Theodor Hoffmann (27 February 1935 – 1 November 2018) was an East German

Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

who served as the head of the People's Navy (

Volksmarine The ''Volksmarine'' (VM, ; en, People's Navy) was the naval force of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from 1956 to 1990. The ''Volksmarine'' was one of the service branches of the National People's Army and primarily performed a coastal d ...

) and as the last Minister of National Defense of the German Democratic Republic and head of the National People's Army.

Early life

Hoffmann worked from 1949 to 1951 in

agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...

. From 1951 to 1952, Hoffmann was a Pioneer Leader in the Wismar District

Free German Youth The Free German Youth (german: Freie Deutsche Jugend; FDJ) is a youth movement in Germany. Formerly, it was the official youth movement of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany. The organization was meant ...

(FDJ).

Military career

In 1952, Hoffmann became a sailor in the Sea Police (Seepolizei), which would later become the East German People's Navy (Volksmarine). He attended the Officers School of the People's Police at

Stralsund Stralsund (; Swedish: ''Strålsund''), officially the Hanseatic City of Stralsund (German: ''Hansestadt Stralsund''), is the fifth-largest city in the northeastern German federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania after Rostock, Schwerin, Neub ...

and joined the

Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany (german: Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands, ; SED, ), often known in English as the East German Communist Party, was the founding and ruling party of the German Democratic Republic (GDR; East German ...

in 1956. From 1960 to 1963, he attended the Soviet Naval War Academy in

Leningrad Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

and earned a diploma in

military science Military science is the study of military processes, institutions, and behavior, along with the study of warfare, and the theory and application of organized coercive force. It is mainly focused on theory, method, and practice of producing mil ...

, which he subsequently used to hold various senior positions in the 6th Fleet of the People's Navy. From 1971 to 1974, he was chief of the 6th Fleet with the rank of frigate captain. He later became deputy chief of staff for operational work in the People's Navy command. In 1985, he was appointed deputy chief of the People's Navy and chief of staff. In 1987, was appointed chief of the People's Navy (who is also Deputy Minister of National Defense) in the rank of vice admiral (two stars). He was promoted to admiral (three stars) and replaced

Heinz Kessler Heinz Kessler or Heinz Keßler (26 January 1920 – 2 May 2017) was a German communist politician and military officer in East Germany. His career in the military started when he was conscripted into the Wehrmacht, the armed forces of Nazi Ger ...

as the Minister for National Defence and head of the National People's Army, serving from 18 November 1989 to 23 April 1990. After his initial selection, Hoffmann was told by the outgoing Defence Minister (Army General

Heinz Keßler Heinz Keßler (26 January 1920 – 2 May 2017) was a German communist politician and military officer in East Germany. His career in the military started when he was conscripted into the Wehrmacht, the armed forces of Nazi Germany, in WWII. Due ...

) that he would be promoted to

Generaloberst A ("colonel general") was the second-highest general officer rank in the German ''Reichswehr'' and ''Wehrmacht'', the Austro-Hungarian Common Army, the East Germany, East German National People's Army and in their respective police services. ...

(colonel-general) in the army; Hoffmann refused to switch services, however, and obtained approval from

Egon Krenz Egon Rudi Ernst Krenz (; born 19 March 1937) is a German former politician who was the last Communist leader of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) during the Revolutions of 1989. He succeeded Erich Honecker as the General Secretary ...

(

Erich Honecker Erich Ernst Paul Honecker (; 25 August 1912 – 29 May 1994) was a German communist politician who led the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) from 1971 until shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989. He held the posts ...

’s successor) to remain a naval admiral. After the free 1990 elections, he was succeeded in the ministry by CDU politician

Rainer Eppelmann Rainer Eppelmann () (born 12 February 1943 in Berlin), is a German politician. Known for his opposition in the German Democratic Republic, he became Minister for Disarmament and Defense in the last cabinet. He is now a member of the CDU. The ...

(now called Minister for Disarmament and Defense), but remained commander of the National People's Army until its disbandment and incorporation into the Bundeswehr. In 1993, Hoffmann published his reminiscences of last days of the National People's Army, ''Das letzte Kommando; Ein Minister erinnert sich''. In 1995 he published his autobiography ''Kommando Ostsee; Vom Matrosen zum Admiral''.

Personal life

Hoffmann married Helga Qualo in October 1957, and had two sons: Norbert (born in 1958) and Rene (born in 1965). Hoffmann died on 1 November 2018 at the age of 83.

Awards and medals

Over his life, Hoffmann received the following awards: *

Patriotic Order of Merit The Patriotic Order of Merit (German: ''Vaterländischer Verdienstorden'', or VVO) was a national award granted annually in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). It was founded in 1954 and was awarded to individuals and institutions for outstanding ...

Scharnhorst Order The Scharnhorst Order ( or ) was the highest medal awarded to members of the East German National People's Army (NVA). It was given for services to military or other strengthening of the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Established on 17 Februa ...

* Combat Order for Merit for the Nation and Fatherland - Silver *

Distinguished Service Medal of the National People's Army The Distinguished Service Medal of the National People's Army, or "Medal of Merit of the National People's Army", (german: Verdienstmedaille der Nationalen Volksarmee) was a medal issued in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Established on Jun ...

- Gold * Medal for Loyal Service in the Shipping Industry - Silver *

Medal Brotherhood in Arms The Medal Brotherhood in Arms of the National People’s Army (german: Medaille der Waffenbrüderschaft) was a medal issued in the East Germany, German Democratic Republic (GDR). Day of establishment: 17 February 1966. Classes The medal was gr ...

- Gold * Medal "For Strengthening of Brotherhood in Arms" * Jubilee Medal 30 Years of the National People's Army

References

Bibliography

*Klaus Froh, Rüdiger Wenzke: ''Die Generale und Admirale der NVA. Ein biographisches Handbuch.'' 4. Auflage. Ch. Links, Berlin 2000, .

External links

*
Wer war wer in der DDR?Admiral Dipl.-Mil. Theodor Hoffmann by Shawn Bohannon
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoffmann, Theodor(Admiral) 1935 births 2018 deaths People from Ludwigslust-Parchim Socialist Unity Party of Germany politicians Ministers of National Defence (East Germany) Admirals of the Volksmarine Recipients of the Scharnhorst Order N. G. Kuznetsov Naval Academy alumni