Wilhelm Rollmann


Wilhelm Rollmann was a German U-boat commander during World War II, in which he commanded the and. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. He was killed in action in 1943, when his U-boat was sunk by Allied aircraft.

Career

Rollmann joined the Reichsmarine of the Weimar Republic on 1 April 1926 as a member of "Crew 26". He served on several ships, which included the light cruiser. 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, as well as the British destroyer, the submarine, and the Norwegian minelayer. Rollmann rescued one sole survivor from Spearfish. On all seven patrols Leutnant zur See Hans-Hartwig Trojer served as second watch officer on U-34. Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Bleichrodt was a commander in training on U-34s sixth patrol under the command of Rollmann. Rollmann left the U-boat in September 1940, and became an instructor in 2. Unterseeboots-Lehr-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 and two ships captured for a total of 4,957 GRT.

Death

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.

Summary of career

Ships attacked

As commander of and Rollmann is credited with the sinking of 20 merchant ships for a total of, further capturing two ships of and sinking two warships of and damaging one further warship beyond repair of.
DateU-boatName of ShipNationalityTonnageFate
7 September 1939U-34Pukkastan5,809Sunk
8 September 1939U-34Kennebec5,548Sunk
24 September 1939U-34Hanonia1,781Captured
20 October 1939U-34Gustav Adolf926Sunk
20 October 1939U-34Sea Venture2,327Sunk
27 October 1939U-34Bronte5,137Sunk
29 October 1939U-34Malabar7,976Sunk
9 November 1939U-34Snar3,176Captured
20 January 1940U-34Caroni River7,807Sunk
28 January 1940U-34Eleni Stathatou5,625Sunk
13 April 1940U-34595Total loss
5 July 1940U-341,100Sunk
6 July 1940U-34Vapper4,543Sunk
7 July 1940U-34Lucrecia2,584Sunk
9 July 1940U-34Tiiu1,865Sunk
10 July 1940U-34Petsamo4,596Sunk
11 July 1940U-34Janna2,197Sunk
15 July 1940U-34Evdoxia2,018Sunk
17 July 1940U-34Naftilos3,531Sunk
26 July 1940U-34Accra9,337Sunk
26 July 1940U-34Vinemoor9,337Sunk
27 July 1940U-34Sambre5,260Sunk
27 July 1940U-34Thiara5,267Sunk
1 August 1940U-34670Sunk
2 November 1943U-848Baron Semple4,573Sunk

Awards