All items from the estate of Lieutenant Commander Kurt Diggins (Crew 34). Diggins sunk two ships and had seven patrols. He is known (postwar) for a very famous propaganda photo you can find here: https://uboat.net/men/commanders/205.html

Kurt Diggins was born on October 17, 1913, in Gut Mohrberg, then part of Kreis Eckernförde in the Prussian Province of Schleswig-Holstein. Today, this area is part of Barkelsby, located in the district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde, in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. He passed away at the age of 93 on March 1, 2007, in Bonn, a city in the Cologne administrative district of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Kurt Diggins began his naval career on April 8, 1934, when he entered the Reichsmarine as a naval officer cadet, having previously served as a merchant ship officer (Handelsschiffsoffizier). He was integrated into the "Crew 35." His initial training took place from April to June 1934 at the 2nd Division of the Baltic Sea Ship Training Division in Stralsund. Following his basic training, he underwent shipboard training aboard the sailing training ship Gorch Fock from June to September 1934, and then on the light cruiser Karlsruhe until June 1935.

He completed further officer training at the Naval Academy in Flensburg-Mürwik from June 1935 to March 1936, including a main course for cadets and the final officer’s examination. After completing additional training courses through September 1936, Diggins’ specific activities between October 1936 and April 1939 remain unrecorded. However, by April 1939, he was serving as adjutant aboard the armored cruiser Admiral Graf Spee, a position he held until the ship's loss off Montevideo on December 17, 1939.

Following the loss of the Admiral Graf Spee, Diggins, along with other crew members, was interned in Montevideo, Uruguay, from December 1939 to July 1940. Upon his return to Germany, he was placed at the disposal of the North Sea Station Command. Between September and December 1940, Diggins assumed command of the 6th Minesweeper Flotilla, followed by command of the 5th Minesweeper Flotilla until March 31, 1941.

In April 1941, Diggins began U-boat training at the 1st U-Boat Training Division in Pillau. This was followed by torpedo and communications training in Flensburg-Mürwik, as well as further U-boat training at Neustadt. By October 1941, he had completed his commanding officer training and live firing exercises at the 24th U-Boat Flotilla in Memel.

On November 16, 1941, Diggins began preparations for the construction of U-458 at the 1st Warship Construction Division in Kiel. He assumed command of U-458, a Type VIIC U-boat, on December 12, 1941, and commanded it until August 22, 1943. During his tenure as commander, U-458 undertook several patrols, including missions in the North Atlantic, along the U.S. East Coast, and in the western Mediterranean. Notably, on a patrol from June 21 to August 27, 1942, U-458 sank two ships totaling 7,584 GRT off the coast of Nova Scotia.

U-458 also participated in various operations in the Mediterranean, including engagements near the Algerian coast and south of Sicily. However, on August 22, 1943, U-458 was lost in the Mediterranean southeast of Pantelleria.

Following the loss of his U-boat, Kurt Diggins was taken as a British prisoner of war and was held from August 22, 1943, to September 5, 1947. He was imprisoned in Egypt and later in England at Camp 18, Featherstone Park in Haltwhistle.

Throughout his career, Diggins received several notable awards and honors. On November 10, 1940, he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class, followed by various distinctions, including the War Badge for Minesweepers, Submarine Hunting, and Escort Forces in March 1941, the Fleet War Badge in July 1941, and the U-Boat War Badge in October 1942. In March 1943, he received the Iron Cross 1st Class, and on August 16, 1943, he was honored with the Bronze Medal for Military Valor from Italy.

Kurt Diggins reached the rank of Fähnrich zur See on July 1, 1935, Oberfähnrich zur See on January 1, 1937, Leutnant zur See on April 1, 1937, Oberleutnant zur See on April 1, 1939, and Kapitänleutnant on January 1, 1942. His long and eventful military career saw him serve in various capacities, from command aboard the Admiral Graf Spee to leading U-boat missions across the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

Kurt Diggins lived a long life, passing away on March 1, 2007, in Bonn. His legacy is marked by his service during some of the most challenging naval campaigns of the Second World War.

Directly from the estate of Kurt Diggins comes this early Tombac/Buntmetall-made Spanish Cross in Bronze without Swords. Unmarked but based upon its design as well as its DRGM marked screw-back device with number 653146, this cross can be safely attributed to Paul Meybaur from Berlin. Identical Meybauer screw-back conversions have been encountered on e.g.  early EK 1's and Panzer Assault Badges. What makes this extremely rare Spanish cross even more special is that it started life as an example with swords that was factory-converted  to one without swords. The remains of the original swords remained in position. An absolutely amazing Spanish Cross in close to mint condition. A highlight in any collection.