Germany, Kriegsmarine. An E-Boat War Badge, First Pattern, by Schwerin and Sons consisting of a blue enamelled Romanian Cross with clusters of nine gilt rays in eac original ribbon suspended from a

original ribbon suspended from a traditional Spanish-style horizontal hanger

bearing a Maltese Cross with white enameled arms

surrounded by a white enamelled ring inscribed VIRTUTI ET MERITO (Virtue and Merit)

and became a writer on military history

four-point star in white enamel with sixteen ruby red cabochons

Germany, Kriegsmarine. An E-Boat War Badge, First Pattern, by Schwerin and Sons consisting of a blue enamelled Romanian Cross with clusters of nine gilt rays in eac original ribbon suspended from a(Schnellboot Kriegsabzeichen, 1. Form). Instituted May 30th, 1941. (First Pattern Early to mid war issue). A textbook example of an E Boat badge by this maker, constructed of gilded and silvered tombak, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, topped by a Kriegsmarine eagle clutching a mobile swastika, surrounding a central depiction of an E boat cutting through waves in high relief, the reverse with