Germany. An Award & Document Grouping of Ordnance NCO Dahl of Aux. Cruiser “Orion”

This is a grouping of award documents with their matching awards, consisting of 1) A Kriegsmarine Auxiliary Cruiser Badge accompanied by its award certificate, 2) An Iron Cross 1939 Second Class accompanied by its award certificate, 3) A Bronze Grade DRL Badge accompanied by its award certificate booklet, and a 4) A Gold Grade 1957 DSB Sports Badge accompanied by its award certificate booklet.

1) A Kriegsmarine Auxiliary Cruiser Badge “Kriegsabzeichen für Hilfskreuzer”; multi-piece construction oval gilt tombac, with a silvered tombac globe; the obverse with a Viking longship sailing over the northern hemisphere of the globe, with an oval border of oak leaves, and a national eagle at the top of the badge clutching a mobile swastika; the reverse plain with a vertical tapered pin, a barrel hinge, and a round wire catch; maker marked “C.E. Juncker, Berlin” on the reverse; measuring 44.02 mm (w) x 56.83 mm (h); weighing 38.8 grams. The Auxiliary Cruiser Badge certificate is dated to Bordeaux (France) on August 25, 1941. It is signed by Kurt Weyher. The stamp lists Feldpost number M 11089, which at the time was used by Ship no. 36. It measures 148 mm x 210 mm.

2) An Iron Cross 1939 Second Class “Eisernes Kreuz 1939 2. Klasse”; a cross pattée of multi-piece construction with a blackened iron core (magnetic) within a ribbed border; on loop for suspension - marked “65” for “Klein & Quenzer, Lüdenscheid”; with its period original ribbon; the obverse with a raised central mobile swastika with the re-institution date “1939” in raised numbering on the lower arm; the reverse with the original institution date “1813” in raised numbering on the lower arm; measuring 44.33 mm (w) x 44.35 mm (h); weighing 17.9 grams. The Iron Cross 2nd Class certificate is dated to the “Stiller Ozean” (Silent Ocean, another name for the Pacific) on December 26, 1940. It is signed in black ink by the Commander of Ship no. 36, Frigate Captain Kurt Weyher (1901–1991), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross. It measures 138 mm x 198 mm.

3) A Bronze Grade DRL (German League of the Reich for Physical Exercise/Deutscher Reichsbund für Leibesübungen) sports badge Badge; in bronze; the obverse with an oval oak leaf wreath, with a bow and a mobile swastika on the bottom and “DRL” in script in the centre; vertical pinback; marked “Wernstein of Jena” and “DRGM 36269” on the reverse; measuring 39.28 mm (w) x 48.22 mm (h); weighing 21.4 grams. The Third Reich Sports Badge certificate booklet states that Dahl was awarded the Sports Badge in Bronze on November 8, 1938. It measures 220 mm x 179 mm.

4) A Gold Grade DSB (Deutscher Sport Bund) Sports badge - 1957 Version; constructed of gilt alloy; the obverse with an oval oak leaf wreath, with a bow on the bottom and “DSB” in script in the centre; vertical pinback; marked “Ges. Gesch. - Deutscher Sport Bund”, and maker marked “Steinhauer & Lück, Lüdenscheid” on the reverse; vertical pin, with a barrel hinge, and a flat wire catch; measuring 39.62 mm (w) x 49.21 mm (h); weighing 18.1 grams. The post war Sports Badge certificate booklet states that Dahl was awarded the Sports Badge in Gold on December 31, 1966. It measures 148 mm x 209 mm.

Footnote: Karl Dahl was born on December 24, 1913. He was the Oberfeuerwerksmaat (Senior Ordnance Mate, NCO equivalent) of Ship no. 36, in charge of the ammunition. Ships that were numbered were civil ships that the Kriegsmarine requisitioned and repurposed for military tasks. No. 36 was originally named “Kurmark”, but once the Kriegsmarine took control of it, it was renamed “Orion”. The British Navy knew it as “Raider A”. In April 1940 the ship became an auxiliary cruiser under the designation “Handelsschutzkreuzer 1” (HSK 1). On April 6, 1940 the “Orion” left Germany for the Atlantic, rounding Cape Horn and entering the Pacific on May 21. It set course for New Zealand. There, the crew mined the harbour of Auckland. One of the mines sank the passenger ship “Niagara” five days later. The “Orion” went on to mine different harbours in the area. During the next few months the crew was able to capture a French merchant vessel and sink three cargo ships. In late 1940 the “Orion” joined forces with the “Komet” and the “Kulmerland” to attack the island of Nauru in order to destroy its phosphate industry. They sank the island’s supply vessel and four freighters anchoring in its harbour. However, the attack on the island itself had to be postponed due to bad weather, and eventually was carried out solely by the “Komet”. The “Orion” moved on and patrolled the Pacific and the Indian Ocean for another eight months, yet didn’t manage to sink any additional ships. In June of 1941 it began the long journey home, sinking a twelfth and final ship on the way, a freighter near Cape Verde. On August 23, 1941 the “Orion” landed in Bordeaux after 511 days at sea.