WWII German Death Certificate (Sterbebild / Gefallenenanzeige)

Unteroffizier Wolfgang Radhuber – 9./Batterie III./Artillerie-Regiment 262 – 1943

This is an original Second World War German military death certificate, issued in 1943 to commemorate the death of Unteroffizier Wolfgang Radhuber, who fell in service during the war.

Printed on period paper and bearing the official Wehrmacht eagle, this document represents a deeply personal and historically significant artifact, once intended for family members or close relations of the fallen soldier.

The text states that Radhuber “died faithful to his oath, in battle for the freedom of Greater Germany,” a phrasing characteristic of wartime German propaganda and official casualty notifications of the period. The document records his rank, unit, and date, grounding it firmly in historical context.

What makes this piece particularly compelling is the presence of:

• An original unit stamp from 9. Batterie / Artillerie-Regiment 262
• An original handwritten signature by an Oberleutnant und Batteriechef
• Clean, well-defined printing with natural age toning consistent with wartime paper

This is a genuine, untouched wartime document, not a post-war reproduction.

Historical Background

9. Batterie / III. Abteilung / Artillerie-Regiment 262
Killed in Action – 15 May 1943, Eastern Front

Rädhuber served with the 9th Battery, IIIrd Battalion, Artillery Regiment 262, the heavy artillery component of the 262nd Infantry Division (Heer). The IIIrd Battalion was equipped with heavy field howitzers and operated in direct support of frontline infantry units, often under extremely dangerous conditions due to counter-battery fire and Soviet assaults.

The death card states “starb im Kampf” (“died in combat”), confirming that he fell during active fighting rather than from illness or accident. The place of death, Imfelde, was located in the central sector of the Eastern Front, an area that in the spring of 1943 saw constant artillery duels, probing attacks, and localized engagements during the tense period between the Battle of Stalingrad and the preparations for the Battle of Kursk.

As an Unteroffizier, Rädhuber would likely have served as a gun crew leader or section commander, responsible for directing fire and maintaining discipline under combat conditions. Casualties among artillery units during this phase of the war were significant, particularly due to Soviet counter-battery fire and surprise infantry breakthroughs.

The Sterbebild is officially issued and bears the unit stamp of the 9. Batterie / Artillerie-Regiment 262, as well as the handwritten signature of the battery commander (Oberleutnant und Batteriechef). These details strongly support the authenticity and originality of the document.

This piece is a sobering reminder of the individual soldiers behind the vast machinery of war and offers a tangible connection to the realities of artillery service on the Eastern Front.

Collector’s Note

This item is offered strictly as a historical artifact, suitable for:

• Advanced WWII document collectors
• Military historians and researchers
• Museum or archival reference collections

It is sold for educational and historical purposes only, with no political endorsement implied.