Speedboat war badge

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Schnellboot war badge (1st form)
Schnellboot war badge (2nd form)
Image of the Schnellboot war badge in the 57 version

The Schnellboot war badge was donated on May 30, 1941 by the Commander in Chief of the Kriegsmarine (OBdM) Grand Admiral Erich Raeder for Schnellboot crews.

Foundation decree

The foundation decree on the Schnellboot War Badge was published in the Reichsgesetzblatt on May 30, 1941 . The full wording read:

  • 1. With seafaring boldness and ruthless dedication, our speedboats have made many successful advances against the enemy and sent many British war and merchant ships to the seabed in dashing attacks. In recognition of these deeds, I order the introduction of a speedboat war badge.
  • 2. The badge can be awarded to the speedboat crews (including fallen or deceased soldiers and other eligible candidates). The award is made by the torpedo boat leader.
  • 3. The badge is worn with the uniform like the 1939 U-Boat War Badge.

Award terms

The terms of the award were published in the Marineverordnungsblatt of June 17, 1941, which reads:

  • I. General Conditions
    • Worthiness, good guidance.
  • II. Special conditions
    • a) Probation for at least 12 patrols
    • b) The condition stipulated under a) can be deviated from:
      • 1. if individual patrols were particularly successful or if the individual soldier particularly distinguished himself or fell.
      • 2. if a boat is lost due to enemy action and in special cases if it is wounded
  • III. The badge can also be awarded:
    • Deceased who have met or have almost met the requirements under II a) if their death is the result of an injury, an accident or an illness that they suffered or were incurred during a patrol
  • IV. The driver of the torpedo boats is authorized to supplement the conditions given above.

Extended award terms

December 18, 1941

  • 1. In exchange for the destroyer war badge:
    • a) Former speed boaters who have been awarded the destroyer war badge solely for their speed boat operations, receive the speed boat war badge on request.
    • b) Former speed boaters who have received the destroyer war badge due to operations on torpedo boats or destroyers and speed boats can receive the speed boat war badge on request if they were used in the majority of the operations on speed boats.
  • 2. In addition to the Destroyer War Badge
    • a) Former speed boaters who were already awarded the destroyer war badge when they took up the speed boat weapon can also be awarded the speed boat war badge if they have fulfilled the conditions.

April 7, 1942

On the 2nd anniversary of the occupation of Norway, the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy ordered the following extension of the award: ... that in appreciation of the paramount importance of the company and in recognition of the daring efforts of all battleships and cruisers involved, the Norwegian company as a particularly successful undertaking within the meaning of the award conditions for the speedboat war badge is to be seen. This means that all participants (crew members) in the occupation of Norway on the battleships and cruisers listed below have fulfilled the award conditions for the Schnellboot War Badge:

On the occasion of this celebration, all participants in the occupation of Norway who had served on speed boats received the speed boat war badge, if they had not already been awarded it.

January 28, 1943

On the day mentioned, the second form of the speed boat war badge was finally introduced. The wording in the Marineverordnungsblatt read:

The speedboat war badge donated in accordance with the procedure has been changed according to the proposals of the front with the approval of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. Seal samples will be sent to the naval clothing offices shortly. The new sample must be handed over at future awards. The badges already awarded will not be exchanged.

Speedboat war badge with diamonds

Speedboat war badge with diamonds ( replica )
Speedboat illustration on a postage stamp that comes very close to the 2nd form of the badge

After being awarded the Oak Leaves for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross , it was customary in the Navy to bestow the corresponding battle badge with diamonds that had previously been awarded. So far, eight awards can be verified. On November 13, 1942, the Schnellboot War Badge with diamonds was awarded for the first time .

The following people were honored:

Trivia

In 1965, another form of this badge appeared in Berlin. There was no breakthrough between the wreath and the boat, so the badge became a solid disc. Hitler's handwritten signature was engraved on the back. This version (fire-gilt bronze) is a contemporary original which has probably never been awarded. It was allegedly found in the rubble of the Navy High Command.

Carrying method

The Schnellboot War Badge was worn as a plug-in badge on the left side of the chest in and out of service with all Wehrmacht uniforms. 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 National Socialist emblems.

literature

  • Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann : Awards of the German Empire. 1936-1945. Motorbuch, Stuttgart 1981, ISBN 3-87943-689-4 .
  • Ernst Heinzelmann: The embossing forms of the Schnellboot war badge of the company C. Schwerin & Sohn . In: Orders and Medals. The magazine for friends of phaleristics , publisher: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ordenskunde , issue 113, 20th year, Gäufelden 2018. ISSN 1438-3772.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Awards of the German Reich, Kurt-G. Klietmann, Motor Buch Verlag, ISBN 3-87943-689-4