War badge for minesweeping, submarine hunting and security associations

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War badge for minesweeping, submarine hunting and security associations
Correct way of wearing the war badge can be seen on the tunic of the marines

The war badge for minesweeping, submarine hunting and security groups was donated on August 31, 1940 by the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy , Grand Admiral Erich Raeder . It could be awarded to all crew members of minesweeping, submarine hunting and security associations if the specified facts were fulfilled. A posthumous award was excluded.

Appearance

The oval badge made of tombac bronze (later fine zinc) shows an exploding sea ​​mine in the middle of the sea. The resulting fountain was stylized by the Berlin graphic artist and sculptor Otto Placzek . The symbol of the minesweepers attached in this way is enclosed by a golden oak leaf wreath and shows an eagle with outspread wings at the top , holding a swastika in its claws . At the brilliant level of the award, this swastika was replaced by a larger one with twelve diamonds inserted.

Foundation decree

The foundation decree was published in the Reichsgesetzblatt on September 11, 1940. Its full wording was:

“The tough and dangerous service of the minesweeping, submarine hunting and security associations, which are constantly exposed to the rigors of the weather with their small vehicles in the fight against submarines, mines and the danger of flying, demands full commitment from every man on board high nerve tension. The service is particularly renouncing and grueling, since the purpose of use does not in most cases enable the individual to distinguish himself personally in front of his comrades in direct combat against the enemy. In recognition of the responsible and successful work of these armed forces, I order the introduction of a war badge for minesweeping, submarine hunting and security groups. "

Award terms

The terms of the award were published in the Marineverordnungsblatt dated September 11, 1940. These goods:

  • I. General Conditions
    • Worthy, good conduct, no arrest sentence in the last 6 months
  • II. Special conditions
    • a) Participation in three battles, or
    • b) special award when driving in the operating area or other outstanding individual act or
    • c) Participation in an outstanding undertaking as decided by the fleet chief or the commanding admiral
  • III. The commanders entrusted with the award are authorized, if necessary in agreement with the corresponding commanders of the other area, to replace the special conditions described above with equivalent conditions that are adapted to the characteristics of the unit concerned, e.g. B. for mine search associations:
    • 60 days at sea to fulfill the war tasks incumbent on the association concerned or clearing sharp barriers on 10 different days or participating in 25 stabbing trips in a mine-dangerous area or 25 days convoy service ( Norway , Kattegat and Skagerrak and outside Terschelling - Horns Reef ) or laying 10 Mine barriers etc.
  • IV. The badge can also be awarded:
    • a) to survivors of a boat that was lost due to enemy action or
    • b) in special cases to the wounded (with simultaneous award of the wounded badge )

Extended award terms

In the months and years that followed, the Naval High Command issued several supplementary award conditions in order to honor those Marines who were not covered by the previous award conditions. These goods:

May 23, 1941

A secret daily order from the Baltic Sea station concerned a more precise definition of the sea areas that were intended to limit the award of the war badge for minesweeping, submarine hunting and security groups. The wording of this decree was:

  • 1. North Sea:
    • a) The inner German Bight south of 55 ° 38 'north, east of the eastern border of the German warning area ( Westwall ).
    • b) The sea area south of the German warning area ( Westwall ) up to 53 ° north.
    • c) A strip 12 nm wide along the Jutland coast between 57 ° north and 55 ° north.
  • 2. Baltic Sea:
    • a) Until April 10, 1940, the entire Baltic Sea south of the German warning areas at the Baltic Sea exits and the Little Belt warning area (for exception see no. 1 letter c)).
    • b) From April 11, 1940, the entire Baltic Sea, the Baltic Sea entrances and the Kattegat south of 58 °.
    • c) In the period from September 1, 1939 to October 5, 1939, the Baltic Sea only west of the Swinoujscie - Bornholm line .
  • 3. West:

The sea area of ​​the pink and red paths and the space in front of these paths towards the coast outside the approach buoys of the ports and river mouths.

April 28, 1942

In addition, the war badge can be awarded to minesweeping, submarine hunting and security associations:

  • to the former members of the artillery training ship Brummer, sunk by a submarine torpedo . The ship itself was sunk on April 14, 1940 in the Kattegat by British naval forces.

Mid-1943

In mid-1943, the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force , Hermann Göring , issued a circular in the Air Force Ordinance Gazette, unreservedly authorizing members of the naval security units (i.e. Ju-52 crews) who were subordinate to the Luftwaffe to wear and accept the badge . This was remarkable insofar as Göring had previously categorically forbidden the acceptance of badges from other branches of the Wehrmacht.

War badge for minesweeping, submarine hunting and security associations with diamonds

After being awarded the Oak Leaves for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross , it was customary in the Navy to also award the previously awarded combat badge with diamonds. If one followed this official award practice, the war badge for minesweeping, submarine hunting and security associations with diamonds would only have been awarded to four people.

For the award of the war badge for minesweeping, submarine hunting and security associations, the following were considered:
Frigate captain Karl-Friedrich Brill (award of oak leaves October 22, 1944 (330th award posthumously) diamond grade was given to the widow) Captain of the sea Gerhard von Kamptz (award of oak leaves April 14, 1943 (225th award) brilliant grade never received) Frigate captain Fritz Breithaupt (award of oak leaves on February 10, 1944 (387th award), brilliant grade never received) Frigate Captain Karl Palmgren (Awarded oak leaves on July 11, 1944 (523rd award), brilliant grade never received)

Note on the award to Karl-Friedrich Brill (posthumously)

The award of the diamond level to frigate captain Karl-Friedrich Brill , commander of the mine ship Juminda , is a specialty, as Brill received the oak leaves posthumously on November 18, 1943 (330th award). The badge with diamonds was therefore also only made posthumously. According to the statement of Brill's widow, she received the badge with diamonds on May 18, 1944. A photo of the relevant letter from the Admiral Inspector of the Kriegsmarine (Raeder) and a picture of the badge in diamonds itself can be verified.

Carrying method

The badge was worn as a plug-in badge on the left side of the chest in and out of service with all uniforms of the Wehrmacht. It could also be worn with all party and state uniforms. A reduced form (16 mm needle) of the award on the left lapel of the skirt was allowed to go with bourgeois clothing. A corresponding miniature pendant to the tailcoat chain was allowed on special occasions.

Others

According to the law on titles, medals and decorations of July 26, 1957, wearing the award in the Federal Republic of Germany is only permitted without a swastika.

literature

  • Marine ordinance sheet. 1940, issue 36, p. 743, item 676.
  • Marine ordinance sheet. 1941, issue 8, p. 108, item 144.
  • Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann : Awards of the German Empire. 1936-1945. Motorbuch, Stuttgart 1981, ISBN 3-87943-689-4 .
  • Manfred Krellenberg: Submarine hunting in the Mediterranean. The deployment of the 22nd U-Fighter Flotilla. Verlag ES Mittler & Sohn GmbH, Hamburg et al. 2003, ISBN 3-8132-0801-X .
  • Franz Thomas (Ed.): The knight's cross bearers of the German Wehrmacht. (1939-1945). Part 7: Manfred Dörr: The surface forces of the navy. Volume 1: A - K. Biblio-Verlag, Bissendorf 1995, ISBN 3-7648-2453-0 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Manfred Krellenberg: submarine hunting in the Mediterranean. The deployment of the 22nd U-Fighter Flotilla. 2003, p. 92.