While this is generally known as the E-Boat War Badge, thanks to the Allies referring to German torpedo boats as enemy boats, shortened to E-boats, in Germany it was called the S-Boot War Badge. These were the Schnellboot, or speed boats, hence S-Boot. Initially, from 1939-1941, crews of these fast, coastal raiders, received the Destroyer War Badge for their efforts but when the number of raids by E-boats increased significantly it was decided to create a new, specific award badge.
So, on 30 May 1941 the Schnellboot Kriegsabzeichen, designed by Wilhelm Ernst Peekhaus of Berlin, was instituted for E-boat personnel. The award criteria was fairly generous, with crews having to either mount 12 sorties, participate in successful missions, be wounded while serving or be on a boat that was sunk.…
