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Original WWII death card (Sterbebild) for Ferdinand Popijal, a crew member of German submarine U-215.

Service & Fate:
Ferdinand Popijal served aboard U-215, a Type VIID minelaying U-boat of the Kriegsmarine. On 3 July 1942, during its first patrol, U-215 was sunk in the North Atlantic east of Boston at position 41.48N, 66.38W. The submarine was destroyed by depth charges from the British anti-submarine trawler HMS Le Tiger, while attempting to lay mines off Halifax. All 48 crew members perished — no survivors.

Item Details:

• Original wartime Sterbebild (death card) for Ferdinand Popijal.

• A poignant memorial to a fallen sailor of U-215.

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

Historical Context – U-215:

• Type: Type VIID minelaying U-boat, one of only six built.

• Commissioned: 1941 under Kapitänleutnant Fritz Hoevelmann.

• Patrols: Only one war patrol.

• Final Mission: Attempted to lay mines in Canadian waters; sunk before completing its operation.

• Legacy: Its wreck was located in 2004 off Nova Scotia, designated a war grave.

Collector’s Note:
Death cards from the rare Type VIID minelaying U-boats are scarce, as these submarines were few in number and most were lost with all hands. The card of Ferdinand Popijal thus offers not only a personal link to the fallen crew but also to a very rare class of U-boat, making it a highly desirable piece for collectors of Kriegsmarine and Battle of the Atlantic memorabilia.

Original WWII death card (Sterbebild) for Hans Hobelsberger, a crew member of German submarine U-460.

Service & Fate:
Hans Hobelsberger served aboard U-460, a Type XIV “Milchkuh” supply submarine of the Kriegsmarine. On 4 October 1943, while operating in the North Atlantic north of the Azores, the U-boat was attacked by aircraft from the American escort carrier USS Card (CVE-11). Depth charges dropped by Avenger and Wildcat aircraft of VC-9 Squadron sank the submarine at position 43.18N, 28.58W. Out of the crew, 62 men perished and only 2 survived.

Item Details:

• Original wartime Sterbebild (death card) commemorating Hans Hobelsberger.

• A solemn remembrance of his service aboard U-460.

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

Historical Context – U-460:

• Type: Type XIV supply submarine (“Milchkuh”).

• Commissioned: 1941 under Korvettenkapitän Friedrich Schäfer.

• Role: Served as a critical mid-Atlantic tanker and supply boat, refueling combat U-boats far from base.

• Loss: Destroyed in October 1943 during intensified Allied anti-submarine operations — part of the turning tide in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Collector’s Note:
Death cards related to supply U-boats (Milchkühe) are exceptionally rare, as these submarines were few in number and most were lost in 1943–44. The card of Hans Hobelsberger represents not only the human cost of submarine warfare but also the vital role of the “Milchkühe” in sustaining U-boat operations across the Atlantic. A scarce and highly desirable item for collectors of U-boat history and Battle of the Atlantic memorabilia.

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 WWII death card (Sterbebild) for Anton Bergbauer, a crew member of the German submarine U-460.

Service & Fate:
Bergbauer served aboard U-460, a Type XIV “Milchkuh” supply submarine of the Kriegsmarine. On 4 October 1943, the boat was sunk in the North Atlantic north of the Azores, at position 43.18N, 28.58W, by depth charges from Avenger and Wildcat aircraft (VC-9) of the American escort carrier USS Card. Of the crew, 62 men were killed and only 2 survived.

Item Details:

• Original wartime Sterbebild memorial card.

• Commemorates a sailor lost with his boat in one of the rare supply U-boat sinkings.

• Condition: As seen, with natural age wear and patina.

Historical Context – U-460:

• Type: Type XIV U-boat (nicknamed Milchkuh or “Milk Cow”), designed to resupply other U-boats at sea.

• Role: These boats carried fuel, torpedoes, food, and provisions, greatly extending the range of attack submarines during the Battle of the Atlantic.

• Loss: The sinking of U-460 was part of the concerted Allied effort to hunt down and destroy Milchkuh U-boats, severely weakening German U-boat endurance in the Atlantic.

• Casualties: The destruction of U-460 with 62 dead illustrates the high risks faced by even non-combatant support submarines.

Collector’s Note:
Sterbebilder from supply U-boats are especially scarce due to the limited number of these vessels built and their strategic importance. This death card for Anton Bergbauer offers a rare memorial to one of the sailors lost in the sinking of U-460, making it a significant and poignant addition for collectors of Kriegsmarine and Battle of the Atlantic relics.