Walter Krüger (Wehrmacht general)

For other people named Walter Krüger, see Walter Krüger (disambiguation).

Walter Karl Willy Krüger (23 March 1892 – 11 July 1973) was a German general during World War II who commanded the LVIII Panzer Corps. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.

Walter Krüger
Krüger (center) in 1944
Born	23 March 1892 Zeitz, Kreis Merseburg, Province of Saxony, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died	11 July 1973(1973-07-11) (aged 81) Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany
Allegiance	German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany
Branch	Imperial German Army Prussian Army Reichswehr German Army
Years of service	1910–1945
Rank	General der Panzertruppe
Commands	1st Panzer Division LVIII Panzer Corps
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

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (9 October 1914)^[1]
  • 1st Class (29 July 1916)^[1]
• Saxon Albert Order, Knights Cross 2nd Class with Swords (SA3bX) on 23 March 1915
• Civil Order of Saxony, Knights Cross 2nd Class with Swords (SV3bX) on 15 November 1915
• Knight's Cross of the Military Order of St. Henry (SH3) on 29 April 1918
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 with Swords
• German Olympic Decoration, 2nd Class
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th to 1st Class for 25 years
• Repetition Clasp 1939 to the Iron Cross 1914, 2nd and 1st Class
  • 2nd Class (12 May 1940)^[1]
  • 1st Class (13 May 1940)^[1]
• Panzer Badge in Bronze 15 September 1941
• Eastern Front Medal on 1 August 1942
• German Cross in Gold on 27 August 1942 as Generalmajor and commander of 1. Panzer-Division^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 16 July 1941 as Generalmajor and commander of 1. Schützen-Brigade^[3]
  • 373rd Oak Leaves on 24 January 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 1. Panzer-Division^[4]
• 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.[5]	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.