Rolf Mützelburg

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 (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.

Career
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, in October 1939 he joined the U-boat arm. He spent five months commanding the school boat GS U-10 (1935) from June to November 1940 as part of 21st U-boat Flotilla, receiving his first combat experience aboard GS U-100 (1940) under Joachim Schepke. He commissioned GS 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, 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 GS 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

 * Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (15 August 1936)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (1 July 1941)
 * 1st Class (1 July 1941)
 * U-boat War Badge (1939) (1 July 1941)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 17 November 1941 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-203
 * 104th Oak Leaves on 15 July 1942 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-203
 * Mentioned three times in the Wehrmachtbericht on 30 July 1941, 20 April 1942 and 15 September 1942