Wilhelm Rollmann

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Wilhelm Rollmann
Born (1907-08-05)5 August 1907
Wilhelmshaven
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South Atlantic
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Allegiance  Weimar Republic (to 1933)
 Nazi Germany
Service/branch  Reichsmarine
 Kriegsmarine
Years of service 1926–43
Rank Fregattenkapitän
Unit SSS Niobe
cruiser Emden
Meteor
Hessen
Karlsruhe
aviso Grille
Commands held U-34
U-848
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Wilhelm Rollmann (5 August 1907 – 5 November 1943) was a Fregattenkapitän with the Kriegsmarine during World War II, in which he commanded the U-boats U-34 and U-848. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career

Rollmann joined the Reichsmarine of the Weimar Republic on 1 April 1926 as a member of "Crew 26" (the incoming class of 1926).[1] He served on several ships, which included the light cruiser Karlsruhe. He transferred to the U-boat arm in May 1937, taking command of the Type VIIA U-boat U-34 in October 1938. In seven successful combat patrols, he sank 19 merchant ships (including the neutral, clearly marked and fully lit, Greek merchantman Eleni Stathatou and the neutral Petsamo of Finland, with a cargo of maize, sailing from neutral Rosario to neutral Cork), as well as the British destroyer HMS Whirlwind, the submarine HMS Spearfish,[2] and the Norwegian minelayer HNoMS Frøya. Rollmann rescued one sole survivor from Spearfish.[3] On all seven patrols Leutnant zur See Hans-Hartwig Trojer served as second watch officer on U-34.[4] Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Bleichrodt was a commander in training on U-34's sixth patrol under the command of Rollmann.[5] Rollmann left the U-boat in September 1940, and became an instructor in 2. Unterseeboots-Lehr-Division ("2nd U-boat Training Division"). In February 1943 he commissioned the Type IXD U-boat U-848, sinking one merchant ship on his first and only patrol, bringing his career total to 20 merchant ships sunk for a total of 96,562 GRT, three warships sunk (2,365 GRT) and two ships captured for a total of 4,957 GRT.[6]

Death

U-848 under attack

Wilhelm Rollmann and his entire crew were killed in action on 5 November 1943 when U-848 was sunk by depth charges from three Liberator and two Mitchell aircraft from the United States Navy Squadron VB-107 and the US Army 1st Composite Squadron south-west of Ascension Island.[7]

Summary of career

Ships attacked

As a U-boat commander of U-34 and U-848 Rollmann is credited with the sinking of 20 merchant ships for a total of 96,562 gross register tons (GRT), further capturing two ships of 4,957 GRT and sinking two warships of 1,770 metric tons (1,740 long tons; 1,950 short tons) and damaging one further warship beyond repair of 595 t (586 long tons; 656 short tons).

Date U-boat Name of Ship Nationality Tonnage Fate[8][9]
7 September 1939 U-34 Pukkastan  United Kingdom 5,809 Sunk
8 September 1939 U-34 Kennebec  United Kingdom 5,548 Sunk
24 September 1939 U-34 Hanonia  Estonia 1,781 Captured
20 October 1939 U-34 Gustav Adolf  Sweden 926 Sunk
20 October 1939 U-34 Sea Venture  United Kingdom 2,327 Sunk
27 October 1939 U-34 Bronte  United Kingdom 5,137 Sunk
29 October 1939 U-34 Malabar  United Kingdom 7,976 Sunk
9 November 1939 U-34 Snar  Norway 3,176 Captured
20 January 1940 U-34 Caroni River  United Kingdom 7,807 Sunk (mine)
28 January 1940 U-34 Eleni Stathatou  Greece 5,625 Sunk
13 April 1940 U-34 HNoMS Frøya  Royal Norwegian Navy 595 Total loss
5 July 1940 U-34 HMS Whirlwind  Royal Navy 1,100 Sunk
6 July 1940 U-34 Vapper  Estonia 4,543 Sunk
7 July 1940 U-34 Lucrecia  Netherlands 2,584 Sunk
9 July 1940 U-34 Tiiu  Estonia 1,865 Sunk
10 July 1940 U-34 Petsamo  Finland 4,596 Sunk
11 July 1940 U-34 Janna  Norway 2,197 Sunk
15 July 1940 U-34 Evdoxia  Greece 2,018 Sunk
17 July 1940 U-34 Naftilos  Greece 3,531 Sunk
26 July 1940 U-34 Accra  United Kingdom 9,337 Sunk
26 July 1940 U-34 Vinemoor  United Kingdom 9,337 Sunk
27 July 1940 U-34 Sambre  United Kingdom 5,260 Sunk
27 July 1940 U-34 Thiara  United Kingdom 5,267 Sunk
1 August 1940 U-34 HMS Spearfish  Royal Navy 670 Sunk
2 November 1943 U-848 Baron Semple  United Kingdom 4,573 Sunk

Awards

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
Monday, 29 July 1940 Im Seekrieg gegen England hielten die erfolge unserer Unterseeboote an. Ein Boot unter Führung von Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Rollmann hat, wie schon durch Sondermeldung bekanntgegeben, aus einem stark gesicherten englischen Geleitzug fünf bewaffnete Großhandelsschiffe mit insgesamt 48 000 BRT versenkt, darunter einen Hilfskreuzer von 18 000 BRT. Der Geleitzug wurde zersprengt. Dieses Boot hat außerdem ein bewaffnetes britisches Handelsschiff von 6 000 BRT torpediert.[13] The successes of our submarines continue in the naval war against England. A boat under the command of Captain Lieutenant William Rollman, as already announced by special bulletin, has sunk from a heavily secured convoy five major armed British merchant ships with a total of 48 000 GRT, including an auxiliary cruiser of 18 000 GRT. The convoy was dispersed. This boat also has torpedoed an armed British merchant ship of 6 000 GRT.
Friday, 2 August 1940 Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Rollmann hat mit einem Unterseeboot ein feindliches Unterseeboot versenkt. Damit hat dieses Boot in zwei Unternehmungen innerhalb kurzer Zeit zwölf bewaffnete feindliche Handelsschiffe mit insgesamt 74 338 BRT, den britischen Zerstörer "WHIRLWIND" und ein Unterseeboot vernichtet.[14] Captain Lieutenant Wilhelm Rollmann has sunk an enemy submarine with his submarine. So far this boat has destroyed twelve armed enemy merchant ships totaling 74 338 GRT, the British destroyer "WHIRLWIND" and a submarine on two undertakings within a short time.

Promotions

12 October 1926: Seekadett (Midshipman)[1]
1 April 1928: Fähnrich zur See (Officer Cadet)[1]
1 May 1930: Oberfähnrich zur See (Senior Ensign)[1]
1 October 1930: Leutnant zur See (Second Lieutenant)[1]
1 October 1932: Oberleutnant zur See (First Lieutenant)[1]
1 April 1936: Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant)[10]
1 December 1940: Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain)[10]
1 November 1941: Fregattenkapitän (Frigatte Captain)[15]

References

Citations

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Busch & Röll 2003, p. 37.
  2. Morgan & Taylor 2011, p. 53.
  3. Evans 2010, p. 245.
  4. Busch & Röll 2003, pp. 39–40.
  5. Busch & Röll 2003, p. 40.
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  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Busch & Röll 2003, p. 38.
  11. Scherzer 2007, p. 637.
  12. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 363.
  13. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Volume 1, pp. 267–268.
  14. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Volume 1, pp. 270.
  15. Busch & Röll 2003, p. 39.

Bibliography

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External links

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