Rudolf Mühlbauer

Oberbootsmann


Born 27 March, 1919 Königsbrück/ Saxonia
Died 26 March, 2000 Königsbrück/ Saxonia

Rudolf Muehlbauer
Oberbootsmannmaat Rudolf Mühlbauer

Decorations

     03/1941 Iron Cross 2nd class (EK II)
          1941 Ubootskriegsabzeichen
     06/1942 Iron Cross 1st class (EK I)
          1944 U-Bootsfrontspange in Bronze
          1944 U-Bootsfrontspange in Silber
10/01/1944 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (208.)
10/12/1944 Knights Cross (132.)

Ranks

          1939 Matrosengefreiter
          1941 Matrosenobergefreiter
01/08/1942 Bootsmannmaat
01/08/1944 Oberbootsmannmaat
          1945 Oberbootsmann

U-boat Career
U-123 IXB 8 patrols, 352 days 05.40 - 1942
U-170 IXC 4 patrols, 396 days 01.43 - 05.45


Oberbootsmannmaat Mühlbauer was the only Maat (leading seaman), serving in the U-boats, that received the Knights Cross. He served since April 1939 in the Navy and switched in autumn 1939 to the U-boats. He was on board of U-123 from the commission and took part in very successful patrols under Moehle and Hardegen with a total sinkings of more than 200,000 tons.

Also outstanding were his 822 748 days at sea, nearly two years and a 4 months on patrol! In two cases he, with his sure eyes, saved the boat from being sunk by the enemy.


Rudolf Muehlbauer
Rudolf Mühlbauer after a decoration by Admiral Friedeburg
(left of Mühlbauer is Kptlt. Siegfried Lüdden)


Source

Dörr, Manfred
Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Bootwaffe
Band 2. K - Z
Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück, 1989
ISBN 3-7648-1759-3