| Ludwig Crüwell | |
|---|---|
| 20 March 1892 — 25 September 1958 (aged 66) | |
 |
|
| Place of birth | Dortmund |
| Place of death | Essen |
| 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 (spelled Cruewell in some English-language histories) 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.
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 and on March 22, 1943, was intentionally placed with another POW, General von Thoma, who during the meeting disclosed intelligence regarding the V-2 rocket and used for RAF Operation Hydra bombing raids on Peenemünde, i.e.; surprise that London was not yet in ruins from German rockets being tested at a 'special ground near Kummersdorf' he had visited.[2]
Awards
- Hanseatenkreuz Hamburg
- Schlesischer Adler I. Stufe
- Iron Cross (1914) 2nd and 1st class
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis I. Klasse
- Panzer Badge in Silver
- "Afrika" Cuffband
- Medaglia d'Argento al Valor Militare
- Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st class
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 14 May 1941 as Generalmajor and commander of the 11. Panzer-Division[3]
- 34th Oak Leaves on 1 September 1941 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 11. Panzer-Division[3]
- Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 2 June 1942
References
- Citations
- ^ "A Pilot's Error Leads to Capture," Chillicothe Daily Tribune, June 2, 1942, p.6
- ^ von Braun and Ordway III 1975, p. 51.
- ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 263.
- Bibliography
- von Braun, Wernher (Estate of); Ordway III, Frederick I. , and Dooling, David Jr. (1985—first edition) [1975]. Space Travel: A History. New York: Harper & Row. ISBN 0-06-181898-4.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. 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.
External links
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| 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 |
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