Hendrik Klopper

General Hendrik Balzaser Klopper DSO (1902-1978) was a South African military commander. He joined the South African Army in 1924. During World War II he commanded an infantry brigade in North Africa, for which he was awarded the DSO [LondonGazette |issue=35697 |linkeddatedate=1942-09-08 |startpage=3948 |endpage= |supp=y |accessdate=2008-08-05] and then briefly commanded 2nd South African Infantry Division. As Fortress Commander, Klopper was forced to surrender Tobruk and its garrison to Axis forces on June 21, 1942. He escaped from captivity in 1943 and was officially exonerated for the Tobruk disaster.

He served as Army Chief of Staff from 1950 to 1953, as Inspector-General from 1953 to 1956, and as Commandant-General, i.e. head of the Union Defence Forces, from 1956 to 1958.

ee also

* List of South African military chiefs
* South African Army

References