Rudi Brandi
WW2 German Death Card (Sterbebild) for Kriegsmarine Matrose Rudi Brandl. From Gisseltshausen. Killed engaging the enemy at sea, 23 March 1945, by Swinemunde. He was 17. Nice photo in his Kriegsmarine uniform. In early 1945, Swinemünde was the destination port for refugees from East Prussia under Operation Hannibal. At around noon on 12 March 1945, 671 bombers of the US Eighth Air Forceraided the town. The motor vessel Andros, carrying about 2,000 refugees, had just arrived at the harbour and was sunk with the loss of about 570 people. The motor vessels Cordillera, Tolina, Heiligenhafen, Ravensberg, Hilde and Jasmund were also sunk. About 500 victims of the raid were identified and buried close to the entrance of the Golm cemetery and the remaining dead were buried in mass graves. The estimated number of victims varies from about 5,000 to 23,000. Brandl would have been working the refugee evacuation aboard a ship and fell victim to the Allies. Back of card has a rendering of a grave with his name on it. Single page single sided card measures about 2.5 x 4 inches.Includes a slip from the German Graves Office listing him as buried in Golm Cemetery
JOSEF MULLER
WW2 German Death Card (Sterbebild) for SS Grenadier Josef Müller, from Himmelwies.
Killed at the Libau Bridgehead, 30 October 1944. He was 18. Nice Kriegsmarine uniform photo, which shows he was taken into the SS to fill ranks. Back of card has a crucifix. The only SS unit fighting in the Kurland Pocket was the 19th Latvian. The Latvian was formed early in 1944 and included conscripts from the 2nd SS Infantry Brigade as well as non-SS soldiers. The single page, single sided card measures
Killed at the Libau Bridgehead, 30 October 1944. He was 18. Nice Kriegsmarine uniform photo, which shows he was taken into the SS to fill ranks. Back of card has a crucifix. The only SS unit fighting in the Kurland Pocket was the 19th Latvian. The Latvian was formed early in 1944 and included conscripts from the 2nd SS Infantry Brigade as well as non-SS soldiers. The single page, single sided card measures
Franz HIRSCHMANN
Funkmaat Crew member of U-624 U-624 : ordered : 15/8/1940 Laid down : 15/7/1941 Launched : 31/3/1942 Career : 2 patrols (28/5/1942 -30/9/1942 / 1/10/1942 - 7/2/1943) Successes : 5 ships sunk, total tonnage 39,855 GRT 3 warships sunk, total tonnage 873 tons (lost aboard transport ships) 1 ship damaged, total tonnage 5,432 GRT Sunk 7/2/1943 in the north atlantic by depth charges from a british B17 aircraft. 45 dead (all hand lost) |