Kriegs side facing examples - Third Reich Eagles

There are several versions of the ship and u-boat side facing eagles. Variations include head style, back style, size, material, wing and mounting styles. As there are very few proven authentic examples as reference points they are hard to authenticate. This page includes several known examples and commentary on their quality. These eagles were found on the sides of S-Boats as well as the conning tower of one type of U-Boat (IIC U-Boats – the kind of early U-Boats with the virtually flat front face of the conning tower).

Additional material would be appreciated and can be sent to info@thirdreicheagles.com

Note: Most naval eagles were removed/dismantled during the summer of 1940. It is said by naval experts “so they would not fall into the hands of the enemy!” This factor contributes to their rareness. It is not known what happened with them one removed, but it is speculated the material was re-used. This also makes it hard to compare as so few are available. The removing of the eagles in 1940 is in line of the use of naval cap band tallies with all kinds of indications for reasons of secrecy. Per September 5, 1939 all different names were to be replaced by the tally Kriegsmarine by crews of ships and boats, and land-based units as well. By October 4, 1939 the old tallies had to be collected and the new versions were supplied. The old tallies were to be kept “under lock and key” (Ostseestationtagesbefehl Nr.XV 82251-31842V)! Even the privately purchased cap band tallies were no longer allowed to be worn (order from March 1940 – Ostseestationstagesbefehl Nr. 54)

Note: An important note to make on these eagles is the quality of the casting. As has been seen in larger building type eagles the quality up close is not as would be expected (eg pitting or roughness). This was due to the eagles being viewed from a distance (due to their size) or the location they were built for (eg a Ship). The lower quality on its own is not necessarily a sign of the items being reproductions. The pitting that we’re seeing may be the result of galvanic corrosion – potentially from heavy exposure to salt water.

There are 3 or 4 distinct styles and 11 known examples (incl. potential reproductions):

Style 1 – Bronze
Style 2 – Bronze (2 examples)
Style 3 – Aluminum (3 examples)
Style 4 – Aluminum (4 examples)

Potential reproductions

Repro 1 – Aluminum (3 examples)
Repro 2 – Aluminum (2 examples)
Repro 3 – Aluminum
Repro 4 – Bronze

Variations

Materials – Bronze and aluminium versions
Wing style – The eagle can come in swept wing style (such as in use on u-boat conning towers) or with a flat back (such as in use on a ship or some u-boats). Only examples shown here are flat back. It is possible the wings are flexible to be swept back on attachment.
Back style – Flat back and reverse feathered versions.
Head style – Semi hollow, indented sharp or indented rounded (filed)
Mounting – There is either
- Visible mounts – 6 mounting points for bolts/screws to attach the eagle to the ship/u-boat
- Invisible mounts – options
  - 1 mounting point at the base of the swastika
  - 1 panel mount on the back
  - 2 mounting points – at the base of the swastika and on the back of the head
- No mounts – Mounting from the back only – metal strip panel or bolt attachment (similar to Reichsbahn or Reichpost eagles) – no examples in side facing
Dimensions:
- - Approx 19 inches wide
  - Approx 29 inches wide

Style 1 – Bronze

Material: Bronze

Wings: Flat

Back: Unknown

Head style: unknown

Mounts: 6 bolt/screw attachments

Dimensions: Unknown – but appears to be the same style as Style 3 and Style 4

This example is located in Norway and is reputed to have come from the Georg Thiele ship (A German destroyer beached in Norway 1940). The owner claimed to have obtained it from the descendants of a diving family that worked on the wreck after the war. Dimensions and additional photos are required for better analysis. The surface is rough in parts and it appears to have the 6 mounting areas for bolts/screws.

Style 2 – Bronze

Material: Bronze

Wings: Flat

Back: Flat casting style

Head style: Semi-hollow

Mounts: 6 bolt/screw attachments

Dimensions: 19-3/16″ wide (not including the mounting tabs) and 20-3/16″ wide (including the mounting tabs), The eagle from top to bottom (swastika base to head) measures 12″ tall.

Example 2-1: A large selection of images are available below of this particular example

Example 2-2:

Dimensions: 49cm x 31cm, Weight: 2.55kg

This eagle is a two piece construction. It is thought the swastika is not original to the eagle and added later (most likely to restore a de-nazified eagle). The swastika is high quality and bronze but it appears to be a replacement. It is interesting there is no obvious mount points on this eagle. Although high quality and original it is hard to gauge mounting and original style given it has been modified.

Style 3 – Aluminum

Material: Aluminum (painted)

Wings: Flat

Back: Feathered casting style

Head style: Indented-sharp

Mounts: 6 bolt/screw attachments

Dimensions: 76cm x 41cm high

Example 3-1

This example has a bent mount (right bottom from front). This would not be from dropping given the position it is located. It may have been caused at the time of removal. There are visible bolt marks on the mounts. The reverse of the swastika has been painted (potentially to match the tower or vessel it was mounted to). Refer to the front-facing and side-facing period pics for examples of painted versions of which there are several.

Example 3-2:

Example 3-3:

This example was found in a barn on the Isle of Man and re-sold on eBay around 2007. It had been in the barn for a significant period and it was in a bad state. The person who found it cleaned the front (with Peeko) with the intention to display it next to some brushed aluminium framed mirrors and make sure it fitted in (back has been untouched). The eagle has also been de-Nazified.
The wing span is 76cm in total and it appears two of the connection points have not been completed (drilled through).

Style 4 – Aluminum

Material: Aluminum (traces of paint)

Wings: Flat

Back: Feathered casting style

Head style: Indented-rounded

Mounts: 6 bolt/screw attachments

Example 4-1:

Dimensions: Unknown

The story: This is a Kriegsmarine aluminum eagle taken from the front of the conning tower of a U-boat captured by the British in WWII. This was purchased from a former Kapitän zur See at a naval reunion in Bavaria. He alleged it was taken from one of the U-boats in Kiel in 1946 as a token of his service time. As he is going to a retirement home he had no place to put it and all his relatives are gone. He decided to sell it.

Example 4-2:

Dimensions: 74cm x 40cm high

Example 4-3: Note there is some roughness especially around the head, although the rest of the eagle looks original. Perhaps this was not filed enough post molding

Dimensions: 74cm x 41cm high

Example 4-4: 715mm x 400mm high, 60mm depth

Potential reproductions

Repro 1 – Aluminum

Material: Aluminum

Wings: Flat

Back: Feathered casting style

Head style: Indented-sharp/indented-rounded

Mounts: 6 bolt/screw attachments

Dimensions: 28/29 inches wide (approx)

This example shows many signs of being a reproduction (the photos are poor but format aligns to many casting flaws reproductions have):

Poor casting and colour – typical of reproductions in aluminum
Semi-Solid back of head with little detail on the shape
Casting flaws on back of wing
Rough cutout quality – especially around the head on more silver example (Ex1)
Mounts show casting imperfections typical of copies

3 examples are shown

Repro 2 – Aluminum

Material: Aluminum

Wings: Flat

Back: Feathered casting style

Head style: Indented-rounded

Mounts: Single bolt attachment or reverse of swastika

Dimensions: 27 inches (680mm), height 15.25 inches (390mm), Weight (12-15lbs)

This example shows many signs of being a reproduction (the photos are poor but format aligns to many casting flaws reproductions have):

Poor casting and colour – typical of reproductions in aluminum
Solid back of head with little detail on the shape
No mounting tabs
Single solid mounting block on back of swastika (no threads and no holes)

Repro 3 – Aluminum

Material: Aluminum (painted)

Wings: Flat

Back: Feathered casting style

Head style: Indented-rounded

Mounts: Single bolt attachment or reverse of swastika plus attachment on back of head (appears to be threaded)

Dimensions: 27″ wide and roughly 15-1-8″ high.

This eagle has been sprayed black, then chemically cleaned and brushed (wire brush?) back leaving all the black in the recesses and taking off a lot of the gold but making it appear older in age. It has been filed to try and show a finishing process.

It has engraved on the back:

Left Wing (from back) – “THE LIBERATION”
Head – “1937 OF”
Right wing (from back) – “JERSY 1945” – Jersey is misspelt

This is thought to be cast of an original. Potentially not cast in Germany but on the Channel Islands Ca. 1945 (cast off an eagle upon liberation on the Channel Islands?)

This example shows many signs of being a reproduction (however is not 100% clear and hard to determine given it has been deliberately modified):

Poor casting and significant cleaning/filing with multiple paint applications
Solid back of head
No mounting tabs
Single solid mounting block on back of swastika and mount point on back of solid head
Amateur rough engraving with spelling errors
It is not standard for period pieces to be date stamped

Phase 1 appearance: