The German Cross (Deutsche Kreuz) was instituted in 1941 and was in some part intended to bridge the considerable gap which existed between the Iron Cross First Class and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. It was of multi-part rivetted construction and its manufacture was limited to only a small number of firms (6 in all manufactured the award on official contract, with one other believed to have made the award under a form of license agreement with one of the major manufacturers).The "German" Cross referred to in the title is the enamelled Swastika in its centre.

 

Some 542 German Crosses were awarded to members of the U-Bootwaffe. Unlike the situation with the Knight's Cross, the German Cross awards were spread more evenly across the ranks.

 

Clearly a large metal badge like this worn on the sailors tunic within the close confines of a submarine would constitute a potential hazard, snagging on the myriad of projecting pipes, valves and other equipment. For circumstances such as these, a cloth embroidered version was also authorised. This was worked onto a piece of dark navy blue backing cloth, only the laurel wreath in the centre remaining in metal.

 

For an outstanding study of the German Cross in all its variants, without doubt the most detailed work on this award to date, by François Saez and Jaques Calero, please follow this link

German Cross Article