Rudolf Mühlbauer

Rudolf Mühlbauer
File:Rudolf Mühlbauer.jpg
Born	(1919-03-23)23 March 1919 Königsbruck
Died	Laussnitz
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Kriegsmarine
Years of service	1939–45
Rank	Oberbootsmann
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of the Atlantic
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Rudolf Mühlbauer (23 March 1919 – 26 March 2000) was a Maat in World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Mühlbauer was born in Königsbruck. He served as a lookout on U-123 on numerous war patrols under the command of Kapitänleutnant Karl-Heinz Moehle, Kapitänleutnant Reinhard Hardegen and Oberleutnant zur See Horst von Schroeter.

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded by Admiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg on 10 December 1944 in Kiel. In July 1945 Mühlbauer participated in Operation Deadlight, the sinking of various German submarines by the British.

Mühlbauer died, aged 81, in Laussnitz.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (11 December 1940)
  • 1st Class (7 May 1942)
• U-boat War Badge (1939) (11 December 1940)
• U-boat Front Clasp in Silver
  • in Bronze (5 December 1944)
  • in Silver (10 December 1944)
• German Cross in Gold on 10 January 1944 as Bootsmannsmaat on U-170 in the 10. Unterseeboots-Flottille
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 10 December 1944 as Oberbootsmannsmaat and Brückenmaat (look out on the bridge) on U-123