Karl-Wilhelm Hofmann

Karl-Wilhelm Hofmann
Born	24 March 1921 Reichelsheim
Died	26 March 1945 (aged 24) Bissel
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	?–1945
Rank	Oberleutnant
Battles/wars	World War II Defense of the Reich Operation Overlord Operation Bodenplatte
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Karl-Wilhelm Hofmann (24 March 1921 – 26 March 1945) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Karl-Wilhelm Hofmann was killed on 26 March 1945 over Bissel, Germany. During his career he was credited with 44 aerial victories in 260 missions with 1 over the Eastern Front and 43 over the Western Front.

Awards

• Aviator badge
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• German Cross in Gold on 23 July 1944 as Leutnant in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 26^[1]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 24 October 1944 as Oberleutnant of the Reserves and pilot in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"^{[2][Note 1]}

Note

1. According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän in the II./Jagdgeschwader 26.^[3]

References

Citations

1. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 192.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 232.
3. Scherzer 2007, p. 400.

Bibliography

• Caldwell, Donald L (1991). JG 26 Top Guns of the Luftwaffe. Ivy Books. ISBN 0-8041-1050-6.
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.