~WW2 Nazi German Third Reich U-Boat Silver Combat Clasp ~
Historical Background
The U-Boat Combat Clasp in Silver (U-Boots-Frontspange in Silber) was instituted on 15 May 1944 by Admiral Karl Dönitz, Commander-in-Chief of the German U-Boat arm (Befehlshaber der U-Boote). By this stage of the war, the once-dominant German submarine fleet was suffering catastrophic losses in the Battle of the Atlantic, and morale was collapsing under relentless Allied anti-submarine warfare.
Dönitz introduced the clasp as a front-line distinction to acknowledge cumulative combat experience in one of the most dangerous branches of the German military. It was not a simple campaign medal—it was intended as a visible testament to prolonged exposure to enemy action and demonstrated fighting spirit.
Award Criteria
The clasp in Silver was awarded for:
Multiple war patrols (combat patrols)
Demonstrated endurance under enemy engagements
Acts of operational merit during patrols
A record of service that went beyond the basic U-Boat War Badge
There were no fixed, publicized numerical requirements, and awards were made at the discretion of U-Boat commanders and flotilla leaders. Typically, recipients had completed several hazardous patrols, especially during the late-war period when survival was far from guaranteed.
The progression was:
U-Boat Badge (U-Boots-Kriegsabzeichen) – basic qualification and one patrol
U-Boat Combat Clasp in Silver – cumulative front-line service
U-Boat Combat Clasp in Bronze – rare and awarded for exceptional combat merit
U-Boat Combat Clasp in Gold or Gold with Diamonds – extremely rare, personally approved by Dönitz
(The bronze variant’s place in the progression varied due to late-war issuance, but the silver clasp is generally considered the primary step after the standard badge.)
Design Features
Created by the designer Wilhelm Ernst Peekhaus, the clasp features:
A central U-Boat motif set within a laurel wreath. Wings extending outward on both sides, giving the piece a sweeping, almost dramatic form. A silvered finish (often zinc-based and prone to late-war “zinc pest”). A horizontal pin on the reverse for uniform wear
The imagery was meant to emphasise endurance, vigilance, and the maritime focus of the U-Boat arm.
Notable Recipients
Many well-known U-Boat commanders received the Silver Combat Clasp. A selection includes:
1. Otto Kretschmer
Germany’s most successful U-Boat commander by tonnage sunk.
Commander of U-23 and U-99
Known as “Silent Otto” for his stealth tactics
Awarded before his capture in 1941
2. Erich Topp
A leading U-Boat ace and later a prominent post-war naval officer.
Commander of U-57 and U-552
Noted for aggressive wolfpack tactics
3. Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock
Famous commander of U-96, the submarine later depicted in “Das Boot.”
One of the most publicly recognized U-Boat figures due to the book and film
4. Albrecht Brandi
Highly decorated submarine captain known for daring surface combat actions.
Later received the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds
5. Hans-Joachim Krug
Commander of U-81, known for the sinking of HMS Ark Royal.
6. Werner Henke
Commander of U-515; known for his combat record and later controversial death as a POW.
7. Günther Prien
While Prien died in 1941 (before the clasp was created), many of his officers and crew from U-47 later received the Combat Clasp, especially those who continued service on later boats during the final years of the war.
Because the clasp was a late-war award (mid-1944 onward), only those still serving at that stage could receive it. As a result, many early-war aces had already been killed, captured, or reassigned before its introduction.
