Imperial German U-Boat War Badge Miniature Stickpin – WWI Naval Veteran’s Honor

A stunning and prestigious naval miniature, this stickpin commemorates service in the Kaiser’s elite U-Boot-Waffe during the First World War. For a veteran of the "Silent Service," this discreet lapel pin was a mark of unparalleled status, representing the peril of war patrols in the world's first sustained submarine campaign.

The U-Boat War Badge (U-Boot-Kriegsabzeichen) was instituted on February 1, 1918, by Kaiser Wilhelm II. To earn the original badge, a crewman typically had to complete at least two war patrols against the enemy, though exceptions were made for those wounded in action. Because the badge was established late in the war, many veterans purchased these high-quality miniatures during the interwar years to signify their elite status within the naval branch while wearing civilian attire.

• The Badge: A detailed miniature of the horizontal oval WWI-pattern badge. It features a submarine (bow facing right) centered within a laurel wreath.
• Affiliation: The top of the wreath is crowned by the Imperial State Crown (Reichskrone), distinguishing it from the later WWII-era version.
• Material: Struck in a gold-toned metal—likely a high-quality fire-gilt brass or bronze—giving it a rich, lustrous appearance.
• The Pin: Mounted on a slender knurled (twisted) stickpin. The knurling on the shaft was a deliberate design feature to ensure the pin remained securely fastened through the heavy wool of a suit lapel.
• Scale: A very small miniature, precisely scaled for discreet civilian wear.

The stickpin is in superb collector condition. The gilt finish is exceptionally well-preserved, retaining a bright, deep gold color with minimal thinning on the high points of the submarine and the crown. The details of the submarine’s conning tower and the texture of the laurel leaves remain remarkably crisp. The pin shaft is straight and the reverse solder point is solid and original.

This piece is a classic representative of Imperial German naval "Patriotica" and has been sourced from a specialized collection of fine miniature awards.