Worldwide Submarine Insignia

Private German boat builders began constructing submarines in 1891. Germany established a submarine service in 1906 with U-1. A metal submarine badge was issued (for all ranks). The initial date of this issue is unknown to me. Many copies have been seen. A hollow variation of this badge was possibly manufactured by local German jewelers in the 1920's and 1930's as a replacement pin. Multiple miniatures have also been reported. Miniatures were listed in the Sreinhauer and Luch catalog. It is unknown if they were authorized. 

The German Third Reich dedicated a new submarine badge in 1939. The submarine attack by Captain Gunther Prien and crew of the U47 on the battleship HMS Royal Oak in Scapa Flow gave Hitler's staff the incentive to issue a new badge with the Nazi swastika for those who had served on a war patrol. The early badges were made from brass or bronze with a gold plate, but over the course of the war the quality degraded, and on many badges the gold worn off. Sterling versions have been observed, never plated. Twenty-nine special gold plated (silver body) war badges for excellent U-Boot commanders were produced by Schwerin of Berlin with 9 small diamonds set into the swastika (another version also has a dozen diamonds along the wreath). In May of 1944, Germany introduced the U-boat clasp (Uboots Frontspange) to further commend U-boot personnel. It was made in bronze and a silver version was introduced in November 1944 for further valor (made by Schwerin). Many copies have been made; the originals are hallmarked with Schwerin Berlin on the back, but so are some copies. A gold version was collected soon after the war, possibly manufactured in preparation for issue. Seven awards for midget submarines (Kampfabzeichen der Kleinkampf-mittel) were introduced in November 1944. A bronze clasp showing a sawfish superimposed on a knotted rope was awarded for five actions. Silver color for seven missions, and gilt for ten missions. The lower four awards were cloth. Some of the WW-II German badges were made in France, and variations included the width of the breast of the eagle at the top of the badge, and the direction of the pin (vertical or horizontal). Many copies have modern push pins on the back. Miniature versions (stick pins and mess dress-sized) have been seen. Badges were also issued to superior shipyard workers.

U Boat crews sometimes adopted a symbol for their ship (sawfish, shark, shield, etc.) and often would paint that emblem on the conning tower or wear them on pins on their caps. Here is a sample of five of those (recent reproductions of the original badges).

Osprey Military Elite Series are a British series of books depicting uniforms throught the ages. Book 60 is their U-Boat Crews 1914-45 uniform book. They have a very nice page of cap badges and a table showing what submarines used them. I scanned the picture and list for reference use.

Submarine History

Wikipedia has an excellent history of Germany's submarines.  Please click here for ther article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-boat