The Fleet War Badge of the Kriegsmarine
The Fleet War Badge was a combat badge of the German Navy during World War II. It was established on April 30, 1941, by the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Grand Admiral Dr. Erich Raeder. It could be awarded to all crew members of battleships and cruisers. Posthumous award was also possible.
Design of the Fleet War Badge
A tall oval badge made of non-ferrous metal or tombac. From 1943 onward, it was mostly made of zinc. In the center, a stylized battleship approaching the viewer. Based on a design by the naval painter Adolf Bock. He himself said of the badge: "A badge for the heavy naval forces was required. Therefore, the badge had to have a correspondingly powerful, warlike, and massive appearance. The powerful image was best achieved by depicting the ship seen from the front with a mighty bow wave and threatening cannon barrels." The ship and wave are darkly tinted.
Surrounded by a golden oak wreath tied at the bottom (typical of all naval insignia). In the center, at the highest point, is the Kriegsmarine's national eagle, with a swastika in its claws. The most common manufacturer of this badge was the Schwerin Berlin company; these badges are marked on the reverse with "FEC. Adolf Bock Ausf. Schwerin Berlin."
Requirements for the award of the Fleet War Badge
Crew member on a battleship or cruiser. Honorable participation in one or more war voyages totaling at least 12 weeks. This time limit could be waived if the expedition was particularly successful, the individual had distinguished themselves, or had been killed in action. The time limit could also be waived in the event of the ship's loss due to enemy action, and in special cases of wounds.
Crew members of the following ships could be awarded the Fleet War Badge:
Battleship Bismarck, Battleship Tirpitz, Battleship Scharnhorst, and Battleship Gneisenau. The heavy cruisers Prinz Eugen, Blücher, and Admiral Hipper. The armored cruisers Admiral Graf Spee, Admiral Scheer, and Deutschland/Lützow. And the light cruisers Emden, Karlsruhe, Königsberg, Cologne, Leipzig, and Nuremberg.
Wearing the Fleet War Badge
The Fleet War Badge was worn as a pin-on badge on the left breast. If the wearer had also been awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class, the Fleet War Badge had to be worn below the Iron Cross. Wearing up to two Kriegsmarine combat badges was permitted. For example, the Fleet War Badge could be combined with the Submarine War Badge , the Destroyer War Badge, the Auxiliary Cruiser War Badge, the Fast Attack Craft War Badge , the Naval Artillery War Badge , and the War Badges for Minesweeping, Submarine Hunting, and Escort Units.
The certificate for the Fleet War Badge
A certificate bearing the signature of the unit commander and the unit's official seal was issued for the award. The award was recorded in the recipient's pay book or military service record . The certificate often includes the name of the ship on which the recipient served. Certificates issued for participation in the voyages of the two large battleships Bismarck and Tirpitz are particularly interesting for collectors. Awards for Bismarck crew members are almost exclusively posthumous.
Value and purchase of a naval war badge
Due to the sheer number of different variants, a value can only be determined individually. Depending on the design, individual badges can be worth between €150 and €500. However, extensive estates, including certificates, photos, etc., can be worth well over €1.000. Individual certificates, boxes, miniatures, and photos of wearers are also of great interest to militaria collectors and are readily available for purchase.
