Years of service 1930–45
1956–68 | Name Heinrich Hoffmann | |
Born 17 August 1910
Bottrop ( 1910-08-17 ) Died 29 January 1998(1998-01-29) (aged 87)
Schiffdorf Allegiance Weimar Republic (to 1933)
Nazi Germany (to 1945)
West Germany Service/branch Reichsmarine
Kriegsmarine
German Navy Rank Korvettenkapitan (Wehrmacht)
Kapitan zur See (Bundesmarine) Unit SSS Niobe
cruiser Lepzig
cruiser Admiral Graf Spee | ||
Heinrich Hoffmann (17 August 1910 – 29 January 1998) was a Korvettenkapitan with the Kriegsmarine during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
With only three serviceable torpedo boats, T-28, Jaguar and Mowe, at his disposal, Hoffmann attacked the Allied Invasion fleet, including the HMS Warspite and HMS Ramillies, near the Bay of the Seine on the morning of D-Day on 6 June 1944. During the attack, 18 torpedoes were launched, resulting in the sinking of the Norwegian destroyer HNoMS Svenner.
After World War II he rejoined the military of the Bundeswehr. In 1961 he became commander of the 1. Zerstorergeschwader (1st Destroyer Squadron), which included three former U.S. destroyers of the Fletcher-class, Z-1, Z-2 and Z-3.