The collection consists of: a certificate for the Grand Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir with Star and Swords (395x352mm, near extremely fine) with official envelope (314x139mm, near extremely fine) and German translation (209x294mm, near extremely fine); a certificate for the Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir 1st Class with Star and Swords (395x308mm, extremely fine) with official envelope (317x141mm, near extremely fine); a Soldbuch (103x145mm, fine) in sleeve (120x154mm, very fine); two portraits of Hofmann (175x237mm, near extremely fine); a period official depiction of the classes of the Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir (210x296mm, very fine).
The certificate for the Grand Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir with Star and Swords is dated to January 5, 1945 and named to Generalstabsarzt Hofmann, Army Group Medical Officer and leading Medical Officer at the Supreme Command Southeast. The award was granted for extraordinary services as Senior Medical Officer of the German Wehrmacht in southeastern Europe and constant help for the medical corps organisation of the Croatian army between 1942 and 1945. The wearer is granted the title of knight. The document is signed in black ink by the leader of Croatia, Ante Pavelić, and the Notary of the Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir, Lieutenant General Ivan Perčević. The certificate for the Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir 1st Class with Star and Swords is dated to December 7, 1942. It is named to Generalstabsarzt Hofmann. It states that the wearer has the right to the title of the knight. Once more, the document is signed in black ink by the leader of Croatia, Ante Pavelić, and the Notary of the Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir, Lieutenant General Ivan Perčević. The Soldbuch is dated to Brunswick on September 1, 1939 and signed by an Oberstleutnant of Group Command 30 A.K.. The two portraits show Hofmann in uniform. Both are prints, one of a photo, one of a painting, the latter is attributed to Hans Kuhn and dated to Paris in 1942.
Footnote: Dr. Hermann Hofmann was born on December 31, 1887 in Freiburg im Breisgau (southwest Germany). He joined the army in 1906. At the beginning of the First War, Hofmann served as an Assistant Medic. He was promoted to Oberarzt (Medical Lieutenant) in October of 1916. During the war, he was awarded both classes of the Iron Cross. Between 1934 and 1939, Hofmann was a Divisional Commander of the 16th Infantry Division. During this time, he was promoted to Oberstarzt (Colonel equivalent) in 1936. In June of 1939, Hofmann was appointed Corps Medic of the 30th Army Corps, a position he would hold until early 1942. He was promoted to Generalarzt on October 1, 1940. Hofmann was given several awards in late 1941, among them the Bulgarian Military Merit Order 2nd Class with War Decoration, the Romanian Order of of the Cross of Queen Marie 1st Class, and the War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords. In January of 1942, Hofmann spent about a week in hospital due to high blood pressure and a gallbladder infection. He was then appointed Chief Medical Officer with the Military Command France until June of 1942, after which he became an Army Medic of the 12th Army until end of the year.
Hofmann was promoted to Generalstabsarzt on October 1, 1942. On December 7, he received the Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir 1st Grade with Star and Swords. Since he was now authorized to carry the title of knight, his name changed to Dr. Hermann von Hofmann. On January 12, 1943 he received the Bulgarian Order of Saint Alexander 2nd Class. Hofmann’s final appointments of the war were serving as an Army Group Medic of Army Group E from January to August 1943, and of Army Group F between August 1943 and May 1945. On January 5, 1945, he was awarded the Grand Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir with Star and Swords. At the end of the war, Hofmann was placed in captivity and spent time in hospital between May 10 and 28, as well as June 7 and 26, 1945. The Soldbuch contains the codes for hemic and lymphomatic diseases, as well as diseases of the bones and locomotive organs. Hofmann was released from captivity in 1947. He died on April 21, 1953 at the age of 65.