Erich Topp died 27/12/2005

[UglyMowgli]

Erich Topp died 27.12.2005. One of the last surviving holders of Knight´s Cross with Oakleaves and Swords.

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.
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.

[CCIP]

Rest in peace, Erich. A legend of the sea, to be sure, is with us no more. On the other hand, after such a long and remarkable life, it's hard to call this a tragedy. But we mustn't forget this fading generation of veterans, of whom we just lost another.

http://uboat.net/men/topp.htm

[UglyMowgli]

I just read the uboat.net forum but his death is not confirmed, announced but not yet confirmed.
sorry if it is a false news .

[CCIP]

Ah, there's hope yet. In any case, my thoughts with him & family!

[Fish]

Originally Posted by CCIP

Ah, there's hope yet. In any case, my thoughts with him & family!

My thoughts are more with the victims of his deeds. Those where on my side.

[Camaero]

Always hate seeing veterans from any war pass on. Our link to the past slowly shrinks away.

[CCIP]

Originally Posted by Fish

My thoughts are more with the victims of his deeds. Those where on my side.

It would be rude of me not to consider them, of course, but I think it's also rude towards him to not consider the nature of war and military values.

Besides, 'our side' and 'his deeds' are quite relative. Topp was a high-ranking Bundesmarine officer and an important representative in NATO forces after the war and during the Cold War. Which, ironically, for my ancestors would also be the 'other side', but I digress.

I don't think there's any doubt that Topp was an honorable man and an officer with a sense of duty. I think it's rude to differentiate sides when it comes to remembering veterans like this. 'My side' or 'their side' - they're all part of our collective memory.

[Camaero]

In my opinion a solder is a solder and all soldiers are heroes. They may be your hated enemy at one point, but when the war is over they are to be respected and you should understand that they were fighting for their country and fighting most of all just to stay alive as your own soldiers were.

This stands even more so whenever there is a draft in effect.

Anyway, I am proud of all our young American boys who went over there and gave their best. I also very much respect the German soldiers and everyone else who fought in the war.

I read Topp's short bio on Uboat.net and it very much seems he was a good man and contributed a lot to society after the war.

That's all I have to say about that!

[TteFAboB]

Originally Posted by Fish

My thoughts are more with the victims of his deeds. Those where on my side.

That's so fishy. :rotfl:

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Camaero

I also very much respect the German soldiers and everyone else who fought in the war.

That's all I have to say about that!

Hmm... :hmm:
During that war, I lived in occupied country, know about round-ups, torturing etcetera. I think, I am biassed.

[Camaero]

I am not talking of the murderers and torturers. Especially the SS and any of the fanatical Nazis. They were not soldiers but murderers and I can not respect any of them. There is a clear difference between being stuck in a war and trying to survive and fight for your country and being one of the above.

I am currently reading Rising 44 and it gives a good perspective on this. I am sure I don't need to tell anyone about the atrocities committed just in Warsaw, and the rest of Poland, but the actions of most of the Germans there are just so unforgivable, unforgivable isn't a strong enough word. I don't even feel merited to talk about it because I couldn't possibly understand what it was like.

So maybe I should elaborate better, a soldier is a soldier and a murderer is a murderer. One I can respect and the other should not be given any pity. Yes, there is a difference.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Camaero

I am not talking of the murderers and torturers. Especially the SS and any of the fanatical Nazis. They were not soldiers but murderers and I can not respect any of them. There is a clear difference between being stuck in a war and trying to survive and fight for your country and being one of the above.

I am currently reading Rising 44 and it gives a good perspective on this. I am sure I don't need to tell anyone about the atrocities committed just in Warsaw, and the rest of Poland, but the actions of most of the Germans there are just so unforgivable, unforgivable isn't a strong enough word. I don't even feel merited to talk about it because I couldn't possibly understand what it was like.

So maybe I should elaborate better, a soldier is a soldier and a murderer is a murderer. One I can respect and the other should not be given any pity. Yes, there is a difference.

Ok, I see we are talking the same language.

[bradclark1]

Originally Posted by Camaero

In my opinion a solder is a solder and all soldiers are heroes. They may be your hated enemy at one point, but when the war is over they are to be respected and you should understand that they were fighting for their country and fighting most of all just to stay alive as your own soldiers were.

Spot on!

[drEaPer]

And please dont forget: Nazis used their enourmous propaganda machine. There was no internet to get an independent picture of things. The news were manipulated etc etc
German soldieres were given a despicable and abhorrent picture of the enemies, fighting for wrong believes made up by insane ppl taking advantage of the countries depression resutling from the times of Weimarer Republik.

Whats really noteworthy and scary, is the realization that humans are capable of doing such things, and it could happen anywhere, if wrong believes are seed in ppls minds. We are not as free as we think we are, humans are easily influenced and conditioned. Thats where the humanities start.

[Kapitan]

i thought you ment the eric topp that posted on the forums