Rolf Mützelburg
German navy officer and WWII submarine commander
About Rolf Mützelburg
Lived 1913 – 1942 (aged 29). Rolf Mützelburg was a submariner, soldier and marineoffizier.
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.
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. receiving his first combat experience aboard under Joachim Schepke. He commissioned 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 .
Mützelburg died on 11 September 1942 in an accident. He was swimming in the Atlantic south-west of the Azores, and dived from the conning tower, but struck the deck head-first when the U-boat suddenly lurched in a swell. A supply U-boat, , arrived the next day with a doctor on board. But it was too late, and Mützelburg was buried at sea on 12 September 1942. Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (1 July 1941) & 1st Class (1 July 1941) U-boat War Badge (1939) (1 July 1941) Oak Leaves on 15 July 1942 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-203
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Important facts
People in Rolf Mützelburg's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Rolf Mützelburg?
German navy officer and WWII submarine commander (1913-1942)
When was Rolf Mützelburg born?
Rolf Mützelburg was born on 23 June 1913 in Kiel.
When did Rolf Mützelburg die?
Rolf Mützelburg died on 11 September 1942 in Atlantic Ocean.
What was Rolf Mützelburg's occupation?
Rolf Mützelburg was a submariner, soldier and marineoffizier.
What nationality was Rolf Mützelburg?
Rolf Mützelburg's recorded nationality: Nazi Germany, Weimar Republic.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Rolf Mützelburg. https://biography.guide/rolf-mutzelburg/
MLA: "Rolf Mützelburg." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/rolf-mutzelburg/.
Chicago: "Rolf Mützelburg." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/rolf-mutzelburg/.
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