Rolf Mützelburg
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| Rolf Mützelburg | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 23 June 1913 Kiel |
| Died | 11 September 1942 (aged 29) Atlantic Ocean 36°14′N 31°21′W / 36.233°N 31.350°W |
| Allegiance |  Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |  Kriegsmarine |
| Years of service | 1931–1942 |
| Rank | Kapitänleutnant |
| Unit | 21st U-boat Flotilla 1st U-boat Flotilla |
| Commands held | U-10 U-203 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class U-boat War Badge Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves |
Kapitänleutnant Rolf Mützelburg (23 June 1913 – 11 September 1942) was a German U-boat commander during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Mützelburg died on active service on 11 September 1942 following an accident at sea.
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Career [edit]
Mützelburg joined the Reichsmarine of the Weimar Republic on 1 April 1932 as member of "Crew 1932" (the incoming class of 1932). After spending two years on minesweepers, he joined the U-boat arm in October 1939.[1] He spent five months commanding the school boat U-10 from June to November 1940 as part of 21st U-boat Flotilla,[2] receiving his first combat experience aboard U-100 under Joachim Schepke. He commissioned U-203 into 1st U-boat Flotilla in February 1941. On his eight patrols in the Atlantic and off the US east coast, as well as in the Caribbean Sea, he sank 19 ships for a total of 81,961 gross register tons (GRT), and damaged three more (17,052 GRT).[1]
Mützelburg died on 11 September 1942 in a freak accident. Taking the opportunity to go swimming in the Atlantic south-west of the Azores, he dived from the conning tower, but struck the deck head-first when the U-boat suddenly lurched in the swell. The supply U-boat U-462 arrived the next day with a doctor on board, but too late, and Mützelburg was buried at sea on 12 September 1942.[1]
Summary of career [edit]
Ships attacked [edit]
| Date | Ship | Nationality | GRT | Convoy | Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 June 1941 | Kinross |  United Kingdom |
4,956 | OB-336 | Sunk |
| 24 June 1941 | Soløy |  Norway |
4,402 | HX-133 | Sunk |
| 27 July 1941 | Hawkinge | United Kingdom |
2,475 | OG-69 | Sunk |
| 28 July 1941 | Lapland | United Kingdom |
1,330 | OG-69 | Sunk |
| 28 July 1941 | Norita |  Sweden |
1,516 | OG-69 | Sunk |
| 26 September 1941 | Avoceta | United Kingdom |
3,442 | HG-73 | Sunk |
| 26 September 1941 | Lapwing | United Kingdom |
1,348 | HG-73 | Sunk |
| 26 September 1941 | Varangberg | Norway |
2,842 | HG-73 | Sunk |
| 3 November 1941 | Empire Gemsbuck | United Kingdom |
5,626 | SC-52 | Sunk |
| 3 November 1941 | Everoja | United Kingdom |
4,830 | SC-52 | Sunk |
| 15 January 1942 | Catalina |  Portugal |
632 | Sunk | |
| 17 January 1942 | Octavian | Norway |
1,345 | Sunk | |
| 21 January 1942 | North Gaspe |  Canada |
888 | Damaged | |
| 10 April 1942 | San Delfino | United Kingdom |
8,072 | Sunk | |
| 11 April 1942 | Harry F. Sinclair, Jr. |  USA |
6,151 | Damaged | |
| 12 April 1942 | Stanvac Melbourne |  Panama |
10,013 | Damaged | |
| 14 April 1942 | Empire Thrush | United Kingdom |
6,160 | Sunk | |
| 26 June 1942 | Pedrinhas |  Brazil |
3,666 | Sunk | |
| 26 June 1942 | Putney Hill | United Kingdom |
5,216 | Sunk | |
| 28 June 1942 | Sam Houston | USA |
7,176 | Sunk | |
| 9 July 1942 | Cape Verde | United Kingdom |
6,914 | Sunk | |
| 11 July 1942 | Stanvac Palembang | Panama |
10,013 | Sunk |
Awards [edit]
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (15 August 1936)[4]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- U-boat War Badge (1939) (1 July 1941)[5]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 17 November 1941 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-203[6]
- 104th Oak Leaves on 15 July 1942 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-203[7]
- Mentioned three times in the Wehrmachtbericht on 30 July 1941, 20 April 1942 and 15 September 1942
Wehrmachtbericht references [edit]
| Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 30 July 1941 | In der Atlantikschlacht haben sich die Unterseeboote unter Führung von Kapitänleutnant Mützelburg, Kapitänleutnant Bauer und Oberleutnant zur See Schüler besonders ausgezeichnet. [8] | The submarines under the command of Captain Lieutenant Mützelburg, Captain Lieutenant Bauer and First Lieutenant at Sea Schüler have particularly distinguished themselves in the Battle of the Atlantic. |
| 15 September 1942 | Kapitänleutnant Rolf Mützelburg, Kommandant eines Unterseebootes, Träger des Eichenlaubes zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, ließ auf der Fahrt gegen den Feind sein Leben. In ihm verliert die Unterseebootwaffe einen hervorragender Kommandanten und erfolgreichen Kämpfer. Das Boot setzt unter dem Kommando des ältesten Wachoffiziers die Unternehmung fort.[9] | Kapitänleutnant Rolf Mützelburg, U-boat commander, recipient of the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, lost his life on patrol. The U-boat arm has lost an outstanding commander and a successful fighter. The boat continues her patrol under the command of the senior watch officer. |
References [edit]
- Notes
- ^ a b c "Kapitänleutnant Rolf Mützelburg". uboat.net. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
- ^ "The Type IIB U-boat U-10". uboat.net. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
- ^ http://uboat.net/boats/successes/u.203/html%7Caccess date 2 February 2013
- ^ Busch and Röll 2003, p. 156.
- ^ a b c Busch and Röll 2003, p. 157.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 319.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 60.
- ^ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, p. 628.
- ^ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, p. 288.
- Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer & Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939-1945 - Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 3-8132-0515-0.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Huß, Jürgen & Viohl, Armin (2003). Die Ritterkreuzträger des Eisernen Kreuzes der preußischen Provinz Schleswig-Holstein und der Freien und Hansestadt Lübeck 1939-1945 (in German). VDM Heinz Nickel. ISBN 3-925480-79-X.
- Kurowski, Franz (1995). Knight's Cross Holders of the U-Boat Service. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-88740-748-X.
- Range, Clemens (1974). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 3-87943-355-0.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.
- Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.
External links [edit]
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