Retired, as "Generalleutnant a. D.", Höfer defended German Upper Silesia against Polish insurgents in the Silesian Uprisings in 1921. The Freikorps leaders had agreed upon Höfer as commander; he led them to success in the Battle of Annaberg. In the international press, he was referred to as "General Hoefer" or "Teuton Commander Hoefer".