Albrecht Krügel

Albrecht Krügel
File:Albreht krugel.jpg
Born	22 April 1913 Nordhorn
Died	16 March 1945(1945-03-16) (aged 31) Altdamm
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen-SS
Years of service	1931–1945
Rank	Obersturmbannführer
Unit	11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross with Oakleaves Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Wound Badge German Cross in Gold Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht Eastern Front Medal Medallion in Memory of 1st October 1938 Medallion in Memory of 13th March 1938 Infantry Assault Badge in Silver

Albrecht Krügel was an Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen-SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career

Krügel was born on the 22 April 1913 at Nordhorn and was an early member of the NSDAP and SS joining in 1931 and was issued the party number 419 297 and SS service number 11 433. He was selected for officer training and sent to the SS-Junkerschule at Braunschweig in April 1935, after graduation he was posted to Dachau as a platoon commander. By 1940 he was a Company commander in the SS-VT during the Battle of France, in March 1941 he was the Adjutant of the Germania Regiment

His award of the Knight's Cross came while he was in command of the 2nd Battalion, 23rd SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Norge, 11th SS Volunteer Panzer Grenadier Division Norland and the Oakleaves while in command of the 24th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Danmark in November 1944. He was wounded in action on the 16 March 1945 at Altdamm and died on the way to hospital.

Further reading

• John P. Moore: Führerliste der Waffen-SS- Personalakten in Part 2
• Mark C. Yerger: German Cross in Gold - Holders of the SS and Police, Volume 3 This is the 3rd of 5 volumes published as of mid-2010 containing biographical and other relevant data for all German Cross holders of the SS and Police by unit or award category. A single unnumbered volume covers the award in silver with succeeding numbered texts encompassing the awards in Gold, most Gold award holder biographies include the text recommendation for the award as well as images.