Horst Hofmann
| Horst Hofmann | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
18 January 1919 Cranzahl, Erzgebirge |
| Died |
14 June 1978 (aged 59) Lübeck |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
.svg.png){kind=small} Kriegsmarine |
| Years of service | 1937–45 |
| Rank | Obersteuermann |
| Unit | U-48, U-134, U-672 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Horst Hofmann (18 January 1919 in Cranzahl, Erzgebirge – 14 June 1978 in Lübeck) was a watch officer and coxswain on a Kriegsmarine U-boat in World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Hofmann sailed on nine war patrols on U-48 under the commands of Herbert Schultze, Hans Rudolf Rösing and Heinrich Bleichrodt, on seven war patrols on U-134 under the command of Rudolf Schendel, and four war patrols on U-672 under the command of Ulf Lawaetz. He and the entire crew of U-672 were taken prisoner of war when U-672 was sunk on 18 July 1944 following an attack from the frigate HMS Balfour. This action took place in the English Channel north of Guernsey at position 50°03′N 02°30′W / 50.050°N 2.500°W.
Awards
- U-boat War Badge (1939)
- Iron Cross (1939)
- German Cross in Gold on 1 April 1943 as Oberbootsmannsmaat on U-134/3. Unterseebootsflottille[2]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 20 May 1944 as Obersteuermann and coxwain and watch officer on U-672[3][4]
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 978-3-8132-0515-2.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Horst Hofmann". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
- "Horst Hofmann". Lexikon der Wehrmacht (in German). Retrieved 16 March 2014.