Heinrich Karl Reinhard von Hofmann
(6.4.1863 - 17.7.1921)
place of birth:  Darmstadt, Hessen


Imperial German cavalry officer Heinrich von Hofmann commanded at the divisional level during the First World War. In 1900, Hofmann joined the general staff of Germany's Expeditionary Forces taking part in Boxer Rebellion in China. Thereafter, he served as Prussian Prince Friedrich Leopold's personal adjutant. They both served as advisors in Imperial Russian Headquarters in 1904 as that nation battled Japanese forces in the Far East.

At the outset of the War in August 1914, Hofmann headed a cavalry brigade engaged against Russian troops at Stallupönen, Gumbinnen, Tannenberg, and Masurian Lakes. Hofmann was then placed in charge of 4th Cavalry Division as winter set in on the Eastern Front. General von Hofmann's command was transferred in August 1916 to 195th Infantry Division headquarters. His troops moved south toward Galicia to join Austro-Hungarian forces fighting the General Brusilov's Russian troops. 

His infantry division was moved to the Western Front in April 1917 in support of General von Scholtz' Army Group which was engaged against the in Flanders. General von Hofmann received the Pour le Merite award for his leadership during this time. He continued in command of German Freikorps troops after the Great War ended but was forced into retirement in 1920 due to a heart ailment. He died in 1921 in the village of Bad Nauheim.