Name: Hofmann, Franz Georg Karl

Date and place of birth: 25th October 1899 in Weimar, Germany

Civilian Occupation: After leaving school he attended the teacher training seminar in Weimar which was interrupted by war service. From 1920 until 1933 he was a teacher at various primary schools in or around Weimar. He was appointed the “Schulrat” (county school inspector), for the Weimar district from 1933 to 1934. From the 1st February 1935 onwards he was the “Landrat” (County Administrator) of Weimar Kreis (District/County).

Family status: Married with two sons and a daughter.

Residence: Weimar, Germany.

Military Service: From the 12th June 1917 until the 20th January 1919 he served in the Luftwaffe on the Western Front. He was discharged with the rank of Wachtmeister der Reserve and Reserveoffiziersanwärter (sergeant and officer cadet of the reserve). There followed two short periods in the Wehrmacht: Firstly, from the 10th January 1938 to the 6th February 1938 ending with his promotion to Leutnant (2nd Lt) der Reserve, and secondly from the 21st May 1940 to the 3rd September 1940 serving as a Leutnant.

Decorations: Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross, 2nd Class).

Nazi membership: He joined the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP = Nazi Party) in 1930 and in 1931 he became the Kreisleiter (Nazi party county leader) in Weimar. He also became a member of the Sturmabteilung (SA = Paramilitary arm of the Nazi party) on the 30th January 1938.

Date and place of death: 30th March 1945 at 01:35 hrs in a Weimar hospital after having been shot in the stomach and left knee at a road block.

KNOWN CASES AND INCIDENTS:

Hofmann was either directly involved or was instrumental in the killing of a number of Allied airmen in his Kreis:

(Reference 1) On 20th July 1944 at Wohlsborn:

2nd Lt. Owen Howard 'Tony' Jorgensen O-709052;
S/Sgt. Donald Hoenig Schmidli 36808544

Both airmen were from B-17G Pistol Packin’ MaMa, 42-31037

(Reference 2) On 29th July 1944 at Ottmannshausen:

FO. Victor Irvin Kinkade T-0002168;
S/Sgt. Marccena F. Dottoviano 13088789;
T/Sgt. Anthony George Trebnik 36585057;
S/Sgt. Jack Gordon Kromer 36800796;
S/Sgt. Frank Allen Caldwell 34623329

Also on 29th July 1944 at Daasdorf b.B:

S/Sgt. William R. ‘Billie’ Ewing 35046190;
FO Michael J. Nemerowski Jr. T-0061730

Also on the 29th July 1944 at Guthmannshausen:

1st Lt. Carl C. Gustafson O-757381 was killed by a policeman in Hofmann’s presence, presumably on his orders or at least with his approval

These airmen were from B-17G The Liberty Belle, 42-107211

(Reference 3) On 29th July 1944 near Buttstädt:

1st Lt. Charles A. Norby O-759494

This airman was the pilot of B-17G Shack Rat, 42-97863

(Reference 4) On 8th March 1945:

Fg Off. Thomas Maynard Draper J27155 RCAF was shot by Hofmann near Schloßvippach;
Fg Off. Robert Appleyard DFM 182177 RAFVR was shot by Hofmann near Vippachedelhausen;
Flt Lt. Peter Scott 169005 RAFVR;
Sgt. Alan Kenneth Robinson 2206328 RAFVR were both "shot while trying to escape" near Buttstädt.

WO. Ralph Sidney Howe 1034631 RAFVR was dead on arrival after being transported to a hospital on the 15th March 1945. WO. Howe had been given an injection, of an unknown substance, by a doctor (allegedly from Buchenwald, although this is disputed), shortly after a visit by Hofmann to the farm at which the airman was being tended.

These airmen were all from Lancaster I, NG186

(Reference 5) On 8th March 1945 north of Vogelsberg:

Sgt. Arthur George Fry 2235922 RAFVR was killed by a policeman, in Hofmann’s presence, presumably on his orders. All Sgt. Fry’s fellow crew members are without a known grave.

These airmen were from Lancaster III, JA857

Researched by Traugott Vitz and Herr Bernd Schmidt, and compiled by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered.

Reference(s):

Above left to right: References 1 to 5 - Publications by Bernd Schmidt and Traugott Vitz

1. Der Fliegermord von Wohlsborn. Fliegerschicksale im 2. Weltkrieg Heft 3, Weimar 2021, ISBN 978-3-96567-050-1.
2. Der Fliegermord von Ottmannshausen. Fliegerschicksale im 2. Weltkrieg Heft 1, Weimar 2022 [2nd Edition], ISBN 978-3-96567-089-91.
3. Der Mord an Charles A. Norby in Buttstädt. Fliegerschicksale im 2. Weltkrieg Heft 4, Weimar 2021, ISBN 978-3-96567-058-7.
4. Fliegermorde in und um Buttstädt. 08. & 15.03.1945. Fliegerschicksale im 2. Weltkrieg Heft 5, Weimar 2021, ISBN 978-3-96567-059-4.
5. Der Fliegermord von Vogelsberg. Fliegerschicksale im 2. Weltkrieg Heft 6, Weimar 2022, ISBN 978-3-96567-079-2.

RS & TV 07.11.2022 - Initial upload