Erich Topp ist Opfer eines Diebstahls geworden

Erich Topp wurde im August 1999 Opfer seiner Hilfsbereitschaft.

Dear Militaria Dealers and Collectors,

My father, Erich Topp, was a successful German U-boat commander in World War II.

In the last years many visitors came to his house in Remagen/Germany taking interviews and looking at his war items. Unfortunately, many of these visitors did not identify themselves accurately and didn't leave their card. Against the advice of his sons, my father trusted them all. Then during a visit in August 1999 it happened, somebody took with him the following items:

A dagger of honor ("Ehrendolch") which was handed over to my father by Admiral Raeder in 1942. There is the following golden inscription on the blade: "Der Ubootssieger. Raeder 17.08.42". There only exist two daggers of this kind in the world.

A named document about the decoration with the knights cross (11. 04.1942) received from Donitz. The document about the decoration with the nights cross has the size of ca. 30 x 40 cm and is covered with red leather. On the front there is a golden eagle with the swastika in his claws. The text inside the document is something like: "Im Namen des deutschen Volkes verleihe ich dem Oberleutnant zur See Erich Topp das Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes. 20. Juni 1941. Signature (probably Dönitz)." The document was handed over by Admiral Dönitz. his knights cross with oak leaves and crossed swords (the swords were hand made by the crew on board)

If the above mentioned stolen items happen to cross your way you would do us a great favor if you would drop us a line informing us about the whereabouts.

Yours sincerely

Michael Topp

Stand: 6. Oktober 2015