__NOTOC__ Hermann Niehoff (3 April 1897 – 5 November 1980) was a German general during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. In 1944, he was a liuetenant general and commander of Heersgebeit Sudfrankreich (Army Group Southern France) facing the US/French invasion of southern France (Operation Dragoon).Since 2 March 1945, he was the garrison commander of Fortress Breslau (''

Festung Breslau The siege of Breslau, also known as the Battle of Breslau, was a three-month-long siege of the city of Breslau in Lower Silesia, Germany (now Wrocław, Poland), lasting to the end of World War II in Europe. From 13 February 1945 to 6 May 19 ...

'') during the Battle of Breslau, which he surrendered to the Soviet 6th Army on 6 May 1945.

Awards

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia es ...

(1914) 2nd Class (5 August 1916) & 1st Class (12 June 1918)Thomas 1998, p. 119. *

Clasp to the Iron Cross The Clasp to the Iron Cross (Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz) was a white metal medal clasp displayed on the uniforms of German Wehrmacht personnel who had been awarded the Iron Cross in World War I, and who again qualified for the decoration in World W ...

(1939) 2nd Class (26 June 1940) & 1st Class (7 July 1941) * Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (29 September 1941) *

German Cross The War Order of the German Cross (german: Der Kriegsorden Deutsches Kreuz), normally abbreviated to the German Cross or ''Deutsches Kreuz'', was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941. It was awarded in two divisions: in gold for repe ...

in Gold on 6 January 1942 as ''

Oberstleutnant () is a senior field officer rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Lieutenant colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway. The Swedi ...

'' in Infanterie-Regiment 464Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 331. *

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (german: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Knight ...

** Knight's Cross on 15 June 1944 as ''

Generalleutnant is the Germanic variant of lieutenant general, used in some German speaking countries. Austria Generalleutnant is the second highest general officer rank in the Austrian Armed Forces (''Bundesheer''), roughly equivalent to the NATO rank of ...

'' and commander of the 371. Infanterie-DivisionScherzer 2007, p. 569. ** 764th Oak Leaves on 5 March 1945 as ''Generalleutnant'' and commander of the 371. Infanterie-Division Niehoff was nominated for Swords in 1945 as commander of Breslau. No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. The

Association of Knight's Cross Recipients The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (german: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Knight' ...

(AKCR) only assumes that the Swords were awarded. According to Niehoff's testimony he was nominated by ''

Gauleiter A ''Gauleiter'' () was a regional leader of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) who served as the head of a '' Gau'' or '' Reichsgau''. ''Gauleiter'' was the third-highest rank in the Nazi political leadership, subordinate only to '' Reichsleiter'' and to ...

Karl Hanke Karl August Hanke (24 August 1903 – 8 June 1945) was an official of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) during its rule over Germany and served as the fifth and last '' Reichsführer'' of the ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS). He also served as ''Gauleiter'' of ...

.Scherzer 2007, p. 161.

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Niehoff, Hermann 1897 births 1980 deaths German Army personnel of World War I Prussian Army personnel German Army generals of World War II Generals of Infantry (Wehrmacht) People from the Province of Hanover Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Recipients of the clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st class German prisoners of war in World War II held by the Soviet Union 20th-century Freikorps personnel People from Emsland Military personnel from Lower Saxony