A Cased German Cross in Gold Awarded to Petty Officer Gerhard Friese of S26/1st E-Boat Flotilla

A fine quality manufacture, cased and extremely well preserved German Cross in Gold; four rivets on the reverse; double-overlaid sunburst pattern with eight points; the center with a quality black enameled rotated swastika (Hakenkreuz) within a stamped circular wreath impressed with oak leaves, ribbons, and the introduction year (1941); inner and outer sides of the wreath feature a thin red painted line with a silver core in the middle; broad vertical pinback with functional hinge; reverse etched "Friese - 4.IX.44" in hand; measuring 62.96 mm x 63.04 mm; weighing 45.7 grams; in worn condition but overall better than extremely fine condition. In its original case of issue; in thick cardstock with a black faux leather exterior; strong push-button and solid interior fabric and exterior metal hinge; measuring 107 mm x 107 mm; with light marks on the exterior from storage but otherwise extremely fine condition.

Footnote: Gerhard Friese was born on February 27, 1922 and served aboard the Torpedo Boat (Schnellboot) S26 within the 1st Schnellbootsflottille as a Obermaschienenmaat (Naval Petty Officer Tenchician). Schnellboot S26 was completed and entered service in the Reichsmarine in 1935 alongside S27, S28, and S29 as an experiment, as the first of their kind. The Torpedo Boats S26 through S29 were 34.94 meters in length, had a crew of 21 men, armed with two Toro 53.3 cm torpedoes and two 20mm anti-aircraft machine guns, and were propelled to a maximum speed of 39.5 knots by three 2000 horsepower Daimler-Benz diesel engines. During the Second War, S26 served in the Baltic Sea until she, and the remaining 1st S-Flotilla were ordered to Constanta on May 24, 1942 to be refitted. On January 1, 1944, the 1st S-Flotilla had only six remaining boats (S26, S42, S47, S49, S52, and S79), while the rest were either sunk or undergoing major repairs. During July, 1944, S26, along with the remaining boats were transferred to Suliana at the mouth of the Danube in Romania. On August 19, 1944, S26, S40, and S72 were destroyed in port by a Soviet air attack. In recognition of their service, 112 German Crosses in Gold were awarded to E-boat crews during the Second War.