Date of birth:

May 6th, 1915 (Berlin, Germany)

Date of death:

March 26th, 2003 (Berlin, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant zur See (Sub-lieutenant)

Unit:

1.Admiralstabsoffizier (op), Führer der Luft, Wilhelmshaven-Sengwarden

Awarded on:

November 25th, 1939

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant zur See (Sub-lieutenant)

Unit:

1.Admiralstabsoffizier (op), Führer der Luft in Wilhelmshaven-Sengwarden

Awarded on:

May 17th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant zur See (Sub-lieutenant)

Awarded on:

1940

Received in 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant zur See (Sub-lieutenant)

Awarded on:

1940

Received in August 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant zur See

Awarded on:

April 25th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant zur See

Awarded on:

March 26th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Kommandant, U-1004, 11. Unterseeboots-Flotille

Awarded on:

October 14th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Kommandant, U-1202

Awarded on:

January 3rd, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Kommandant, U-1202

Awarded on:

January 4th, 1945

On his first war patrol Thomsen claimed to have sunk 4 merchant ships with 26176 GRT, and for this was decorated with the Knight's Cross. It should be noted however that of the claimed ships sunk only one of them (with 7176 GRT) was actually sent to the bottom.

287th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Kommandant U-1202

Awarded on:

April 27th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Kommandant, U-1202

Awarded on:

April 29th, 1945

Over the course of his second war patrol Thomsen claimed to have sunk an escort carrier, a destroyer, three merchant ships and two corvettes. He was awarded the Oak Leaves in recognition of this. However none of the claimed victories actually took place in reality.

The last official number of the awarding of the Oakleaves by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht was 843. Rolf Thomsen has never received an official award number for his Oakleaves. In some literature the unofficial number of 852, after the war given by the OdR is being used.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

April 29th, 1945

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
  - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
  - Kurowski F., Knight’s Cross Holders of the U-Boat Service, Schiffer Publishing, 1995
  - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001
  - Verleihungs Urkunde U-boot Frontspange in Bronze via Gentleman's Military Interest Club
  - Feldgrau.com
  - Deutsche Marinesoldaten