Kriegsmarine Destroyer War Badge (Zerstörerkriegsabzeichen) Award Document (Urkunde).

This (DIN A5 sized) document was awarded to Bootsmannmaat (NCO) 'Heinrich Tichy' for his participation in the naval battles with the German destroyer Z20 'Karl Galster'. The 'Karl Galster' was one of six Type 1936 destroyers built for the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) in the late 1930s. In late 1939 and early 1940, Z20 Karl Galster helped to laid three offensive minefields off the English coast that claimed one British destroyer, a fishing trawler, and twenty merchant ships. After a refit that prevented her from participating in the German invasion of Norway in April, the ship was sent to Norway for escort duties. Later that year Z20 Karl Galster was transferred to France, where she made several attacks on British shipping.

The award document is dated October 19, 1940 and is personally signed by Knight's Cross Recipient and 'Kapitän zur See' Erich Bey. The award document has been folded twice and is in used ans slightly damaged condition.

The award document includes two photographs. The photos were taken from the ship and are inscribed on the back with 'Abschied von Norwegen' (farewell from Norway).

Nice original document!

Destroyer War Badge - The Destroyer War Badge was instituted on 4 June 1940 by Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine und Großadmiral 'Erich Raeder'. The badge was aswarded to destroyer crew members who had participated in the naval battle for 'Narvik' (Norway). Regulations of October 1940 extended bestowal of the Destroyer War Badge to include other destroyer, torpedo, and E-boat personnel involved in other naval battles.