Walter Krüger (SS general)

Walter Krüger (27 February 1890 – 22 May 1945) was a high-ranking commander in the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. At the end of the war, Krüger committed suicide.

For other people named Walter Krüger, see Walter Krüger (disambiguation).
Walter Krüger
Krüger (left) with Erich Hoepner in October 1941
Born(1890-02-27)27 February 1890
Strasbourg, German Empire
Died22 May 1945(1945-05-22) (aged 55)
Liepāja, Ostland
Allegiance German Empire
 Weimar Republic
 Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen-SS
Years of service1908–20, 1935–45
RankObergruppenführer
Service numberSS #266,184
Commands heldSS Division Das Reich
VI SS Army Corps
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

During operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, he commanded the SS Polizei Division which fought on the Leningrad front. 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 VI SS Army Corps in July 1944. On 22 May 1945, Krüger committed suicide in the Courland Pocket.[1]

Awards

References

Citations
  1. Scherzer 2007, p. 479.
  2. Thomas 1997, p. 416.

Bibliography
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
Military offices
Preceded by
SS-Oberführer Kurt Brasack		 Commander of SS Division "Das Reich"
29 March 1943 – 23 October 1943		 Succeeded by
SS-Brigadeführer Heinz Lammerding
Preceded by
SS-Obergruppenführer Alfred Wünnenberg		 Commander of IV. SS-Panzerkorps
23 October 1943 – 1 July 1944		 Succeeded by
SS-Obergruppenführer Matthias Kleinheisterkamp
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