Ludwig Hoffmann

Ludwig Hoffmann (21 March 1908 — 10 February 1999) was a Hauptsturmführer (Captain) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life
Ludwig Hoffmann was born on 21 March 1908, in Saarbrücken. He graduated from elementary school in 1926 at Hanover and went on to study law at Heidelberg. After successfully completing his state exams he was employed as an assessor in the Saarbrücker Ludwig office. He volunteered to join the SS-VT in March 1939.

World War II
During World War II, Hoffmann was selected to become an officer and sent to the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz. After graduation, he was promoted to Untersturmfuhrer (Second Lieutenant) in April 1941 and posted to the 3rd SS Division Totenkopf. By the end of 1943, he was in command of its 9th Company.

Hoffmann was then posted to the newly formed 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen as a company commander in the 19th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment. Soon after, he was given command of the III. Battalion, 19th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment. He was then transferred to the 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland as the commander of the 23rd SS Panzergrenadier Regiment Norge on the death of its previous commander Martin Gürz.

Hoffmann commanded this battalion during the withdrawal from Kurland, Pomerania and into Berlin, repeatedly distinguishing himself in combat. He was one of the last members of the Wehrmacht to be awarded the Knight's Cross on 9 May 1945, just before entering Russian captivity.

Post-war
Hoffmann spent over four years in captivity before being released in November 1949. However, due to the circumstances in Germany at the end of the war, he did not find out about his award of the Knight's Cross for 44 years until a collector contacted him about it.

Hoffmann died on 10 February 1999, in Saarbrücken.