Germany, Kriegsmarine . A Kia Document Group To U-Boat 160 Cook

A folder, measuring 240x323mm, containing a grouping of documents to Kriegsmarine soldier and cook of U 160, Leo Starzecki. The grouping consists of:

An Iron Cross 2nd Class certificate (139x199mm, extremely fine) to Matrosengefreiter (Lance Corporal in the Kriegsmarine) Leo Starzecki. It is dated to December 12, 1942 and carries a facsimile of Admiral Karl Dönitz.

A postcard (143x90mm, near extremely fine), showing the destroyer “Georg Thiele”. It was sent by Starzecki to his younger sister Luzi, and is dated to Neustadt in Schleswig-Holstein (northern Germany) on November 24, 1941. He thanks her for her letter and the cookies she baked and sent him.
A Christmas card (88x140mm, extremely fine), dated to December 18, 1941.
A Mother’s Day letter (148x210mm, extremely fine) with envelope (160x113mm, extremely fine) and card (90x140mm, near mint).
A poem (208x232mm, extremely fine) titled “Mother”, written by Starzecki on his second patrol, dated to May 12, 1943.
A note (177x136mm, near mint), wishing the family a happy Pentecost. It is dated to June 10, 1943.
A drawing by Starzecki to his parents (207x165mm, near mint). It reads: For a sailor, tranquillity is sacred, only madmen are in a hurry!
Several envelopes sent to the Starzecki family or Leo’s little sister.

Two obituaries (71x109mm and 63x68mm, extremely fine) to Starzecki.

An answer by the German Red Cross (two letters, 146x105mm and 210x297mm, envelope 162x114mm, all extremely fine) to an inquiry about the whereabouts of Starzecki made by his family. The inquiry came on December 4, 1943, the second letter is dated to the same day, the envelope is dated to December 13, 1943. Starzecki’s whereabouts are unknown at the time, but the Red Cross will send word to the Starzecki family as soon as they have more information.

A letter from the Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht (envelope 154x85mm, letter 210x150mm, extremely fine) to Starzecki’s family, dated to June 26, 1944, stating that the Recklinghausen registry office is working on Starzecki’s death certificate, and they will soon be able to request it.

Four photos (between 46x65mm and 60x87mm, extremely fine), showing Starzecki and his comrades in uniform, and a photo of the crew of U 160 (63x89mm, extremely fine).

A letter (211x297mm, very fine) by a Senior Lieutenant and Adjutant Neumeier to Starzecki’s family, dated to March 21, 1943. He writes that since it is especially difficult for next of kin of U boat soldiers to stay in contact with their loved ones, he wants to inform them that Starzecki and his U boat are fine, but they have to wait a little bit longer for a message from Starzecki himself.

A log book (101x161mm, fine condition, cover and several pages have come apart, scuffing, and discolouration). It lists the amounts of food and beverages Starzecki used daily in the kitchen. It also gives a short account of the 3rd and 4th patrol of U 160.

A kitchen menu (210x148mm, very fine) for U 160 for the days of April 10 to 14, 1943.
Another menu (209x255mm, extremely fine), written with levity, with drawings.

A note by “Poldi” the cook (179x133mm, near extremely fine), saying that due to a lack of kitchen personnel he can’t cook a large amount of food. It is signed “Küchenbulle (kitchen bull) Poldi”, “Bulle” in this case possibly being an ironic reference to him as a willing and hard worker who never complains, despite tough conditions. It is also a slang term for policeman.

A birth certificate to Starzecki (208x298mm, extremely fine).

A discharge from trade school certificate (210x298mm, extremely fine). It is dated to March 31, 1941.

A certificate from butcher Paul Röhl (209x295mm, extremely fine), stating that Starzecki worked for him between May and September of 1941 and is leaving due to being drafted into the Wehrmacht.

A list of official and personal belongings of Starzecki (210x294mm, very fine). It was made after his death and is dated to September 3, 1943.

Three poems (208x295mm each, all extremely fine), about love in times of war, titled “Mein Mädel” (My girl), about the courage of U boat sailors, titled “U-Bootsmänner” (U boat men), and about the achievements of German U boats, titled “Feindfahrt!” (Patrol).

An official rank insignia sheet for Kriegsmarine EM and NCOs (119x174mm, very fine).

A note (88x120mm, extremely fine) about an unspecified patrol of an unspecified boat.

Footnote: Leo “Poldi” Starzecki was born on May 17, 1924 in Recklinghausen (western Germany). After finishing high school, he visited a trade school from 1938 to 1941 and learned to become a butcher. However, out of a sense of duty and patriotism, Starzecki volunteered for service in the army on September 19, 1941 at the age of 17 years and 4 months. Between November 1941 and February 1942, he received his basic military training in the 6th Company of the 2nd U boat Training Detachment, and between February and May his U boat education and training in the 7th Company of the 1st U boat Training Division. From May to June, Starzecki was placed in the 8th Company of the 2nd U boat Training Detachment. It is possible that during this time he was trained to be the ship’s cook. His active wartime duty began on July 1, 1942 on U 160, part of the 10th U boat Flotilla. U 160 had already been on two patrols. Starzecki was part of the crew during the third to fifth patrol. On August 1, 1942 he received his first promotion to Matrosengefreiter (Lance Corporal of the Kriegsmarine). He was awarded the U boat Badge and the Iron Cross 2nd Class on December 13 of the same year. On July 1, 1943 Starzecki made Matrosenobergefreiter (Senior Lance Corporal of the Kriegsmarine). Only two weeks later, U 160 was sunk in the Atlantic, south of the Azores, on 14 July, 1943 by aircraft of squad VC-9 from the escort carrier USS Santee. The entire crew of 51 men perished. On July 20, U 160 was officially declared lost. However, it took until May of 1944 until Starzecki was officially declared dead and ruled out to have survived as a POW.