Hendrik Klopper
|
Hendrik Balzazar Klopper DSO |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 25 September 1903 |
| Died | 30 December 1977 (aged 74) |
| Allegiance |
 Republic of South Africa
|
| Service/branch |
South African Army
|
| Years of service | 1924–1958 |
| Rank | General |
| Awards | |
General Hendrik Balzazar Klopper DSO (25 September 1903 – 31 December 1977) was a South African military commander. He joined the South African Army in 1924.
During World War II he commanded the 3rd Infantry Brigade in North Africa, for which he was awarded the DSO and then briefly commanded 2nd Infantry Division. As fortress commander, Klopper was forced to surrender Tobruk and its garrison to Axis forces on 21 June 1942. He escaped from captivity in 1943 and was officially exonerated for the Tobruk disaster.
He was OC of Northern Command in 1945
He served as Army Chief of Staff from 1951 to 1953, as Inspector-General from 1953 to 1956, and as Commandant-General, i.e. head of the Union Defence Force, from 1956 to 1958.
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