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Petersen, Rudolf Jesper (Kommodore)

Date of birth:
May 15th, 1905 (Atzerballig, Danmark)
Date of death:
January 2nd, 1983 (Flensburg, Germany)
Buried on:
German War Graves Flensburg
Plot: A. Row: 3. Grave: 71.
Nationality:
German

Biography

Promotions:
16.11.1925: Seekadett
00.00.1929: Leutnant zur See
01.07.1931: Oberleutnant zur See
01.09.1935: Kapitänleutnant
01.01.1940: Korvettenkapitän
Fregattenkapitän
01.04.1944: Kapitän zur See
23.09.1944: Kommodore

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Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Rank:
Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:
Kdt, Schnellboot, 'S 9'
Awarded on:
April 1st, 1937
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  3.Klasse, 12 Jahre
Awarded on:
October 26th, 1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
Awarded on:
October 26th, 1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an die Heimkehr des Memellandes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)
Unit:
2. Schnellboot-Flotille
Awarded on:
April 10th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)
Unit:
2. Schnellboot-Flotille
Awarded on:
May 28th, 1940
other sources give 31.05.1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)
Unit:
Chef, 2. Schnellboot-Flotille
Awarded on:
August 4th, 1940
The following press article describes why Petersen received the Knight’s Cross…

“Korvettenkapitän Petersen, commander of a Schnellbootsflottille, has led his ships successfully during all operations in Norway, the North Sea, numerous sorties in the English Channel and special operations while maintaining a high personal devotion to duty.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)
Unit:
2. Schnellboot-Flotille
Awarded on:
December 11th, 1940
Zerstörer-Kriegsabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)
Unit:
Chef, 2. Schnellbootflottille
Awarded on:
March 9th, 1941
In yesterdays in the Wehrmacht report announced huge success of the fast attack craft force, have fast attack craft units under the leadership of Lieutenant Commander Petersen, the Captain Lieutenant Birnbacher and Lieutenant at Sea Wuppermann particularly distinguished themselves.

Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)
Unit:
Admiralstabsoffizier, Führer der Torpedoboot
Awarded on:
March 19th, 1942
Schnellboot-Kriegsabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Kapitän zur See (Navy Captain)
Unit:
Führer der Schnellboote
Awarded on:
June 13th, 1944
Schnellboot-Kriegsabzeichen mit Brillianten
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Kapitän zur See (Navy Captain)
Unit:
Führer der Schnellboote
Awarded on:
June 13th, 1944
The following press article describes why Petersen received the Oakleaves to his Knight’s Cross…

“The Führer has awarded the 499th Oakleaves to the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross to the Commander of the Schnellboote, Kapitän zur See Rudolf Petersen, for the successful prosecution of the torpedo boat war against the British-US invasion fleet.

Born in 1905 in Atzerballig, Kapitän zur See Petersen has been involved in S-Boat operations since the beginning of the war. As commander of a Schnellbootsflottille he conducted a great number of successful operations until being named the Commander of the Schnellboote on 10.04.1942. In these last two years he has brought the S-Boat arm from humble beginnings to its present state. He has personally overseen the many operations of all flotillas in the English Channel and created the preconditions for the successful actions of the Schnellboote under the present difficult conditions. By the time of his receiving the Oakleaves his S-Boat formations had sunk a number of ships on the Invasion front, including over 20 assorted landing craft (with 36250 GRT), 1 cruiser, 2 destroyers and 1 monitor. To this can be added 1 cruiser and 1 landing ship torpedoed.”

499th award
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Sources

Photos