Hermann Niehoff

Infobox Military Person
name=Hermann Niehoff
lived=birth date|1897|4|3|df=y — death date and age|1980|11|5|1897|4|3|df=y
placeofbirth=Papenburg/Ems
placeofdeath=Riegsee


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|German Empire German Empire (to 1918)
flagicon|Germany Weimar Republic (to 1933)
flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=Heer
serviceyears=
rank=General der Infanterie
commands=
unit=
battles=World War I
World War II
awards=Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
laterwork=

Hermann Niehoff was a German officer during World War II. He was born on 4 March 1897 and died in 1980. Niehoff was born in Papenburg/Ems. He was a German infantry general and was the garrison commander of Fortress Breslau ("Festung Breslau") during the Battle of Breslau.

Commands

* Commanding Officer of the 211th Replacement Regiment - 1939 to 1940
* Commanding Officer of the 464th Regiment - 1940 to 1943
* Infantry General ("General der Infanterie") of the 371st Infantry Division - 1943 to 1945
* Garrison Commander of Fortress Breslau - 2 March to 6 May 1945

Actions

As General of the 371 Infantry Division ("371.Infanterie Division"), Niehoff participated in the break out from the Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket during March and April 1944. At this time, his division was part of Colonel General ("Generaloberst") Hans-Valentin Hube's 1st Panzer Army.

From 13 February to 6 May 1945, Breslau was besieged by the Soviet 6th Army. The 6th Army was part of the Soviet 1st Ukrainian Front commanded by Marshal Ivan Konev.

On 2 March, Niehoff became the garrison commander. To oppose the Soviets, Niehoff had a mix of German Army, Home Guard, and Hitler Youth troops. During the siege, Niehoff's over-matched forces held Breslau for more than two months while much of the city was destroyed and many of his troops were killed.

On 6 May, four days after Berlin fell and only two days before the unconditional surrender of Germany, Niehoff signed a conditional surrender of Fortress Breslau to the Soviets. None of the conditions were kept by the Soviets.Fact|date=April 2008 Niehoff remained a prisoner of war from 1945 to 1955.

Awards

Hermann Niehoff was a recipient of the . He received this honor on 5 March 1945 as commander of the 371st Infantry Division ("371. Infanterie-Division").

* Wound Badge in Black
* Infantry Assault Badge
* German Cross in Gold (6 January 1942)
* Iron Cross 2. and 1. class
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
** Knight's Cross (15 June 1944)
** 764. Oak Leaves (5 March 1945)
** 147. Swords (26 April 1945)
* Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht

References

* Berger, Florian. "Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges". Wien, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger, 2006. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5.
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
* Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. "Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II". Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.