Hans-Rudolf Rösing

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Hans-Rudolf Rösing
September 28, 1905 - December 16, 2004
Place of birth	Wilhelmshaven
Place of death	Kiel
Allegiance	Germany
Service/branch	Kriegsmarine, Bundesmarine
Years of service	1924 - 1945, 1956-1965
Rank	Konteradmiral
Unit	2. Unterseebootsflottille 3. Unterseebootsflottille 5. Unterseebootsflottille 7. Unterseebootsflottille
Commands	U-11, Sep 21, 1935 – Oct 1, 1937 U-35, Dec 6, 1936 – Feb 1938 U-10, Oct 1937 – Aug 1938 U-48, May 21, 1940 – Sep 3, 1940
Awards	Iron Cross First Class Knight's Cross Bundesverdienstkreuz

Hans-Rudolf Rösing (September 28, 1905 - December 16, 2004) was a German U-boat commander in World War II and later served in the Bundesmarine.

Rösing began his naval career in March 1924. He first served on the light cruisers Nymphe and Königsberg and later in 1930 and 1931 he was one of a handful of Reichsmarine officers who secretly served as crewmembers on foreign-built submarines. This was the only means for the future U-boat force to gain experience at sea because of the Treaty of Versailles.

After two years as commander on S-15 and S-3, and two years in training, he commissioned in September 1935 the newly built U-11. He commanded the U-boat for two years. During early 1937 he made a patrol with U-35 to Ponta Delgada in the Azores. Between 1938 and 1940 he was also commander of 5. Unterseebootsflottille and later 7. Unterseebootsflottille.

In May 1940 Rösing took over command of U-48 from Herbert Schultze. On the next two patrols, mostly in the North Atlantic, he sank 12 ships for a total of 60,701 tons and after his second patrol he received the Knight's Cross.

After September 1940 he served mostly as staff being U-boat officer to the Italian submarines in Bordeaux and from March to August 1941 he was the commander of the 3. Unterseebootsflottille.

In July 1942 he became responsible for all U-boats stationed in France, except for them operating in the Mediterranean Sea. In Fall 1944 he moved to Norway, where he continued to serve in this position. After the surrender he spent more than a year in Allied captivity.

In 1956 he joined the Bundesmarine and in 1957 became commander of the Marine-Abschnittskommando Nordsee (Navy section command North Sea). In 1962 he was named Befehlshaber im Wehrbereich I (Chief of Military District I).

Rösing retired in 1965 as Konteradmiral. In 1966 he was decorated for his postwar achievements with the Bundesverdienstkreuz (Federal Merit Cross). He died December 16, 2004, 99 years old.