At the outbreak of World War II he participated in the Poland campaign in 1939 with the "Sturzkampfgeschwaders" 1 (StG 1—1st Dive Bomber Wing). This unit also participated in the Battle of France and in the Operation Weserübung. Hozzel was the first "Stuka" pilot to be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross () on 8 May 1940. He, "Oberleutnant" Elmar Schaefer, "Leutnant" Martin Möbus, and "Unteroffizier" Gerhard Grenzel, received this award for the destruction of the French destroyer "Bison" and the British destroyer .