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Original WWII death card (Sterbebild) for Martin Braun, a crew member of German submarine U-578.

Service & Fate:
Martin Braun served aboard U-578, a Type VIIC U-boat of the Kriegsmarine. On 6 August 1942, the submarine was reported missing in the Bay of Biscay. No explanation for her loss has ever been determined. The disappearance resulted in the loss of all 49 crew members, including Braun — no survivors.

Item Details:

• Original wartime Sterbebild (death card) of U-boat crew member Martin Braun.

• Commemorates his sacrifice while serving aboard U-578.

• Condition: As seen; shows age and wear consistent with period.

Historical Context – U-578:

• Type: Type VIIC Atlantic-class submarine.

• Commissioned: 1941 under Kapitänleutnant Ernst-August Rehwinkel.

• Operational History: Took part in Atlantic convoy battles, credited with sinking several Allied vessels.

• Loss: Disappeared without trace in August 1942 in the Bay of Biscay; circumstances remain unknown.

Collector’s Note:
Death cards linked to U-boats lost with all hands are highly sought after, as they reflect both personal remembrance and the perilous nature of the Battle of the Atlantic, where over 70% of U-boat crews never returned. This example for Martin Braun of U-578 offers a poignant and rare memorial connection to one of the Kriegsmarine’s many missing submarines.

Original WWII death card (Sterbebild) for Karl Huf, a crew member of the German submarine U-384.

Service & Fate:
Karl Huf served aboard U-384, a Type VIIC U-boat of the Kriegsmarine. On 19 March 1943, at 1745 hrs, the submarine was sunk in the North Atlantic west of Ireland, at position 54.18N, 26.15W. The sinking was caused by depth charges dropped by a British Fortress aircraft (206 Sqn RAF/B). All 47 crew members were lost — no survivors.

Item Details:

• Original wartime Sterbebild commemorating Karl Huf.

• A poignant relic tied to the Battle of the Atlantic.

• Condition: As seen, with natural age-related wear.

Historical Context – U-384:

• Type: Type VIIC, the workhorse of the German U-Bootwaffe.

• Patrols: Conducted only two patrols.

• Loss: Destroyed during the height of the 1943 “air gap” battles, when Allied aircraft extended their coverage deep into the Atlantic.

• Legacy: The destruction of U-384 illustrates the increasing vulnerability of German U-boats during the critical turning point of the Battle of the Atlantic.

Collector’s Note:
This death card serves as both a personal memorial and a tangible link to the brutal campaign waged beneath the Atlantic waves. Pieces connected to U-boat crews lost with all hands are particularly valued, reflecting the tragic sacrifices of the U-Bootwaffe.

Original WWII death card (Sterbebild) commemorating Josef Schneider, a crew member of the German submarine U-332.

Service & Fate:
Schneider served aboard U-332, a Type VIIC U-boat of the Kriegsmarine. On 29 April 1943, U-332 was sunk in the Bay of Biscay north of Cape Finisterre, Spain, at position 45.08N, 09.33W. The submarine was destroyed by depth charges from a British Liberator aircraft of No. 224 Squadron RAF (D). All 45 men on board were lost, with no survivors.

Item Details:

• Original WWII Sterbebild memorial card.

• Honors a fallen U-boat crewman from the Battle of the Atlantic.

• Condition: As seen, with period age wear.

Historical Context – U-332:

• Type: Type VIIC U-boat, the backbone of Germany’s submarine fleet.

• Patrols: Before her loss, U-332 completed several war patrols and successfully attacked Allied shipping.

• Loss: By spring 1943, Allied anti-submarine measures, including long-range patrol aircraft like the Liberator, were turning the tide of the Atlantic war. U-332’s destruction was part of this intensified campaign.

• Crew: 45 dead (all hands lost) highlights the extreme risks and fatal outcomes common among U-boat crews.

Collector’s Note:
This memorial card for Josef Schneider of U-332 represents not only the sacrifice of one man but also the fate of an entire U-boat crew during the turning point of the Battle of the Atlantic. A poignant and historically significant addition for any Kriegsmarine or U-boat collection.

Original WWII death card (Sterbebild) honoring Heinrich Jerzenbeck, a crew member of the German submarine U-254.

Service & Fate:
Jerzenbeck served aboard U-254, a Type VIIC U-boat of the Kriegsmarine. On 8 December 1942, while operating in the North Atlantic south-east of Cape Farewell, Greenland, U-254 collided with U-221 at position 58.45N, 33.02W. The submarine was lost with 41 men killed, while only 4 survived.

Item Details:

• Original WWII Sterbebild memorial card.

• Commemorates a fallen U-boat crewman from the Atlantic campaign.

• Condition: As seen, with age wear consistent with period authenticity.

Historical Context – U-254:

• Type: VIIC U-boat, the standard class of Germany’s U-Bootwaffe.

• Patrols: Prior to its loss, U-254 had operated against Allied shipping during the critical mid-war period.

• Fate: The loss highlights the extreme dangers of U-boat service—not only from enemy action but also from accidents at sea.

• Casualties: 41 dead, 4 survivors, making this one of the rare instances of U-boat losses caused by a collision with another German submarine.

Collector’s Note:
A poignant and scarce Kriegsmarine death card, tied to the tragic story of U-254. Items related to submarines lost through non-combat accidents are particularly notable, offering a unique perspective on the dangers faced by U-boat crews. A meaningful addition to any U-boat or Kriegsmarine collection.

Original WWII death card (Sterbebild) for Xaver Ehrensperger, a crew member of German submarine U-189.

Service & Fate:
Xaver Ehrensperger served aboard U-189, a Type IXC/40 U-boat of the Kriegsmarine. On 23 April 1943, U-189 was sunk in the North Atlantic east of Cape Farewell, Greenland, at position 59.50N, 34.43W. The submarine was destroyed by depth charges dropped from a British Consolidated B-24 Liberator of No. 120 Squadron RAF (pilot: F/O D.E. Curtis).

The sinking resulted in the loss of all 54 crew members, including Ehrensperger — no survivors.

Item Details:

• Original wartime Sterbebild (death card) of Xaver Ehrensperger.

• Commemorates his sacrifice while serving on U-189.

• Condition: As seen; light handling wear consistent with age.

Historical Context – U-189:

• Type: Type IXC/40 ocean-going U-boat.

• Commissioned: 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Hellmut Kallmann.

• Operations: Operated in the North Atlantic against Allied convoys.

• Loss: Destroyed on her first patrol in April 1943, with the total loss of crew.

Collector’s Note:
Death cards linked to U-boat crews lost with all hands are highly sought after, as they represent both personal remembrance and the broader tragedy of the Battle of the Atlantic. This example for Xaver Ehrensperger of U-189 is a poignant reminder of the extreme dangers faced by German submariners, who suffered some of the highest casualty rates of any service in WWII.

Original WII death card (Sterbebild) for Rudolf Braun, a crew member of the German submarine U-74.

Service & Fate:
Rudolf Braun served aboard U-74, a Type VIIB U-boat of the Kriegsmarine. On 2 May 1942, the submarine was sunk in the Mediterranean east-southeast of Cartagena, Spain, at position 37.12N, 00.01E, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Wishart and HMS Wrestler. The entire crew of 47 men perished — no survivors.

Item Details:

• Original wartime Sterbebild memorial card.

• Commemorates the ultimate sacrifice of a U-boat crewman.

• Condition: As seen, with period patina and age-related wear.

Historical Context – U-74:

• Type: Type VIIB U-boat, an early but effective design.

• Operations: Served in the Atlantic and later the Mediterranean, supporting Axis naval operations.

• Loss: Destroyed in May 1942 during the intensified Allied anti-submarine campaign in the Mediterranean.

• Significance: U-74’s sinking highlighted the increasing dangers U-boats faced in contested waters, particularly from coordinated destroyer patrols.

Collector’s Note:
Death cards from U-boat crews represent both personal remembrance and a stark reminder of the heavy toll of the Battle of the Atlantic and Mediterranean. With all hands lost, this piece offers a direct and human connection to the men who served — and died — in the Kriegsmarine’s submarine arm.

Original WWII death card (Sterbebild) commemorating Richard Donhauser, a crew member of the German submarine U-222.

Service & Fate:
Donhauser served aboard U-222, a Type VIIC U-boat of the Kriegsmarine. On 2 September 1942, during training operations in the Baltic Sea west of Pillau, U-222 collided with U-626 and sank at position 54.25N, 19.30E. Of the crew, 42 men perished and only 3 survived.

Item Details:

• Original wartime Sterbebild memorial card.

• Honors a submariner lost in a rare training accident rather than combat.

• Condition: Good, with light age wear.

Historical Context – U-222:

• Type: Type VIIC U-boat, backbone of the German U-boat fleet.

• Role: Training and preparation for operational deployment.

• Loss: Unlike many U-boats sunk in the North Atlantic by Allied forces, U-222’s loss came through a collision during exercises, highlighting the inherent dangers of submarine service even far from enemy action.

Collector’s Note:
This death card for Richard Donhauser represents the sacrifices of U-boat crews not only in combat but also in training. With only 3 survivors out of 45 men, the loss of U-222 stands as a stark reminder of the constant risks faced by the Kriegsmarine’s submarine arm. A poignant and historically significant piece for collectors of U-boat and Kriegsmarine memorabilia.