Horst Hofmann

Horst Hofmann
File:Horst Hofmann.jpg
Born	(1919-01-18)18 January 1919 Cranzahl, Erzgebirge
Died	Lübeck
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Kriegsmarine
Years of service	1937–45
Rank	Obersteuermann
Unit	U-48, U-134, U-672
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of the Atlantic
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 .

Awards

• U-boat War Badge (1939)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (25 February 1940)
  • 1st Class (30 August 1940)
• German Cross in Gold on 1 April 1943 as Oberbootsmannsmaat on U-134/3. Unterseebootsflottille
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 20 May 1944 as Obersteuermann and coxwain and watch officer on U-672