page_title: Erich Topp
section_title: Ashore
hierarchical_section_title: Erich Topp / World War II / Ashore
caption_attribution_description: English: U-2513 off Key West, Florida in 1946. Polski: U-2513 w pobliżu Key West na Florydzie w 1946.
context_page_description: Erich Topp 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 of Nazi Germany. He sank 35 ships for a total of 197,460 gross register tons. After the war he served with the Federal German Navy, reaching the rank of Konteradmiral. He later served in NATO.
context_section_description: Command of U-552 was passed on to Kapitänleutnant Klaus Popp. Topp officially remained with the 7th U-boat Flotilla until 4 November when he was appointed chief of the 27th U-boat Flotilla, a training flotilla based in Gotenhafen (now Gdynia, Poland). In August 1944, Topp was appointed head of the department charged with introducing the Type XXI submarines into service, the first submarines designed to operate primarily submerged. In this position, he was promoted to Fregattenkapitän (Frigate Captain) on 1 December 1944.
  On 23 March 1945, he was appointed commander of U-3010 in the 4th U-boat Flotilla, and commander of U-2513 in the 11th U-boat Flotilla on 26 April. On 20 May 1945, Topp was taken prisoner of war in Kragerø, Norway. He was released on 17 August 1945. Topp's boat, U-2513, was tested by the United States Navy. American reports concluded at twelve knots submerged speed she is quieter than our best fleet submarines at six....up to ten knots she is extremely quiet." The same report concluded at least seven ships were required to carry out a search for the XXI submarine.
caption: U-2513 off Key West, October 1946
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