Kriegsmarine Early War U-Boat Grouping

[hucks216]

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.

[hucks216]

U-Boat Badge citation dated 19th October. U-18 completed her third war patrol on this date having sailed on the 2nd October.

[hucks216]

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.

[hucks216]

1st October 1938 Medal Citation - not bad for a landlocked country!! No doubt a 'percentage' award.

Edited October 11, 2010 by hucks216

[hucks216]

And finally, taken from U-Bootwaffe.net and showing the first 4 war patrols of U-18.

[Brian R]

Wow, this really is a great group. I don't think I've ever seen such an early U-boat badge doc.

[Chris Boonzaier]

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

[Gordon Williamson]

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.

[DDD777]

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:

[hucks216]

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.

[Chris Boonzaier]

It is possible that he was captured, or transfered away from U-Boots.

I would bet EUR5 on the former.

Best

Chris

[hucks216]

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.

[Vaughan B]

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.