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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.

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 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.

Original WWII death card (Sterbebild) for Karl Huf, a crew member of the German submarine U-384.

Service & Fate:
Karl Huf served aboard U-384, a Type VIIC U-boat of the Kriegsmarine. On 19 March 1943, at 1745 hrs, the submarine was sunk in the North Atlantic west of Ireland, at position 54.18N, 26.15W. The sinking was caused by depth charges dropped by a British Fortress aircraft (206 Sqn RAF/B). All 47 crew members were lost — no survivors.

Item Details:

• Original wartime Sterbebild commemorating Karl Huf.

• A poignant relic tied to the Battle of the Atlantic.

• Condition: As seen, with natural age-related wear.

Historical Context – U-384:

• Type: Type VIIC, the workhorse of the German U-Bootwaffe.

• Patrols: Conducted only two patrols.

• Loss: Destroyed during the height of the 1943 “air gap” battles, when Allied aircraft extended their coverage deep into the Atlantic.

• Legacy: The destruction of U-384 illustrates the increasing vulnerability of German U-boats during the critical turning point of the Battle of the Atlantic.

Collector’s Note:
This death card serves as both a personal memorial and a tangible link to the brutal campaign waged beneath the Atlantic waves. Pieces connected to U-boat crews lost with all hands are particularly valued, reflecting the tragic sacrifices of the U-Bootwaffe.