Robert-Richard Zapp U-66
(Summary)

Robert-Richard Zapp joined the Reichsmarine in May 1923. Zapp was appointed commander of U-66 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 USA he sank six vessels totaling 43,946 tons. Zapp was awarded the Knight's Cross
of the Iron Cross on 23 April 1942. 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 French captivity and was released on 7 July 1947.