Walter Krüger (Heer general)

Walter Krüger
General der Panzertruppe Walter Krüger (center) and Oberst Heinrich-Walter Bronsart von Schellendorff (left)
Born	(1892-03-23)March 23, 1892
Died	11 July 1973(1973-07-11) (aged 81)
Place of birth	Zeitz
Place of death	Baden-Baden
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1910–1945
Rank	General der Panzertruppe
Commands held	1. Panzer-Division LVIII. Panzerkorps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of France Battle of Sedan (1940) Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Battle of Kiev (1943) Zhitomir–Berdichev Offensive Operation Overlord Battle of the Bulge Siege of Bastogne Siegfried Line Campaign
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Eugen Walter Krüger (23 March 1892 – 11 July 1973) was a highly decorated General der Panzertruppe in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the LVIII. Panzerkorps. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Walther Krüger was captured in May 1945 by British troops and was later handed over to American forces. He was released in 1947.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (9 October 1914)
  • 1st Class (29 July 1916)
• Knight's Cross of the Military Order of St. Henry (29 April 1918)
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (12 May 1940)
  • 1st Class (13 May 1940)
• Eastern Front Medal
• Panzer Badge
• German Cross in Gold (8 March 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 15 July 1941 as Generalmajor and commander of 1. Schützen-Brigade
  • 373rd Oak Leaves on 5 June 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 1. Panzer-Division
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (14 December 1943)

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
14 December 1943	Bei diesen Kämpfen haben sich die 1. thüringische Panzerdivision unter Generalleutnant Krüger und die brandenburgische 68. Infanteriedivision unter Oberst Scheuerpflug besonders bewährt.	In these battles, the 1st Thuringian Armored Division under Lieutenant General Krüger, and the 68th Brandenburg Infantry Division under Colonel Scheuerpflug have particularly proven themselves.

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• 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.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945

Military offices
Preceded by Generalleutnant Friedrich Kirchner	Commander of 1. Panzer-Division 17 July 1941 - 31 December 1943	Succeeded by Generalmajor Richard Koll
Preceded by General der Panzertruppe Hans-Karl Freiherr von Esebeck	Commander of LVIII. Panzerkorps 10 February 1944 - 25 March 1945	Succeeded by Generalleutnant Walter Botsch