Hermann Niehoff  Hermann Niehoff (3 April 1897 – 5 November 1980) was a German general during World War II. Since 2 March 1945, he was the garrison commander of Fortress Breslau ("Festung Breslau") during the Battle of Breslau, which he surrendered to the Soviet 6th Army on 6 May 1945. Niehoff was nominated for Swords in 1945 as commander of Breslau. No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. The Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) only assumes that the Swords were awarded. According to Niehoff's testimony he was nominated by "Gauleiter" Karl Hanke.