Deathcard of U-Boot Crewmember – U-Boot “U-189” (Sunk by British Liberator)

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.