A number of U-Boat crewmen were recruited directly into that branch of the service, but many were already experienced seamen having served in various branches of the surface fleet. These men continued to wear the badges earned in their previous service alongside the U-Boat War Badge. The full range of other Kriegsmarine War Badges is shown here.
The Minesweeper War Badge (Kriegsabzeichen für Minensuch-U-Boots-Jagd,-und Sicherungsverbände)
Instituted on 31 August 1940 for the crews of Minesweepers, Sub-Chasers and other Escort Vessels who had completed at least three sorties against the enemy. This criteria could be waived in certain special circumstances such as the recipient being wounded in action, his ship being sunk in action, completing 6 months exemplary service etc.
The Destroyer War Badge (Zerstörer Kriegsabzeichen)
Instituted om 4 June 1940, this badge was awarded to the crews of Destroyers who had completed three separate engagements with the enemy. It could also, like the Minesweeper Badge , be awarded to those wounded in action, or whose ship had been sunk in action. It could also be awarded after 12 sorties where no contact had been made with the enemy, or for particularly distinguished service for which no other award had been bestowed.
E-Boat War Badge (Schnellboot Kriegsbazeichen)
This badge was instituted on 30 May 1941, and was awarded to crews of S-Boats who had taken part in 12 sorties against the enemy, who had carried out a particularly successful mission, or shown distinguished leadership. These criteria could be waived if the recipient was wounded in action.
The badge was redesigned and a new version introduced in January 1943. The new version was arger and showed a more modern type of S-Boat. S-Boat commander Korvettenkapitän Rudolf Petersen was involved in the designing of the new badge.
Fleet War Badge (Flottenkriegsbazeichen)
The Fleet War Badge was instituted on 30 April 1941 and was awarded to those who had completed 12 weeks service on a Battleship or Cruiser. This time scale could be reduced if the recipient had been involved in a prticularly successful action, if he were wounded in action.
Flak War Badge (Kriegsabzeichen für die Marineartillerie)
Instiututed on 24 June 1941, this badge was awarded to the crews of naval anti-aircraft guns on a points basis. Eight points were required, two being granted to each member of a gun team that shot down an enemy aircraft, or one of the "kill" was shared with another crew. It could also be awarded to searchlight crews, sound detector personnel, radio operators etc who contributed to the shooting down of an enemy aircraft, but in this case their share was only a half-point, and the total required for the badge remained eight.
Auxiliary Cruiser War Badge (Hilfskreuzer Kriegsabzeichen)
Instituted on 24 April 1941, this award was bestowed on crews of auxiliary cruiser who had participated in a successful long distance voyage. It could also be given to supply ship crews and like most other war badges, the criteria could be waived if the recipient were wounded in action.
Blockade Breaker Badge (Abzeichen für Blockadebrecher)
Created on 1 April 1941, this badge was awarded to the crews of ships which had successfully run the allied blockade bringing their much needed cargoes back to Germany. It could also be awarded to those who scuttled their ship to avoid capture by the enemy, to those whose ship was sunk by enemy action or for those who displayed particular courage in preventing the capture of their ship by the enemy.
It was initially only awarded to crews of merchant ships but was later extended to naval personnel.
The Narvik Shield (Narvikschild)
The Narvik Shield was instituted on 19 August 1940 to recognise men from all three branches of the armed forces who took part in the capture of Narvik. Many of the Destroyer crews whose ships were sunk in action against the Royal Navy at Narvik subsequently transferred to the U-Bootwaffe and so the Narvik shield will be seen fairly frequently in photographs of U-Boat crewmen. The naval version of the Narvik shield was finished in gold and worn on a dark blue cloth backing.
