Deathcard of U-Boot Crewmember – U-Boot “U-418” (Sunk by a British Catalina aircraft)

Original WWII death card (Sterbebild) for Johann “Hans” Stuck, a crew member of German submarine U-418.

Service & Fate:
Hans Stuck served aboard U-418, a Type VIIC U-boat of the Kriegsmarine. On 30 May 1943, while operating in the Bay of Biscay southwest of Brest, France, the boat was sunk by depth charges dropped from a British Catalina aircraft (210 Squadron RAF/G). The attack resulted in the loss of all 48 crew members — no survivors.

Item Details:

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

• Honors his service and sacrifice aboard U-418.

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

Historical Context – U-418:

• Type: Type VIIC Atlantic-class submarine.

• Commissioned: January 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Heinz Buchholz.

• Operations: Conducted only one war patrol.

• Loss: Sunk on its maiden patrol in May 1943 during the critical Battle of the Atlantic air–sea campaign.

Collector’s Note:
Death cards tied to U-boat crews lost with all hands are highly collectible and historically important. This example for Johann “Hans” Stuck of U-418 is a poignant memorial to the perilous service of the U-bootwaffe, where casualty rates were among the highest of any branch in WWII. A scarce and evocative remembrance piece from the Battle of the Atlantic.