 2010 U-Boat Badge citation dated 19th October. U-18 completed her third war patrol on this date having sailed on the 2nd October. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hucks216 Posted October 11, 2010 Author Share Posted October 11, 2010 EK II Citation dated for 22nd November 1939. I am assuming that the EK II would of been awarded for the 3rd patrol when U-18 was used as a decoy for U-47 while that boat was on her Scapa Flow mission and would of been a mass award to the boats crew, or a percentage of them, and would of been awarded when they returned from the 4th patrol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hucks216 Posted October 11, 2010 Author Share Posted October 11, 2010 (edited) 1st October 1938 Medal Citation - not bad for a landlocked country!! No doubt a 'percentage' award. Edited October 11, 2010 by hucks216 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hucks216 Posted October 11, 2010 Author Share Posted October 11, 2010 And finally, taken from U-Bootwaffe.net and showing the first 4 war patrols of U-18. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian R Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Wow, this really is a great group. I don't think I've ever seen such an early U-boat badge doc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Boonzaier Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 Nice, I wonder how his war continued? My wifes grandfather was the doctor of the 3rd U-Boot flottile for a few years. Best Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Williamson Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 Very, very nice group Kevin. There can't have been too many who managed to get the requisite number of patrols in to earn the badge by such an early date. I see he isn't on the ubootwaffe.net lists. Have you checked WaSt to see if there is a KIA listing for him ? If not it would be a very rare example of a U-Boat man who was in service from Day 1 and survived the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDD777 Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 EK II Citation dated for 22nd November 1939. I am assuming that the EK II would of been awarded for the 3rd patrol when U-18 was used as a decoy for U-47 while that boat was on her Scapa Flow mission and would of been a mass award to the boats crew, or a percentage of them, and would of been awarded when they returned from the 4th patrol. This is your 2 grouping for today : http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=466459 with so beautiful and early EK's! Congratulation's, verry nice citations heritages! :beer: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hucks216 Posted October 12, 2010 Author Share Posted October 12, 2010 Thanks for the comments guys. I have checked the Volksbund database and there are just 9 Helmut Welsch's listed as being KIA during the course of the war but none of them are sailors, and there is no mention of any of them being on the U-Boat memorials at Kiel & Laboe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Boonzaier Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 It is possible that he was captured, or transfered away from U-Boots. I would bet EUR5 on the former. Best Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hucks216 Posted October 12, 2010 Author Share Posted October 12, 2010 It is certainly possible. I think a letter to the U-Boat Archive might be in order to see if they have anything on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughan B Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 Really nice Kevin, Seeing that Donitz signature reminds me of the one I had. Only post war on an autograph card but I really should have kept it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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