German submarine U-61 was a Type IIC U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine that served in the Second World War. She was built by Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel. Ordered on 21 June 1937, she was laid down on 1 October as 'Werk' 260. She was launched on 15 June 1939 and commissioned on 12 August under the command of Oberleutnant Jürgen Oesten. She was scuttled at Wilhelmshaven in May 1945.