Robert-Richard Zapp

Robert-Richard Zapp (3 April 1904 – 17 July 1964) was a German U-boat commander in World War II. As commander of the Type IXC U-boat GS U-66 (1940), he sank sixteen ships on five patrols, for a total of 106,200 tons of Allied shipping, to become the 27th highest scoring U-Boat ace of World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career
Robert-Richard Zapp joined the Reichsmarine in May 1923. Before joining the U-boat service in 1939, he served aboard a minesweeper and later on took command of 251 Marineflak (Naval anti-aircraft artillery). After initial training, he served on board GS U-46 (1938) for a short while under Oberleutnant zur See Engelbert Endrass, with whom he participated in the battle against Convoy HX 79 in October 1940.

Zapp was appointed commander of GS U-66 (1940) in January 1941. U-66 was one of the boats that participated in the first wave of attacks in "Operation Drumbeat". On the first patrol of this operation, he sank five vessels, totalling 33,456 tons. On his second patrol off the eastern seaboard of the United States, he was victorious again, sinking six vessels totaling 43,946 tons. Zapp was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 April 1942.

In June 1942, he was posted ashore to become commander of 3rd U-boat Flotilla, based at La Rochelle, France. On 1 January 1945 he was promoted to Fregattenkapitän. In the last three months of the war, he became commander of Marine-Regiment Zapp and defended the U-boat base at La Rochelle until the very end of the war in May 1945. He spent over two years in a French captivity and was released on 7 July 1947.

Awards

 * U-boat War Badge (14 May 1941)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (6 August 1941)
 * 1st Class (6 August 1941)
 * War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords (30 January 1945)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 April 1942 as Korvettenkapitän and commander of U-66
 * Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 27 January 1942 and 7 May 1942