Hello, first I know that this is not the exact category, but I think the history of this japanese commemorative medal would be interesting for the “Kriegsmarine” collectors (if not, so Moderator please move this threat).<O
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This decoration is unknown to the vast majority of collectors and historians, the Japanese Commemorative Medal for German Submariners in the Indian Ocean, from the so called "Monsun-uboats".
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Approximately 45 German submarines were dispatched to Southeast Asia from October 1943 to May 1945. Two-thirds of these were sunk en route, and just 16 U-boats arrived at the bases at Penang, Singapore, Jakarta and Surabaya. One of these boats (U-511) was sent to Japan as a gift from the Reich so that the Japanese could copy it.
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On 27 November 1943 U-178 became the first submarine to depart Penang for the return voyage to Germany, and the Japanese had prepared a special memento for the German submariners. It was a hand-engraved commemorative medal made of solid silver. There was a stylized submarine on one side, with the Japanese flag above it and Japanese script beneath it which translated as “Indian Ocean”. A stylized submarine was also engraved on the other side. Above the boat was the Reich War Flag and beneath it the words “Indian Ocean” in German. The medals were individually hand-engraved.
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Based on interviews and examinations of the estates of many former Monsoon Boat crewmembers, I have been able to determine that that the medals were only issued to the crews of the first submarines to depart Penang for France in late 1943—early 1944. The boats were U-178, U-532, U-188, U-168 and U-183.
Front and rear views of the Japanese Commemorative Medal for German Submariners in the Indian Ocean. The design of the medal was very simple. Most submariners wore it suspended from their U-Boat War Badge, but only when posing for photos. Officially the medal was not supposed to be worn.
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</OThis decoration is unknown to the vast majority of collectors and historians, the Japanese Commemorative Medal for German Submariners in the Indian Ocean, from the so called "Monsun-uboats".
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</OApproximately 45 German submarines were dispatched to Southeast Asia from October 1943 to May 1945. Two-thirds of these were sunk en route, and just 16 U-boats arrived at the bases at Penang, Singapore, Jakarta and Surabaya. One of these boats (U-511) was sent to Japan as a gift from the Reich so that the Japanese could copy it.
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</OOn 27 November 1943 U-178 became the first submarine to depart Penang for the return voyage to Germany, and the Japanese had prepared a special memento for the German submariners. It was a hand-engraved commemorative medal made of solid silver. There was a stylized submarine on one side, with the Japanese flag above it and Japanese script beneath it which translated as “Indian Ocean”. A stylized submarine was also engraved on the other side. Above the boat was the Reich War Flag and beneath it the words “Indian Ocean” in German. The medals were individually hand-engraved.
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</OBased on interviews and examinations of the estates of many former Monsoon Boat crewmembers, I have been able to determine that that the medals were only issued to the crews of the first submarines to depart Penang for France in late 1943—early 1944. The boats were U-178, U-532, U-188, U-168 and U-183.
Front and rear views of the Japanese Commemorative Medal for German Submariners in the Indian Ocean. The design of the medal was very simple. Most submariners wore it suspended from their U-Boat War Badge, but only when posing for photos. Officially the medal was not supposed to be worn.
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