Walter Krüger (SS general)

For other people named Walter Krüger, see Walter Krüger (disambiguation).
The title of this article contains the character ü . Where it is unavailable or not desired, the name may be represented as Walter Krueger.
Walter Krüger
Born 27 February 1890(1890-02-27)
Strasbourg
Died 22 May 1945(1945-05-22) (aged 55)[a]
Litauen
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen-SS
Rank Obergruppenführer
Commands held SS-PzGrenDiv "Das Reich"
VI. Waffen Armeekorps der SS
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

Walter Krüger (27 February 1890 – 22 May 1945[a]) was an SS Obergruppenführer. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Contents

Career

Born in Strasbourg, Alsace-Lorraine, German Empire (nowadays in France), Krüger was the son of an army officer and attended cadet school. As a young second lieutenant, he joined the 110th Fusilier Regiment during World War I. After World War I, he joined the Freikorps and fought in the Baltic region during 1919.

In 1933, when Adolf Hitler gained power, Krüger worked in the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht training department.

In 1935, he joined the SS-Verfugungstruppe where he formed the SS-Standarte Germania. At the SS Officer's school at Bad Tölz, he served as an instructor. He earned the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, after taking command of the SS Polizei Division which fought on the Leningrad front, Krüger himself taking place in the siege of the city itself.

Krüger became commander of the SS Division Das Reich in March 1943. After that, he went on to become the inspector general of all infantry troops of the Waffen SS. He assumed command of the newly formed, voluntary, VI (Latvian) SS Corps.

On 22 May 1945[a], Krüger committed suicide in the Courland Pocket fourteen days after the surrender of Nazi Germany.

Rank promotion

Awards

Notes

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 479.
  2. ^ Berger 1999, p. 173.
  3. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 47.

References

  • Ailsby, Christopher (1997). SS: Roll Of Infamy. Motorbooks International. ISBN 0-7603-0409-2.
  • Berger, Florian (1999). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges. Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Schaulen, Fritjof (2004). Eichenlaubträger 1940 - 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe II Ihlefeld - Primozic (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 3-932381-21-1.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939 - 1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.

A more accurate (and detailed) biography for this officer can be found in:

  • Yerger, Mark C. - Waffen-Ss Commanders: The Army, Corps and Divisiional Leaders of a Legend : Krüger to Zimmermann - Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing (February 1, 1999). ISBN 0-7643-0769-X, ISBN 978-0-7643-0769-0.

External links

Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Walter_Kr%C3%BCger_(SS_officer) Walter Krüger (SS officer)] at Wikimedia Commons
Military offices
Preceded by
SS-Oberführer Kurt Brasack		 Commander of SS Division "Das Reich"
March 29, 1943 - October 23, 1943		 Succeeded by
SS-Gruppenführer Heinz Lammerding
Preceded by
SS-Obergruppenführer Alfred Wünnenberg		 Commander of IV. SS-Panzerkorps
October 23, 1943 - July 1, 1944		 Succeeded by
SS-Obergruppenführer Matthias Kleinheisterkamp