The Iron Cross

As Germany's premier award for gallantry, the Iron Cross was of course bestowed upon many U-Boat crewmen. Generally speaking crewmen were unlikely to earn anything higher than the Iron Cross First Class. The Knight's Cross and higher awards were normally bestowed upon the captain on behalf of the entire crew. Lower grades like the Second and First Classes however, were issued to individual crewmen.

 

The Iron Cross Second Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2 Klasse)

The Iron Cross Second Class was generally only worn on the actual day of the award. Subsequently only its ribbon was worn, either on a ribbon bar, or from the tunic buttonhole.

 

Clasp to the Iron Cross Second Class 1914 (Spange 1939 zum Eisernes Kreuz 2 Klasse 1914)

For those who had been decorated with the Iron Cross Second Class during World War One,and were then further decorated with a second Iron Cross Second Class in World War Two, a clasp bearing the national emblem over the date 1939 was pinned to the ribbon of the Imperial Iron Cross.

 

 

The Iron Cross First Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1 Klasse)

 

 

The Iron Cross First Class was worn at all times ( many U-Boat crewmen however only wore their awards when ashore) and was pinned onto the left breast of the tunic.

 

Clasp to the Iron Cross First Class 1914 (Spange 1939 zum Eisernes Kreuz 1 Klasse 1914)

For those who had won the Iron Cross First Class in the 1914-18 war , and then went on to be so decorated again , a clasp was produced, with a larger wingspan than that for the Second Class clasp, and was pinned onto the left breast just above the 1914 Iron Cross First Class.

 

 

The Knights Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes)

 

 

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross tended to be bestowed primarily on U-Boat commanders though examples exist of First Officers or First Engineers being decorated with this high award. Captains tended to be decorated with the Knight's Cross on behalf of the entire crew and most good captains shared the credit for their awards with the crews who served them. The Knight's Cross was slightly larger than the Second Class and had a modified suspension arrangement to allow it to be worn from a neck ribbon. Generally, though not always, the frame to the Knight's Cross was in genuine silver.

A total of 145 Knight's Crosses were awarded to men of the U-Bootwaffe.

 

 

Oakleaves to the Knights Cross (Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz)

 

 

A total of 28 of the most successful U-Boat officers were further distinguished by the addition of the Oakleaves to their Knight's Cross. This award, in theory, also qualified them for the award of the U-Boat badge with Diamonds.
The Oakleaves were die struck in solid silver, and had a replacement suspension loop soldered to their rear allowing them to be clipped onto the Knights Cross in place of the standard suspension loop.

 

 

Oakleaves with Swords to the Knight's Cross (Eichenlaub mit Schwertern zum Ritterkreuz)

 

 

This extremely high award was bestowed just five times upon U-Boat officers. It consisted of the standard Oakleaves clasp with a small pair of cast silver crossed swords soldered to the base of the Oakleaves.

 

Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds (Eichenlaub mit Schwertern und Brillanten)

 

This rarest of awards was bestowed just 27 times in total, two of which were to U-Boat commanders, Wolfgang Lüth (pictured above) and Albrecht Brandi.

 

 

 

Honour Roll Clasp of the Navy (Ehrentafelspange der Kriegsmarine)

 

One of the rarest of Naval awards with only a handful being awarded and only three of these being to U-Boat personnel. The award was pinned to the ribbon of the Iron Cross Second Class and worn in the tunic buttonhole.