Ludwig Crüwell

Infobox Military Person
name=Ludwig Crüwell
lived=birth date|1892|3|20|df=y — death date and age|1958|9|25|1892|3|20|df=y
placeofbirth=Dortmund
placeofdeath=Dortmund


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|German Empire German Empire (to 1918)
flagicon|Germany Weimar Republic (to 1933)
flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=Heer
serviceyears=
rank=General der Panzertruppe
commands=11. Panzer Division
Afrika Korps
unit=
battles=World War I
World War II
awards="Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves"
laterwork=

Ludwig Crüwell (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. After World War II, he was selected by the Allied Powers to command the West German Bundeswehr.

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. [ "A Pilot's Error Leads to Capture," "Chillicothe Daily Tribune", June 2, 1942, p.6 ] General Crüwell remained a prisoner for the remainder of the War.

Awards

* Eisernes Kreuz 2. and 1. Klasse
* Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub
** Ritterkreuz (14 May 1941)
** Eichenlaub (1 September 1941)
* Medaglia d'Argento al Valor Militare

References

* Walther-Peer Fellgiebel (2000), "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5