Topp was born in Hannover on 2 July 1914. Topp joined the "Reichsmarine" on 8 April 1935 as a member of "Crew 34" (the incoming class of 1934). He received his military basic training in the 2nd company in the 2nd department of the standing ship division of the Baltic Sea in Stralsund (8 April 1934 – 13 June 1934). He was then transferred to the school ship "Gorch Fock" on 14 June 1934, and to the light cruiser on 27 September 1934. Under the command of "Kapitän zur See" Günther Lütjens, Topp sailed on "Karlsruhe"s fourth training cruise. "Karlsruhe" left Kiel on 22 October 1934. The ship sailed via Skagen, the Azores and Trinidad on the east coast of South America, passed the Cape Horn, up the west coast of South, Middle and North America to Vancouver. At Callao (25 January – 6 February 1935) they joined in the 400-year celebration of Peru. "Karlsruhe" returned to Kiel on 15 June 1935, travelling through the Panama Canal to Houston, Charlestown and Vigo, Spain.