Reinhard Hardegen – Commander of U-123 (Eichenlaub) (Wartime Signed!)

Reinhard Hardegen (18 March 1913 – 9 June 2018) was a decorated German U-boat commander during the Second World War. As commander of U-123, he became the 24th-most-successful German submarine commander of the war, credited with sinking 22 ships totaling 115,656 GRT. Hardegen was a leading figure during Operation Paukenschlag (Drumbeat), the early 1942 U-boat offensive along the U.S. East Coast.

After the war, he spent time as a British prisoner-of-war before returning to civilian life, where he founded a successful oil trading company and later served for over three decades as a member of Bremen’s city council (Bürgerschaft).

Awards and Decorations

• Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) – 23 January 1942, as Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant of U-123.

• Oak Leaves (Eichenlaub) – 23 April 1942, as Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant of U-123.

• U-boat War Badge with Diamonds (U-Boots-Kriegsabzeichen mit Brillanten).

• Iron Cross (1939) 1st and 2nd Class and Front Clasp in Bronze.

Item Details

• Original wartime signature of Korvettenkapitän Reinhard Hardegen.

• Signed on a wartime postcard featuring his portrait.

• Provenance: From the large personal collection of HJ boy Ernst Fritzsche, who collected wartime autographs and correspondence during the period.

• Condition: Very good; postcard shows minor age-related wear, with a crisp and clear signature.

Collector’s Note

Reinhard Hardegen was among the Kriegsmarine’s most renowned U-boat commanders and one of the few to live into the 21st century. His wartime signature on an original postcard is scarce and highly collectible, particularly with known period provenance.