The High Seas Fleet Badge

• Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
• Institution: April 1941
• Country: Germany

The High Seas Fleet Badge (Das Flottenkriegsabzeichen in German) is a war badge awarded to Kriegsmarine soldiers during World War II. It was instituted in April 1941 and given for service to the crews of the High Seas Fleet – mainly of battleships and cruisers but also the ships that supported them operationally and for which there was no other award available.

In order to qualify for the badge, a person had to show active duty on 1 or more 12 week cruises, wounds or sinking in action, as well as proof of distinction and good conduct. The award could be given retroactively for actions against the British fleet. The number of required weeks could be reduced if the person met one of these conditions:

• The recipient was wounded or killed during the voyage.
• For outstanding achievements in an engagement.
• If the cruise was successful.
• If an individual’s ship was sunk in action.
• For participation in “Rawalpindi” and “Jan Mayen”.
• For all crew members of the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau 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. on November 12, 1944.