This collection of award documents chronicles the exceptional career of Oberfunkmaat Ludwig Rappold aboard U-552, one of the most successful German submarines of World War II. The five documents, issued between January 1941 and January 1945, trace the continuous front-line service of a radio operator throughout the entire duration of the Battle of the Atlantic, reflecting both early German successes and the increasingly difficult later war years.
The collection begins with the certificate for the Iron Cross 2nd Class dated 25 January 1941, signed by the Admiral der Marinestation Nordsee. This decoration was awarded for individual acts of bravery in the face of the enemy or actions above normal duty. As an entry-level combat decoration, it marks Rappold's first documented success in submarine warfare, at a time when U-552 was conducting its initial operations under the command of Erich Topp.
The second document, the certificate for the U-Boat War Badge dated 28 November 1941 with facsimile signature of Karl Dönitz, confirms Rappold's qualification as a fully-fledged submariner. This badge, instituted on 13 October 1939, was awarded for completion of two or more war patrols or for being wounded or killed in action. The date falls within the period following 31 October 1941, when U-552 sank the USS Reuben James – the first US Navy warship lost in World War II.
The certificate for the Iron Cross 1st Class dated 16 July 1943 bears the facsimile signature of Hans-Rudolf Rösing, Kapitän zur See and former commander of U-48, who served as FdU West (Commander U-boats West) from July 1942 to autumn 1944. This higher level of the same award typically required possession of the 2nd Class first and was granted for repeated exceptional performance. The year 1943 marked a turning point in the Battle of the Atlantic, as Allied countermeasures increasingly challenged German U-boat operations.
The most notable document in the collection is the large certificate for the German Cross in Gold dated 8 May 1944, which bears the original signature of Grossadmiral Karl Dönitz. This decoration, instituted on 28 September 1941, was awarded for repeated exceptional acts of bravery or combat leadership and ranked between the Iron Cross 1st Class and the Knight's Cross. The prerequisite was possession of the Iron Cross 1st Class. Of approximately 25,964 German Crosses in Gold awarded during the entire war, Rappold's award represents significant recognition of his achievements as Oberfunkmaat.
The final document, the certificate for the U-Boat Front Clasp in Bronze dated 24 January 1945 with facsimile signature of Admiral von Friedeburg, documents Rappold's continued service in the final phase of the war. This decoration, instituted on 15 May 1944, was awarded based on the number of war patrols, degree of risk, and personal bravery, generally after approximately 90 days at sea. The award was made on the recommendation of U-boat commanders and required approval by Karl Dönitz.
U-552, a Type VIIC submarine, was commissioned on 4 December 1940 and earned the nickname “Roter Teufel” (Red Devil). The boat sank 35 Allied ships totaling 164,276 GRT during its continuous service until being scuttled on 5 May 1945. It participated in 21 wolfpack operations, with the most successful period occurring under the command of Erich Topp, who commanded from December 1940 to September 1942 and later became an admiral in the Bundesmarine.
The rank of Oberfunkmaat was equivalent to a mid-level petty officer position and required extensive technical knowledge of radio transmission, Morse code, and complex communications equipment – critical for wolfpack coordination tactics. The chronology of awards from 1941 to 1945 reflects the entire evolution of submarine warfare, from the early “Happy Time” to the increasingly dangerous final phase of the war.
Following Germany's surrender on 8 May 1945 and the dissolution of the Kriegsmarine, wearing Nazi-era military decorations with prohibited symbols was banned by Allied authorities. U-552 was scuttled on 5 May 1945 in the Helgoland Bight to prevent capture. In 1957, the Federal Republic of Germany authorized denazified replacement versions of many decorations, with swastikas replaced by alternative symbols. Such document collections have become historical artifacts and militaria collectibles, serving today as primary sources for military historical research, documenting organizational structure, award criteria, and individual service records of Kriegsmarine submarine personnel.
