Deathcard of U-Boot Crewmember – U-Boot “U-226” (Sunk East of Newfoundland, UK)

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.