Hendrik Klopper

General Hendrik Balzazar Klopper (also Balthazar), DSO[1] was a South African military commander. He commanded the 3rd Infantry Brigade and was later promoted to command the 2nd Infantry Division during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. He is best known for surrendering the Division to Rommel after the failed defence of the Tobruk harbour in June 1942. After the war, he became Army Chief of Staff from 1950 to 1953, and Commandant General of the Union Defence Force from 1956 until his retirement in 1958.

Hendrik Balzazar Klopper
Major General Hendrik Klopper in June 1942
Born(1903-09-25)25 September 1903
Died30 December 1977(1977-12-30) (aged 74)
AllegianceSouth Africa
Service/branchSouth African Army
Years of service1924–1958
RankGeneral
Commands heldCommandant General of the Union Defence Force (1956–58)
Army Chief of Staff (1950–53)
Northern Command (1945–50)
South African Army College (1944–45)
2nd Infantry Division (1942)
3rd Infantry Brigade (1942)
1 Special Service Battalion (1938–39)
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsDistinguished Service Order

Military career

Klopper joined the South African Army in 1924.

World War II

During the Second World War, he commanded the 3rd Infantry Brigade in the North African Campaign,[2] for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.[3] He 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 exonerated by a 1942 Court of Inquiry into the Tobruk disaster.[4]:138

South African Army College

Klopper was Officer Commanding the South African Army College from 1944 to 1945, before being appointed in command of Northern Command in 1945.[5]

Post-war

Klopper served as Army Chief of Staff from 1951 to 1953, as Inspector-General from 1953 to 1956, and as Commandant General of the Union Defence Force from 1956 to 1958.

References
  1. "KLOPPER H.B. 1903–1977". eGGSA Library. The Genealogical Society of South Africa:eGGSA Branch. 24 February 2003. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  2. "The Generals of WWII: Klopper, Hendrik Balzazer". generals.dk. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  3. "The London Gazette, Issue 35697, page 3948". The Gazette. The London Gazette. 8 September 1942. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  4. Hartshorn, Eric P. (1960). Avenge Tobruk. Cape Town: Purnell & Sons. OCLC 26084683. The fact that Tobruk fell must undoubtedly be attributed to the eleventh-hour reversal of policy leading to the decision to hold the Fortress, regardless of the fact that Eighth Army was then in full retreat in the face of an enemy who had been uniformly successful and whose morale must in consequence have been high. It was impossible in the time available to make adequate preparations for the completely new role imposed upon the Garrison... Hartshorn's book reveals in detail the Court of Inquiry's terms of reference and relevant findings.
  5. Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452–1992. Fortress Publishers. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
Military offices
Preceded by
Christiaan du Toit		 Commandant General of the Union Defence Force
1956–1958		 Succeeded by
Stephen Melville
New title
Retitled from Director-General of Land Forces
 Army Chief of Staff
1951–1953		 Succeeded by
Pieter Grobbelaar
Preceded by
Christiaan du Toit		 Director-General of Land Forces
1950–1951		 Retitled Army Chief of Staff
Preceded by
Jock Kriegler		 Officer Commanding South African Army College
1944–1945		 Succeeded by
SJ Joubert
Preceded by
JR Wocke		 Commanding Officer 1 Special Service Battalion
1938–1939		 Succeeded by
Pik van Noorden
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