Kriegsmarine U-Boat Award Documents

[Gordon Williamson]

Just to accompany the thread on U-Boat Badges, here are some of the docs that go with them.

This first one is the earliest type, with foliage border around the edge. This example is very early. The badge was awarded after the second war cruise. To have earned the U-Boat badge by January 1940, this sailor, a crewman on U-61 would have done his first cruise in November 1939, operating out of Wilhelmshaven and returning there on 3 December 1939. His second cruise, particularly interesting for me, was a minelaying operation in the Firth of Forth just a few miles from where I live. U-61 was a small Type IIC coastal boat, but fairly successful with six sinkings before she was retired to training school duties in November 1940. Thereafter, Starke served on U-588, a Type VIIC under Kapi?nleutnant Viktor Vogel. After sinking six enemy ships her luck ran out and she was sunk with depth charges by two Canadian warships, HMCS Wetaskiwin and HMCS Skeena. No survivors.

Edited April 20, 2005 by Gordon Williamson

[Gordon Williamson]

Condolence letter to Starke's family from his flotilla commander, Korvettenkapit?n George-Wilhelm Schulz ( Knight's Cross winner and former commander of U-64 and U-124)

Edited April 20, 2005 by Gordon Williamson

[Gordon Williamson]

The next type to be introduced had the foliage border replaced by a decorative geometric pattern. This example was awarded to a member of the crew of U-375. A type VIIC, she served in the Mediterranean, operating out of La Spezia and sank 7 enemy ships. She was sunk by a US sub-chaser on 10 July 1943. No survivors.

Award docs to "Mediterranean" U-Boats are extremely rare.

Edited April 20, 2005 by Gordon Williamson

[Gordon Williamson]

A special version was also produced for Posthumous awards. It had a simplified border pattern and lettering ammended to show that it was for a sailor who had fallen.

This example is to a crew member from U-540, a Type IXC sunk on her first patrol by two Liberators from RAF Coastal Command. No Survivors.

Edited April 20, 2005 by Gordon Williamson

[Gordon Williamson]

Condolence letter to P?plow's family from his Flotilla Commander.

Edited April 20, 2005 by Gordon Williamson

[Gordon Williamson]

The last type to be introduced was the small size A5 ( the others are all A4). These A5 examples are extremely rare. This time, the crewman in question, from U-299 was a survivor. The boat survived the war to be sunk by the British in "Operation Deadlight"

Edited April 20, 2005 by Gordon Williamson

[John]

Hi Gordon.

Fascinating posts. What was the criteria for the award of the U-Boat Badge?

John

[Gordon Williamson]

John,

The Badge was awarded after the individual had completed two separate war cruises. Cruises could last anything from a few days up to several months. If the crewman was wounded in action or performed a particularly meritorious act, it could be awarded on the first cruise, or of course, if he was killed in action on his first cruise it could be awarded posthumously.

[Gordon Williamson]

Just to finish off, the award documents for the U-Boat Clasp.

Bronze

Edited April 20, 2005 by Gordon Williamson

[Gordon Williamson]

And in Silver

Edited April 20, 2005 by Gordon Williamson

[Guest Darrell]

Very nice Gordon. Just recently I obtained Forman's two book edition of Documents. These examples of yours are textbook to what Mr. Forman has listed in his book.

Very nice .. and like you mention .. some are extremely rare pieces :food-smiley-004:

[Gordon Williamson]

Very nice Gordon. Just recently I obtained Forman's two book edition of Documents. These examples of yours are textbook to what Mr. Forman has listed in his book.

Very nice .. and like you mention .. some are extremely rare pieces  :food-smiley-004:

←

Glad you like them. I'll start another thread to show one of the most incredible document sets I've ever owned, not U-Boat this time but to a crewman of the Admiral Hipper. It will take some time as there are dozens of docs, so I will only list the really interesting ones.

[Michel]

Posthumous documents sent to Johannes Stein's father. Johannes Stein was one of U-461 crew members (milk cow), sunk the 30 july 1943.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi,

what is the one bottom right with the EK?

Thanks

Chris

[Naxos]

Hi,

what is the one bottom right with the EK?

Thanks

Chris

I can read:

Wehrmeldeamt Eschwege

Looks like a Condolence note from the local Army office

Edited February 23, 2009 by Naxos