Franz Hofbauer

Franz Hofbauer
Born	(1921-03-25)25 March 1921 Horn, Austria
Died	Horn, Austria
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1938–45
Rank	Leutnant of the Reserves
Unit	3./Divisions-Füslier-Bataillon 72
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Kiev (1941) First Battle of Kharkov Siege of Sevastopol (1941–1942) Battle of Kursk Cherkassy Pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Franz Hofbauer (25 March 1921 – 11 February 1994) was a highly decorated Leutnant of the Reserves in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He was also awarded the very rare Close Combat Clasp in Gold one of only 631 awards.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Wound Badge
  • in Black
  • in Silver
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Crimea Shield
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze (Winter 1943)
  • in Silver (1 January 1944)
  • in Gold (28 June 1944)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 20 January 1944 as Feldwebel and Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Divisions-Füslier-Bataillon 72

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com