Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1936

Rank:

Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Kdt, Schnellboot, 'S 9'

Awarded on:

April 1st, 1937

Awarded on:

October 26th, 1939

Awarded on:

October 26th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)

Unit:

2. Schnellboot-Flotille

Awarded on:

April 10th, 1940

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

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.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)

Unit:

2. Schnellboot-Flotille

Awarded on:

December 11th, 1940

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.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)

Unit:

Admiralstabsoffizier, Führer der Torpedoboot

Awarded on:

March 19th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Kapitän zur See (Captain Royal Navy)

Unit:

Führer der Schnellboote

Awarded on:

June 13th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Kapitän zur See (Captain Royal Navy)

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