The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Decorations · Kriegsmarine awards

U-boat War Badge: History, Grades and Collector’s Guide

Instituted 13 October 1939
Criteria At least two engagements or sorties against the enemy; could be waived for men wounded before qualifying
Design A U-boat within an oval laurel wreath, under the eagle and swastika
Worn On the left breast
In the collection No pieces currently available

The U-boat War Badge marked the men who served on German submarines in the Second World War, a service in which, as the Australian War Memorial notes, more than 80 per cent of crews were killed. It is a sought-after naval award and widely reproduced.

What Was the U-boat War Badge?

The badge was instituted on 13 October 1939. It was awarded for at least two engagements or sorties against the enemy, and a commander could waive the requirement for a crewman wounded before qualifying. The design shows a U-boat inside an oval laurel wreath with the eagle and swastika above it.

Who Awarded It, and Which Documents Go With It?

The award was recorded in the sailor’s service records, and printed award documents were issued by the flotillas. See award documents, Karl Dönitz and Günther Prien.

What Should Collectors Watch For?

  • Reproductions are common; construction and finish need comparison with authenticated examples.
  • Documents naming a boat or flotilla greatly increase historical value, and the boat’s history can be checked.
  • Early gilded tombak and later zinc badges both exist.

Legal note. In Germany the 1957 Orders and Decorations Act allows Second World War awards to be worn only without National Socialist emblems, which is why “1957 pattern” versions without the swastika exist. The public display of Nazi symbols is restricted in Germany, Austria and several other countries. Owning, buying and selling original decorations as historical objects is treated differently from country to country, so check the law where you live and where you ship.

Collector’s Note

Given the losses of the U-boat arm, a documented badge often belongs to a man who did not survive the war. I keep that in mind when describing it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was the U-boat War Badge instituted?

On 13 October 1939.

What were the criteria?

At least two engagements or sorties against the enemy.

How heavy were U-boat losses?

More than 80 per cent of U-boat crews were killed, according to the Australian War Memorial.

Historical Responsibility Notice: this entry documents historical figures and artefacts of the National Socialist period for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology, and it is written in memory of the victims of the regime.

References & Further Reading