Hoffmann, Heinrich (KM-Torpedoboot)

Date of birth:: August 17th, 1910 (Bottrop/Westphalia, Germany)
Date of death:: January 29th, 1998 (Schiffdorf-Wehdel/Lowersaxony, Germany)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Finally reached the rank of Korvettenkapitän.

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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: November 18th, 1939

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: January 6th, 1941

Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Kapitänleutnant
Unit:: Kommandant Torpedoboot "Falke" / 5.Torpedobootsflottille
Awarded on:: August 6th, 1942

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)
Unit:: Chef 5. Torpedobootsflottille
Awarded on:: June 7th, 1944

The following excerpt stands as a written tribute to the Knight’s Cross action of Heinrich Hoffmann…

“From the very start of the Invasion Korvettenkapitän Hoffmann and his unit were present in combat against the allied fleet from one night to the next in an area that was heavily guarded by strong enemy naval formations. In this time he led his ships with great bravery and daring. Thanks to his strong will and outstanding naval acumen, he was able to overcome every difficulty and conduct multiple successful attacks with his unit. At least 3 enemy destroyers were torpedoed during these missions, of which one was almost certainly sunk.”

220th Award.

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)
Unit:: Chef 5. Torpedobootsflottille
Awarded on:: July 11th, 1944

Awarded the Oakleaves for his personal performance as well as that of his flotilla against the Allied Invasion fleet. Proof of his determination was made clear by the fact that all of his ships were sunk by the enemy during the fighting.

524th Award

Sources

Photo 1: Wilco Vermeer
Photo: Wilco Vermeer collection, the Netherlands
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1997.
- Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
- Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
- Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
- Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X