Beautiful, postwar signed b&w 4x6 photo of Cpt Erich Topp. From "U-Boat.net".....
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.
After four patrols with U-46, Topp took over command of U-57. With this boat he sank six ships for a total of 36,862 tons. U-57 sank on 3 September, 1940 after an accident with the Norwegian ship Rona. <P>
Topp was then given command of the VIIC 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 for a total of 45,731 tons.
Oberleutnant Erich Topp and his close friend Bertl Endrass
In September 1942 Topp became commander of the 27th U-boat Flotilla, where new U-boat crews received their tactical training. Topp wrote the Battle Instructions for the new XXI Elektro Boat submarine in 1944, and when the war ended he was commanding one of them, U-2513, which he surrendered at Horten, Norway in May 1945. <P>
After the war Topp worked for some months as a fisherman before he became a successful architect. In March 1958 he rejoined the Navy. He then spent four years in the USA as a staff member of the Military Committee of NATO. Later he served in several staff positions and for a month was commander of U-boats in deputize.
Konteradmiral Erich Topp retired in December 1969. He was decorated in that year with the Große Bundes-Verdienst- kreuz (Great Federal Merit Cross).
From 1970 to 1984 he worked as industrial consultant for, among others, the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft.
Great shot with a nice bold original sig !
UACC Reg Dealer #200.
Buyer pays $5.95 shipping.
Insurance for loss IS included through Auctiva.!
YES>>>We DO combine for reduced shipping charges.
Foreign orders...please enquire as to your shipping rates.
I cannot be held accountable for the orders arrival when shipping a package internationally.
If i am to be responsible for the package, a fee for Registered Mail ($16) must be added in addition to the postage.
If the International Registered fee is declined that is fine, but I can't be held responsible for the arrival of your purchase in your Country.
If you do want to have it shipped Registered, let me know ASAP, and i will send an adjusted invoice.
Lastly, any Customs duties charged to the buyer ny their respective countries are on the buyer.I have nothing to do with Customs fees,
