Deathcard of U-Boot Crewmember – U-Boot “U-578” (MIA August 1942, No Explanation)

Original WWII death card (Sterbebild) for Martin Braun, a crew member of German submarine U-578.

Service & Fate:
Martin Braun served aboard U-578, a Type VIIC U-boat of the Kriegsmarine. On 6 August 1942, the submarine was reported missing in the Bay of Biscay. No explanation for her loss has ever been determined. The disappearance resulted in the loss of all 49 crew members, including Braun — no survivors.

Item Details:

• Original wartime Sterbebild (death card) of U-boat crew member Martin Braun.

• Commemorates his sacrifice while serving aboard U-578.

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

Historical Context – U-578:

• Type: Type VIIC Atlantic-class submarine.

• Commissioned: 1941 under Kapitänleutnant Ernst-August Rehwinkel.

• Operational History: Took part in Atlantic convoy battles, credited with sinking several Allied vessels.

• Loss: Disappeared without trace in August 1942 in the Bay of Biscay; circumstances remain unknown.

Collector’s Note:
Death cards linked to U-boats lost with all hands are highly sought after, as they reflect both personal remembrance and the perilous nature of the Battle of the Atlantic, where over 70% of U-boat crews never returned. This example for Martin Braun of U-578 offers a poignant and rare memorial connection to one of the Kriegsmarine’s many missing submarines.