Documents

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 Josef Schillinger, a crew member of the German submarine U-520.

Service & Fate:
Schillinger served aboard U-520, a Type IXC U-boat of the Kriegsmarine. On 30 October 1942, the submarine was sunk in the North Atlantic east of Newfoundland, at position 47.47N, 49.50W, by depth charges from a Canadian Digby aircraft (No. 10 Squadron RCAF/Z). The entire crew of 53 men perished — all hands lost.

Item Details:

• Original wartime Sterbebild memorial card.

• Commemorates a sailor lost with his boat during the Battle of the Atlantic.

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

Historical Context – U-520:

• Type: Type IXC U-boat, designed for long-range patrols in distant waters.

• Patrols: Operated in the Atlantic during 1942, a period of high U-boat activity against Allied shipping.

• Loss: The sinking by Canadian forces highlights the growing effectiveness of Allied anti-submarine warfare in the Northwest Atlantic by late 1942.

• Casualties: All 53 crew members lost, making this Sterbebild a poignant remembrance of the human cost of submarine warfare.

Collector’s Note:
Death cards from U-boat crew members are especially collectible when connected to boats that suffered the fate of total loss at sea. This Sterbebild for Josef Schillinger of U-520 preserves the personal memory of one of the 53 sailors who perished, making it a rare and historically significant piece for collectors of Kriegsmarine and Battle of the Atlantic memorabilia.

Original WWII death card (Sterbebild) for Sepp Grundl, a crew member of the German submarine U-226.

Service & Fate:
Grundl served aboard U-226, a Type VIIC U-boat of the Kriegsmarine. On 6 November 1943, the submarine was sunk in the North Atlantic east of Newfoundland, at position 44.49N, 41.13W, by depth charges from the British sloops HMS Starling, HMS Woodcock, and HMS Kite. The entire crew of 51 men perished — all hands lost.

Item Details:

• Original wartime Sterbebild memorial card.

• Dedicated to a fallen U-boat sailor.

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

Historical Context – U-226:

• Type: Type VIIC U-boat, the most common German submarine class of WWII.

• Operations: Conducted Atlantic patrols during the height of the Battle of the Atlantic.

• Loss: Destroyed in November 1943 during heavy Allied anti-submarine operations by escort groups.

• Significance: U-226’s destruction underlines the increasing effectiveness of Allied convoy escorts and hunter-killer groups from 1943 onward.

Collector’s Note:
Death cards from U-boat crewmen are highly collectible, especially when tied to boats where all hands were lost. This example for Sepp Grundl of U-226 offers a personal and poignant remembrance of the immense risks faced by U-boat sailors during the later, deadly phase of the Battle of the Atlantic.

Original WWII death card (Sterbebild) for Heinrich Lutz, a crew member of German submarine U-194.

Service & Fate:
Heinrich Lutz served aboard U-194, a Type IXC/40 long-range U-boat of the Kriegsmarine. On 24 June 1943, during its maiden patrol, U-194 was sunk in the North Atlantic south-west of Iceland at position 59.00N, 26.18W. The submarine was destroyed by a newly introduced Fido homing torpedo launched from a U.S. Navy Catalina aircraft (VP-84 USN/G). All 54 crew members perished — there were no survivors.

Item Details:

• Original wartime Sterbebild (death card) of Heinrich Lutz.

• A solemn memorial from one of the U-boat arm’s darkest periods.

• Condition: As seen, with expected age wear.

Historical Context – U-194:

• Type: Type IXC/40, a larger and longer-ranged variant of the Type IX U-boat.

• Commissioned: 1942 under Korvettenkapitän Hermann Hess.

• Patrols: Only one, beginning in June 1943.

• Significance: U-194 was among the first U-boats destroyed by the revolutionary Fido (Mk 24 “Mine”) acoustic homing torpedo, marking a turning point in Allied anti-submarine warfare.

• Legacy: Its loss exemplified the increasing danger faced by U-boat crews in 1943, the “black year” of the U-boat arm.

Collector’s Note:
This death card represents not just a single fallen sailor, but also a key moment in U-boat history — the devastating effectiveness of Allied technological advances against the once-feared “grey wolves” of the Atlantic. With U-194 lost on her very first patrol, such pieces are scarce and highly desirable for collectors of Kriegsmarine and U-Bootwaffe history.

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 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.