Date of birth:

September 19th, 1914 (Schmölin - Germany)

Date of death:

March 23rd, 2009 (Kiel/Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)

Nationality:

German

Crew 5/41, Platz 4
1940: 'U-9'
1941: 'U-43'
1942: 'U-652'
01.05.1942: Fähnrich (Ing.)
10.1943: 'U-515'
01.11.1943: Leutnant (Ing.)
Leutnant Altenburger made 10 patrols in 'U-43' under Korvettenkapitän Lüth and 2 patrols in 'U-652' commanded by Kapitänleutnant Fraatz as engine room rating and machinist. He was then promoted officer and in October 1943 was assigned to 'U-515' to relieve Mahnken.
Altenburger made U-515’s fifth patrol nominally as "Konfirmand" (engineer officer under instruction) but actually his ability and knowledge gave him at least an equal standing with Mahnken. It was because of his ability that 'U-515' was able to continue her fifth patrol after a long and precise depth-charge attack early on that patrol.
1956: entered the Bundeswehr
1959-1962: Fregattenkapitän, LI - "Schulfregatte Scheer", "Bremerhaven",
"TMS Kiel", Fachbereitsleiter E-Technik,
1970: retired
1971: worked for Siemens Export sales of submarines in Brasil

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• Photo 1: Known to STIWOT
• - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - DKiG-Tr�ger in alphabetischer Reihenfolge
  - HMA