Germany, Kriegsmarine. A Lot of Paper Items from the Estate of Matrosen-Obergefreiter Leo Starzecki, U-160 KIA

(U-160 Konvolut). A mixed lot of paper items from the estate of Matrosen-Obergefreiter Leo Starzecki, a decorated Kriegsmarine sailor who was killed in action on 14 July 1943 while serving aboard U-160. It consists of

1. A pair of Funkspruch excerpts featuring a typewritten inscriptions indicating that U-160 commander Korvettenkapitän Georg Lassen has been awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross by order of the Führer, in recognition of his exceptional command of the vessel while on patrol, undated but the former officially awarded on 7 March 1943, one measuring 21 cm (w) x 14.5 cm (h), the other measuring 21 cm (w) x 29.5 cm (h), demonstrating some soiling, a pair of historically-significant documents in very fine condition, supplemented by a newspaper cutout featuring an announcement of Lassen’s award, likely retrieved by Starzecki, measuring 15.5 cm (w) x 11 cm (h) 

2. A hand-made equator crossing commemorative certificate, constructed of off-white paper with multi-coloured ink, featuring a central depiction of the globe with a U-Boat crossing the equator, surrounded by inscriptions featuring traditional invocations of Neptune and naval imagery (notably with an illustration of a chef at work in recognition of Starzecki’s role as a cook), named to Starzecki with time and coordinates, certified by the handwritten signature of Georg Lassen, measuring 21 cm (w) x 29.5 cm (h), demonstrating some folding creases, a superb personalized memento of happier times only months before Starzecki’s death in very fine condition.

3. A school performance certificate, constructed of off-white paper stock with black ink, named to Starzecki and identifying his academic and sports performance as generally good, dated 30 March 1938, measuring 21 cm (w) x 30 cm (h), demonstrating minor material fatigue and folding creases, in better than very fine condition.

4. A death notice, constructed of off-white paper stock with black ink, named to Starzecki in his capacity as a Matrosen-Obergefreiter and recipient of the 1939 Iron Cross II Class and other awards, dated May 1944 and indicating that Starzecki was later reclassified from missing in action (MIA) to killed in action (KIA), measuring 15 cm (w) x 21 cm (h), in near extremely fine condition.

5. A lot of photographs, including one studio portrait of Starzecki in full Kriegsmarine service uniform, the lower right corner bearing an embossed Recklinghausen studio mark, the reverse in unused postcard format, measuring 8.5 cm (w) x 13.5 cm (h), in extremely fine condition; a studio portrait of Starzecki in a Kriegsmarine jumper shirt and dickie, wearing a 1939 Iron Cross II Class ribbon bar, the reverse in unused postcard format, measuring 9 cm (w) x 14 cm (h), in extremely fine condition; a studio portrait of Starzecki in full Kriegsmarine service uniform and wearing the 1939 Iron Cross II Class ribbon and the U-Boat War Badge, the lower right corner bearing an embossed Recklinghausen studio mark, the reverse in unused postcard format, measuring 9 cm (w) x 14 cm (h), in extremely fine condition; a studio portrait of Starzecki wearing a Kriegsmarine tropical uniform with an M41 cap, the lower edge bearing a handwritten caption in Starzecki’s handwriting, the reverse bearing an additional caption with a date of “18. 6. 1943”, measuring 8.5 cm (w) x 14 cm (h), in near extremely fine condition, and; a small photograph depicting Lassen in uniform and wearing the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, the reverse bearing a handwritten caption in Starzecki’s handwriting identifying the subject, measuring 6.5 cm (w) x 9 cm (h), in extremely fine condition.