serviceyears branch commands death_place death_date birth_place allegiance awards battles birth_date rank article_title name
1922 -- 45 heer 4 . panzer-division gräfelfing 27 august 1994 nuremberg weimar republic -lrb- to 1933 -rrb- nazi germany knight leaves 's cross of the iron cross with oak world war ii 27 september 1904 oberst ernst-wilhelm hoffmann
 ernst-wilhelm hoffmann
ernst-wilhelm hoffmann

ernst-wilhelm hoffmann -lrb- 27 september 1904 -- 27 august 1994 -rrb- was a highly decorated oberst in the wehrmacht during world war ii who was the last commander of the 4 .
panzer-division .
he was also a recipient of the knight 's cross of the iron cross with oak leaves .
the knight 's cross of the iron cross and its higher grade oak leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership .
