Signed and Dedicated Wartime Photocard of U Boat Ace with Book

A photocard of Egon Reiner Freiherr von Schlippenbach with wartime text and signature of von Schlippenbach to reverse where he signs “kameradschaft Errinnerung” ( Comradeship memory) as "Kaptl. u. Kmdt".

Freiherr von Schlippenbach began his naval career in April 1934. He later served on the battleship Schleswig-Holstein and as a training officer before transferring to the U.bootwaffe in 1939.

After time on several U-boats as Watch Officer, in March 1941 he took over command of the type IIB U-boat school boat U-121. In July 1941 he moved to the larger type VIIC U-boat U-453, and on his first patrol in December 1941 managed to break through the Straits of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean. During the next two years he became one of the most experienced commanders stationed there, and was awarded the Knights Cross in 1943.

In 1944 he took a staff position in the OKM (Naval High Command) and at Marineschule Mürwik (Naval Academy). He spent the last six weeks of the war serving in the infantry in the defence of central Germany. After the war he spent three months in a US POW Camp.

He joined the Bundesmarine (Federal German Navy) in January 1956, in which he served mostly in staff positions. He retired as Kapitän zur See in September 1972.

Accompanying the photocard is a copy of the book “Kriegsmarine am Feind "The Navy Against the Enemy" by Friedrich Meier, published in Berlin in 1941. It is a photo documentary of the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) during the years 1939-1940. The book contains black and white action shots of naval operations, including battles, mine operations, troop transport, and the sinking of merchant ships. Very good U Boat content.

It appears the book was given as a prize, the text on the label on the first page translates to... "On behalf of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Grand Admiral Raeder, presented for good performance in competition".

Both Photocard and Book are in very good condition