2nd PATTERN KRIEGSMARINE E-BOAT BADGE (SCHNELLBOOT KRIEGSABZEICHEN)

LEFT is photo showing a full frontal view of the Kriegsmarine, second pattern, E-boat badge that is being sold on this website. Equivalent in design and tactical application to World War II era U.S. PT boats, German E-Boat missions, prior to April 1941, were not viewed by the Kriegsmarine High Command as being a distinct arm of Kriegsmarine operations.

Consequently, before that date, E-Boat crew members who participated in either three (3) separte engagements in which enemy contact was actually made, or alternatively, made twelve (12) operational sorties that concluded without enemy contact, were awarded the Destroyer War Badge (Zerstorer Kriegsabzeichen) based on the belief that this was the most applicable existing decoration that came closest to the concept of E-Boat missions.

To better illustrate the context of that decision, it should be noted that the Destroyer War Badge had itself only been instituted on 4 June 1940 as a belated after thought to honor the significant sacrifices made by the Kriegsmarine's destroyer force in their dogged protection of German coastal landing sites during the recently concluded campaign in Norway.

Incidentally, the Destroyer War Badge could also be awarded in extraordinary cases, at the sole discretion of the commanding admiral, to individual E Boat crew members for participation in only one (1) operational mission if they were on a German ship that was sunk in action, received serious wounds as a result of enemy fire and/or had participated in a mission during which a major enemy ship was successfully sunk or heavily damaged.

ABOVE: Full Frontal View

On 30 May 1941, the distinctive tactical operations and demonstrated capabilities of E-Boats were both acknowledged by Kriegsmarine commander, Grossadmiral Dr. Raeder, through his institution on that date of a special proficiency badge for exclusive intended award to E-Boat members to replace the Destroyer badge they may have been previously awarded..

Unfortunately, the design of this new naval war badge, which depicted the bow of an e-boat slicing through the waves, was finalized in an uncomplimentary manner. More specifically, the designer was intent on insuring that the bow of the E-boat did not extend beyond the confines of the standard, oak leaf style, oval wreath normally used in the design of assault badges. Consequently, the resulting truncation of the E-Boat completely lost any trace of its sleek lines and, worse, caused it to appear "stubby".

More importantly, numerous E-Boat crew members commonly believed that this truncated design made the e-boat on the badge unrecognizable from a distance. Subsequently, after listening to two (2) years of consistent complaints, Dr. Raeder authorized a second edition of this badge on 18 January 1943 in which the bow of the E-Boat extended well past the confines of the oval wreath, thus making the E-Boat appear far more dynamic and powerful.

As can be seen in the photos provided on this page, this particular badge is fitted with a straight, needle style attaching pin and is maker marked "G.H. OSANG / DRESDEN/ L 12" in three (3) lines of text on its reverse side. While it has seen some extensive wear, the gilt finish on the front of this item, as well as the deep patina exhibited on its reverse, are both still intact and make this an item that merits a place in any WWII era German collection.

BELOW are normal and enlarged views of each of the maker marks on this badge. The fact that each of the individual letters in the G.H.OSANG / Dresden lines are uneven in height, and strike depth, together with the obvious overstrike on the L/12 mark, confirms that this is not a die cast copy, but an original period piece.

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