Erich Zürn – Leitender Ingenieur on U-48 (one of the most succesful U-Boats)

Signature of Erich Zürn on a small photograph, it’s an original but ‘ugly’ signature so therefor priced cheaply. Sold as postwar. Oberleutnant (Ing.) and later Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) Erich Zürn contributed to the success of U-48 under the command of Herbert Schultze, Hans-Rudolf Rösing and Heinrich Bleichrodt. He served as chief engineer (Leitender Ingenieur abbreviated LI) on nine patrols on one of the most successful U-boats of World War II. As flotilla engineer in the 29th U-boat Flotilla (1 June 1942 – 31 January 1944) in La Spezia and Toulon and later in the 5th U-boat Flotilla, Zürn introduced a number of improvements which helped the flotilla operate at peak efficiency. He was awarded with the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross).