The High Seas Fleet Badge (), also known as High Seas Fleet War Badge, was a

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

military decoration awarded for service to the crews of the ''

Kriegsmarine The (, ) was the navy of Germany from 1935 to 1945. It superseded the Imperial German Navy of the German Empire (1871–1918) and the inter-war (1919–1935) of the Weimar Republic. The was one of three official branches, along with the a ...

'' High Seas Fleet, mainly of the

battleship A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of large caliber guns. It dominated naval warfare in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The term ''battleship'' came into use in the late 1880s to describe a type of ...

s and

cruiser A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several roles. The term "cruiser", which has been in use for several hu ...

s, but also those ships that supported them operationally for which there was no other award given. Although the award was instituted in April 1941, it could be awarded for actions that took place prior to this date. It was "primarily in recognition of the sea struggle" against the

British fleet The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

Description

The medal had an outer gold laurel wreath of oak leaves with the

German Eagle The coat of arms of Germany displays a black eagle with a red beak, a red tongue and red feet on a golden field, which is blazoned: ''Or, an eagle displayed sable beaked langued and membered gules''. This is the (German for "Federal Eagle"), for ...

at the top, while clutching a

swastika The swastika (卐 or 卍) is an ancient religious and cultural symbol, predominantly in various Eurasian, as well as some African and American cultures, now also widely recognized for its appropriation by the Nazi Party and by neo-Nazis. It ...

. In the center was a "forward sailing battleship" in grey. The badge was worn on the lower part of the left breast pocket of the naval service tunic, underneath the 1st class

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia est ...

, if awarded.

Criteria for award

To be eligible to receive the badge one must have 12 weeks service on a battleship or cruiser, with proof of distinction and good conduct. The number of weeks were reduced if one of these conditions were met: * If the recipient was wounded or killed during the voyage. * Outstanding achievements in a naval engagement. * Individual's ship was sunk in action. ( ''Bismarck'', ''Admiral Graf Spee'', ''Blücher'') * For participation in the sinking of HMS ''Rawalpindi'' by ''Scharnhorst'' and ''Gneisenau'' and the sinking of two merchant vessels south of

Jan Mayen Jan Mayen () is a Norwegian volcanic island in the Arctic Ocean with no permanent population. It is long (southwest-northeast) and in area, partly covered by glaciers (an area of around the Beerenberg volcano). It has two parts: larger nort ...

by ''Deutschland''. * All crew members of the ''Scharnhorst'' and ''Gneisenau'' received the award in view of the operational effectiveness of the ships. * To every sailor who was present on the ''Tirpitz'' when it was bombed and sunk by the British R.A.F. in

Tromsø Tromsø (, , ; se, Romsa ; fkv, Tromssa; sv, Tromsö) is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the Tromsø (city), city of Tromsø. Tromsø lies ...

Fjord on 12 November, 1944.

Citations

References

* {{Subject bar , portal1=Military of Germany , portal2=World War II Awards established in 1941 Military awards and decorations of Nazi Germany 1941 establishments in Germany