Decorations

Order of the Crown

Kronenorden

Order of the Crown

The Order of the Crown was a Prussian order of chivalry. Instituted in 1861 as an award equal in rank to the Order of the Red Eagle, 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 non-commissioned officers and enlisted men.

Officially the Order of the Red Eagle and the Order of the Crown were equal. Most officials did however prefer to be appointed in the senior Order of the Red Eagle. The Order of the Crown was often used as a decoration of someone who had to be rewarded while the Prussian government 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).

CommanderDate  Command
Kptlt. Adam, Hansprewar  
Arnauld de la Perière, Lothar von1906  

Oblt. Becker, Franzprewar  
Kptlt. Bothmer, Thorwald vonprewar  

Oblt. Canaris, Wilhelmprewar  
Oblt. Carls, Rolfprewar  

Oblt. Edeling, Karlprewar  

Oblt. Fürbringer, Gerhardtprewar  

Oblt. Georg, Carl-Siegfried Ritter vonprewar  
Kptlt. Gercke, Hermannprewar  
Oblt. Gerth, Erichprewar  
Kptlt. Glasenapp, Alfred von3 Jan 1917  U 80
Oblt. Günzel, Erichprewar  
Oblt. Götze, Alfredprewar  

Oblt. Hartmann, Richardprewar  
Oblt. Howaldt, Hansprewar  

Kptlt. Jeß, Heinrichprewar  

Kptlt. Klasing, Johannesprewar  
Kptlt. Korte, Alfredprewar  
Krapohl, Franz3 Jan 1917  

Oblt. Lepsius, Reinholdprewar  

Kptlt. Middendorff, Heinrichprewar  
Kptlt. Moraht, Robertprewar  

Ltn. Niemer, Hans Ewaldprewar  

Oblt. Paech, Georgprewar  
Kptlt. Petersen, Friedrichprewar  
Ltn. Prinz, Athalwinprewar  
Oblt. Prittwitz und Gaffron, Eberhard vonprewar  

Oblt. Rabenau, Helmuth vonprewar  
Oblt. Rabenau, Reinhard vonprewar  

Oblt. Schmidt, Georg1907 or earlier  
Oblt. Schwieger, Waltherprewar  
Kptlt. Sieß, Gustavprewar  
Kptlt. Speth-Schülzburg, Rudolf von3 Jan 1917  
Oblt. Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim, Edgar vonprewar  
Oblt. Stenzler, Heinrichprewar  
Oblt. Strackerjan, Friedrichprewar  
Oblt. Suchodoletz, Ferdinand vonprewar  

Oblt. Valentiner, Maxprewar  

Oblt. Wachendorff, Siegfriedprewar  
Oblt. Walther, Hansprewar  
Ltn. Werner, Wilhelmprewar  

42 officers decorated with Order of the Crown (Kronenorden) located.

Note: This listing is still being compiled and some recipients might be missing.

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