The Order of the Crown was a Prussian order of chivalry. Established in 1861, it could only be awarded to commissioned officers (or civilians of approximately equivalent status), but there was a medal associated with the order which could be earned by warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted men.

Officially the Order of the Red Eagle and the Order of the Crown were equal. Most officers and officials however preferred to be appointed to the more senior and prestigious Order of the Red Eagle. The Order of the Crown was often used as a decoration for those the Prussian government felt had to be recognized for their service but who it did not want to award the Order of the Red Eagle.

The Order had six classes:

• Grand Cross - wore the Grand Cross badge on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
• 1st Class - wore the badge on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
• 2nd Class - wore the badge on a necklet, plus the star on the left chest;
• 3rd Class - wore the badge on a ribbon on the left chest;
• 4th Class - wore the badge on a ribbon on the left chest;
• Medal - wore the medal on a ribbon on the left chest.

Most awards to officers that would go on to command U-boats came before the war. These officers all received the 4th Class of the order though a few awards were of the 4th Class with Swords (Jeß, Prittwitz und Gaffron, Reinhart von Rabenau, and von Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim).