WW II German Navy Autograph – FKpt ERICH TOPP – U-BOAT – WARTIME SIGNED DOCUMENT

 Erich Topp (2 July 1914 – 26 December 2005) was the third most successful of German U-Boat commanders of World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. He sank 35 ships for a total of 197,460 gross register tons (GRT). After the war he served with the Federal German Navy, reaching the rank of Konteradmiral (rear admiral). He later served in NATO.

Erich Topp began his naval career in April 1934. He served six months on the light cruiser Karlsruhe before joining the U-boat force in October 1937. A year later he became watch officer on U-46 (Sohler).

After four patrols in U-46, Topp took over command of U-57 (Korth). During this command he sank six ships with a total of 36,862 tons – a considerable achievement with a small coastal boat. U-57 sank on 3 September 1940 after colliding with the Norwegian ship Rona.

Topp then commissioned the larger type VIIC U-boat U-552, the famous “Red Devil Boat”. Topp scored most of his successes in the North Atlantic against convoys, and off the North American coast. On his very successful eighth patrol in March/April 1942, he sank eight ships with a total of 45,731 tons. In September 1942 Topp became commander of the 27th (Training) Flotilla U-boat Flotilla, where new U-boat crews received their tactical training. Topp wrote the Battle Instructions for the new type XXI Elektro U-boat Elektro Boats in 1944, and when the war ended he was commanding one of them, U-2513, which he surrendered at Horten, Norway in May 1945.

Made of paper, this document is in EXCELLENT condition! Completely framed, it is dated December 29, 1942, and is signed in ink at the bottom. Some marks, wear, and creases due to the age, but nothing that detracts.  100% original, it would be a PERFECT addition to any collection or display!