General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
Re: U Boots Abzeichen Eiserne Kreuz Second Class
Posted by:
Ken Dunn
()
Date: November 30, 2023 06:08PM
Hi Stuart,
See: [uboat.net] for the U-Boots-Kriegsabzeichen. This was a decoration for simply completing 2 U-boat war patrols and was not related to any other decoration.
He apparently also received the Eiserne Kreuz II Klasse at the same time. See: [uboat.net] for it. This decoration was given for a single exceptional act or for participating in a group that performed especially well among other things.
Generally, if a U-boat had an especially successful war patrol some number of Iron Cross Second Class decorations were given to the commander of the boat and he awarded them to the crew members that didn’t already have one that performed exceptionally well and contributed the most to the success of the war patrol. On rare occasions, enough were given to the commander for the whole crew to get one but that was not the norm. It was also a prerequisite for the Iron Cross First Class.
It was a decoration to be proud of but not as impressive as the Iron Cross First Class.
See: [uboat.net] for the Eiserne Kreuz I Kalsse. It was generally awarded for exceptional individual accomplishment. It might be heroism in battle or for something like jumping into artic water to save a comrade that had fallen overboard or extreme competence in performing an important task. It is most thought of as a decoration for an exceptional act involving risking one’s life. It was also generally a prerequisite for the Knight’s Cross.
Regards,
Ken Dunn
See: [uboat.net] for the U-Boots-Kriegsabzeichen. This was a decoration for simply completing 2 U-boat war patrols and was not related to any other decoration.
He apparently also received the Eiserne Kreuz II Klasse at the same time. See: [uboat.net] for it. This decoration was given for a single exceptional act or for participating in a group that performed especially well among other things.
Generally, if a U-boat had an especially successful war patrol some number of Iron Cross Second Class decorations were given to the commander of the boat and he awarded them to the crew members that didn’t already have one that performed exceptionally well and contributed the most to the success of the war patrol. On rare occasions, enough were given to the commander for the whole crew to get one but that was not the norm. It was also a prerequisite for the Iron Cross First Class.
It was a decoration to be proud of but not as impressive as the Iron Cross First Class.
See: [uboat.net] for the Eiserne Kreuz I Kalsse. It was generally awarded for exceptional individual accomplishment. It might be heroism in battle or for something like jumping into artic water to save a comrade that had fallen overboard or extreme competence in performing an important task. It is most thought of as a decoration for an exceptional act involving risking one’s life. It was also generally a prerequisite for the Knight’s Cross.
Regards,
Ken Dunn
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
U Boots Abzeichen Eiserne Kreuz Second Class
|
Stuart McEwan | 11/30/2023 02:29PM |
|
Re: U Boots Abzeichen Eiserne Kreuz Second Class
|
Ken Dunn | 11/30/2023 06:08PM |