In 1968, Topp had been considered as head of the Plans & Policy department with the Allied Forces Northern Europe (AFNORTH) in Kolsås, Norway which at the time was headed by the German "Konteradmiral" Heinrich Erdmann. The Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), US General Lyman Lemnitzer, had originally approved this nomination. In order to not unnecessarily stress the German-Norwegian relationship, Topp had sunk four Norwegian vessels in World War II, Lemnitzer later decided against Topp and appointed "Konteradmiral" Friedrich Guggenberger instead.