Product Overview
Kriegsmarine Auxiliary Cruiser Badge
The Kriegsmarine Auxiliary Cruiser Badge (Kriegsabzeichen für Hilfskreuzer) was a military decoration awarded by Nazi Germany to the crew members of auxiliary cruisers, also known as merchant raiders, who had served with distinction.
Auxiliary cruisers were merchant ships that had been converted into armed vessels, often tasked with commerce raiding against enemy merchant shipping during World War II. These ships were equipped with hidden armaments and tasked with disrupting enemy supply lines.
The award was instituted on April 24, 1941 by Grand Admiral Erich Raeder.