Background
He was born on 3 April 1897 and died in 1980. Niehoff was born in Papenburg/Ems.
He was born on 3 April 1897 and died in 1980. Niehoff was born in Papenburg/Ems.
He was a German infantry general and was the garrison commander of Fortress Breslau (Festung Breslau) during the Battle of Breslau. Commanding Officer of the 211th Replacement Regiment - 1939 to 1940 Commanding Officer of the 464th Regiment - 1940 to 1943 Infantry General (General der Infanterie) of the 371st Infantry Division - 1943 to 1945 Garrison Commander of Fortress Breslau - 2 March to 6 May 1945 As General of the 371 Infantry Division (371Infanterie Division), Niehoff participated in the break out from the Kamieniec-Podolski Pocket during March and April 1944. At this time, his division was part of Colonel General (Generaloberst) Hans-Valentin Hube"s 1st Panzer Army.
From 13 February to 6 May 1945, Breslau was besieged by the Soviet 6th Army.
The 6th Army was part of the Soviet 1st Ukrainian Front commanded by Marshal Ivan Konev. On 2 March, Niehoff became the garrison commander.
To oppose the Soviets, Niehoff had a mix of German Army, Home Guard, and Hitler Youth troops. During the siege, Niehoff"s over-matched forces held Breslau for more than two months while much of the city was destroyed and many of his troops were killed.
On 6 May, four days after Berlin fell and only two days before the unconditional surrender of Germany, Niehoff surrendered Fortress Breslau to the Soviets.
Niehoff remained a prisoner of war from 1945 to 1955. Wehrmachtbericht reference Bibliography.