Service/branch Luftwaffe Rank Generaloberst | Name Hans-Jurgen Stumpff | |
 | ||
Born 15 June 1889
Kolberg, Province of Pomerania, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire (now Kolobrzeg, Poland) ( 1889-06-15 ) Died 9 March 1968(1968-03-09) (aged 78)
Frankfurt am Main, West Germany Allegiance German Empire (to 1918)
Weimar Republic (to 1933)
Nazi Germany
Flensburg Government Commands held Chief of the Luftwaffe General Staff, Luftflotte 5 Battles/wars World War I
World War II | ||
Hans-Jürgen Stumpff (15 June 1889 – 9 March 1968), was a German general of the Luftwaffe during World War II and was one of the signatories to Germany's unconditional surrender at the end of the war.
Stumpff joined the army in 1907 and Stumpff served in the general staff during World War I. During the Weimar Republic, Stumpff served as a staff officer in the Reichswehrministerium. On 1 September 1933, Stumpff, with rank of lieutenant colonel, became head of personnel in the (illegal) Luftwaffe. After the Luftwaffe became formally legal in Germany, Stumpff served as its chief of staff from 1 June 1937 until 1 January 1939. In 1938, Stumpff was promoted to the rank of General der Flieger.
During the Second World War, Stumpff commanded various Luftflotten. On 19 July 1940, Stumpff was promoted to the rank of Generaloberst and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Until the end of 1943 Stumpff commanded Luftflotte 5, with which he took part in the Battle of Britain, operating out of Norway against Scotland and Northern England. Stumpff was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
In January 1944, Stumpff commanded Luftwaffe forces in the Defense of the Reich campaign against the Allied bombing attacks. On 8 May 1945, Stumpff served as the Luftwaffe representative at the signing of the unconditional surrender of Germany in Berlin. Stumpff was released from British captivity in 1947; he died in 1968.