Ludwig Crüwell

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Ludwig Crüwell
20 March 1892(1892-03-20) — 25 September 1958 (aged 66)
Place of birth	Dortmund
Place of death	Dortmund
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Rank	General der Panzertruppe
Commands held	11. Panzer Division Afrika Korps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves

Ludwig Crüwell (20 March 1892 - 25 September 1958), was a German general known for his involvement with the Afrika Korps. He was captured by the British on 29 May 1942, after his plane was forced to land. After World War II, he was selected by the Allied Powers to command the West German Bundeswehr.

Crüwell became commander of the Afrika Korps on 31 July 1941, answering to General Erwin Rommel, who on the same day took command of Panzer Army Africa, consisting of one infantry and two panzer divisions.

On 29 May 1942, Crüwell was inspecting operations by air in Libya. His Fieseler Fi 156 pilot mistook British troops for Italian soldiers and landed. Although the pilot was fatally wounded, Crüwell survived and was taken prisoner. ^[1] General Crüwell remained a prisoner for the remainder of the War.

After his release, he was a businessman for various industries in the Ruhr Valley. In 1954, when the Allied Powers allowed the organization of a 12-division West German Army, Crüwell was returned to military duty. Ironically, his superior officer was Viscount Montgomery, who was in charge of the training of NATO forces. ^[2]

[edit] Awards

• Eisernes Kreuz 2. and 1. Klasse
• Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub
  • Ritterkreuz (14 May 1941)
  • Eichenlaub (1 September 1941)
• Medaglia d'Argento al Valor Militare

[edit] References

1. ^ "A Pilot's Error Leads to Capture," Chillicothe Daily Tribune, June 2, 1942, p.6
2. ^ "New Wehrmacht Boss is Afrika Corps Veteran", Fresno Bee Republican, October 13, 1954, p.6-C

• Walther-Peer Fellgiebel (2000), Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5

Military offices
Preceded by none	Commander of 11. Panzer Division 1 August 1940 - 15 August 1941	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Günther Angern
Preceded by General der Panzertruppe Philipp Müller-Gebhard	Commander of Afrika Korps 15 September 1941 - 8 March 1942	Succeeded by General der Panzertruppe Walther Nehring
Preceded by General der Panzertruppe Walther Nehring	Commander of Afrika Korps 19 March 1942 - 28 May 1942	Succeeded by General der Panzertruppe Walther Nehring