Nickname(s) Rolfy Years of service 1931–42 | Rank Kapitanleutnant Name Rolf Mutzelburg | |
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Born 23 June 1913Kiel ( 1913-06-23 ) Died 11 September 1942(1942-09-11) (aged 29)Atlantic Ocean36°14′N 31°21′W / 36.233°N 31.350°W / 36.233; -31.350 (Rolf Mutzelburg (death)) Service/branch | ||
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 of Nazi Germany. Mützelburg died on active service on 11 September 1942 following an accident at sea.
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Career
Mützelburg joined the Reichsmarine of the Weimar Republic on 1 April 1932 as member of "Crew 32" (the incoming class of 1932). After spending two years on minesweepers, in October 1939 he joined the U-boat arm. He spent five months commanding the school boat U-10 from June to November 1940 as part of 21st U-boat Flotilla, 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, the US east coast, and the Caribbean Sea, he sank 19 ships for a total of 81,961 gross register tons (GRT), and damaged three more (17,052 GRT).
Mützelburg died on 11 September 1942 in a freak accident. He was swimming in the Atlantic south-west of the Azores, and dove 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.
Awards
