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Krügel, Albrecht Dr. (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
April 22nd, 1913 (Nordhorn-Bentheim/Hannover, Germany)
Date of death:
March 16th, 1945 (Altdamm, near Stettin/Pommerania, Germany)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery Neumark
Grave: UNK.
Service number:
SS-Nr.: 11.433 // NSDAP-Nr.: 419.297
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
01.09.1930: SA-Mann
00.08.1931: SS-Anwärter
00.00.1931: SS-Mann
15.04.1935: SS-Junker
00.00.1935: SS-Standartenjunker
00.00.1936: SS-Standartenoberjunker
20.04.1936: SS-Untersturmführer
20.04.1938: SS-Obersturmführer
09.11.1939: SS-Hauptsturmführer
20.04.1943: SS-Sturmbannführer der Waffen-SS
01.09.1944: SS-Obersturmbannführer der Waffen-SS

01.09.1930: entered the SA
01.02.1931: joined the NSDAP and the SS
01.04.1933-15.04.1934: Wachsturm Merkers
00.05.1933-00.09.1934: 9. Sturm, III. Sturmbann, SS-Standarte 35
01.10.1934: Führeranwärterlehrgang Ellwangen
00.00.1934: joined the SS-Verfügungstruppe
15.04.1935-09.02.1936: SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig
01.03.1936: Zugführerlehrgang Dachau
15.04.1936: Sachbearbeiter, SS-Oberabschnitt "Nord"
01.09.1936: SS-Ustuf, Zugführer, 3. Sturm, SS-Bataillon "Nürnberg"
01.10.1937: SS-Ustuf, Bataillons-Adjutant, SS-Bataillon "Nürnberg"
01.11.1938: SS-Ostuf, Zugführer, SS-Bataillon "Nürnberg"
16.02.1939: SS-Ostuf, Zugführer, SS-Krd.Ersatz-Bataillon Ellwangen
01.04.1939: SS-Ostuf, Lehrgangsleiter, SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig
16.05.1940: SS-Ostuf, Kompanie-Führer, SS-Marsch-Bataillon, SS-V.T. - campaign in the West
21.06.1940: SS-Hauptsturmführer, Kompaniechef, 13. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Deutschland", SS-VT
01.08.1940: SS-Hstuf, Kompanie-Führerlehrgang Elsenborn
16.11.1940: Sachbearbeiter, IIb, Stab, SS-Division "Wiking"
01.03.1941: SS-Hstuf, Regiments-Adjutant, SS-Regiment "Germania", SS-Division "Wiking"
16.03.1941: SS-Hstuf, Kompaniechef, 6. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Westland", SS-Division 'Wiking' - campaign in Russia
00.07.1941: Lazarett
00.09.1941: WIA
00.01.1942: SS-Hstuf, Stab, SS-Division "Wiking"
00.02.1942: SS-Hstuf, Chef, 6. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Nordland"
00.02.1943: Kaukasus
00.11.1942: SS-Hstuf, Kommandeur, II. Bataillon, SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 23 "Norge", 11. SS-Division 'Nordland'
20.04.1943: SS-Sturmbannführer, Kommandeur, II. Bataillon, SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 23 "Norge", 11. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Nordland'
00.02.1944: Bridgehead region Narva
08.03.1944: SS-Stubaf, tempor. Kdr, SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 23 "Norge", 11. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Nordland'
04.05.1944: SS-Stubaf, Kommandeur, SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 24 "Danmark", 11. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 'Nordland'
00.10.1944: SS-Ostubaf, severe fightings region Libau
00.11.1944: SS-Ostubaf, on leave
15.03.1945-16.03.1945: SS-Ostubaf, KIA at the railway station in Altdamm near Stettin

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Awarded on:
1931
Abzeichen des SA - Treffens Braunschweig 1931
Awarded on:
December 1935
Julleuchter der SS
Awarded on:
1936
Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS
Awarded on:
1937
Bronzes SA-Sportabzeichen
Awarded on:
1937
DRL Sportabzeichen in Bronze
Awarded on:
1937
SS-Ehrenring
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
1939
SS-Dienstauszeichnung 4.Stufe (4 Jahre)
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
1939
SS-Dienstauszeichnung 3.Stufe (8 Jahre)
Rank:
SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
1939
Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP 10 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Awarded on:
July 13th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Awarded on:
September 2nd, 1941
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Awarded on:
September 13th, 1941
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Awarded on:
April 20th, 1942
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Awarded on:
August 20th, 1942
Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Awarded on:
September 10th, 1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain)
Unit:
Chef, 6. Kompanie, SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Nordland", SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Wiking”
Awarded on:
January 10th, 1943

Award 267/5.
Date per Horst Scheibert; Jost Schneider gives 08.02.1943
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Unit:
Kommandeur, II. Bataillon, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 23 "Norge", 11. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division „Nordland“, III. SS-Panzer-Korps, Heeresgruppe Nord
Awarded on:
March 12th, 1944
Krügel’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“After a successful enemy penetration outside of the Division’s sector, SS-Sturmbannführer Krügel took over command of a Kampfgruppe (formed from 3 Kompanien) that was occupying a hastily erected blocking position opposite it. With it he fended off 2 enemy attacks from the break-in area (Vepsküla—Vasa—Forest west of Vasa) along the line Pühklemäe—Woods 1 km north of Germansberg. After the Kampfgruppe had been reinforced by 2 additional Kompanien, and the enemy had been shaken up by sustained artillery fire, Krügel launched an attack on his own initiative in defiance of his orders. Launched at night, this boldly led attack threw the enemy back onto the opposite bank of the Narwa river.

By doing this Krügel succeeded in eliminating the infantry threat to the Narva—Reval road and preventing the capture of the commanding castle at Germansberg. If the enemy had managed to seize this castle then the continued holding of the Narva bridgehead would have been an extraordinarily difficult proposition. Krügel also destroyed the bulk of the enemy’s 131st Rifle Division over the course of his defense and the subsequently launched counterthrusts.”

2795th Award - based on a recommendation dated 15.02.1944 and signed by Div. Kdr. Fritz von Scholz; approved, 16.02.1944, by Korps Kom. Gen. Felix Steiner; presented by Matthias Kleinheisterkamp
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Awarded on:
June 15th, 1944
Red Krune Kralja Zvonimira II.Stupnja s Macevima
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Sturmbannführer (Major)
Awarded on:
July 12th, 1944
Nahkampfspange in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant-colonel)
Unit:
Kommandeur, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 24 "Danmark", 11. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division „Nordland“, III. SS-Panzer-Korps, Heeresgruppe Nord
Awarded on:
November 16th, 1944
Krügel’s Oakleaves recommendation reads as follows…

“After being extracted from the heavy defensive battles along the Narva and Düna rivers, the Division Nordland found itself located right in the path of the Soviets’ crushing blows during the fighting in Courland.

During this time SS-Obersturmbannführer Krügel distinguished himself through his heroic example on multiple occasions. His masterful regimental leadership is in large part responsible for the fact that decisive crisis situations could be resolved in our favour.

Through his flexible combat leadership and conscientious decisiveness, SS-Obersturmbannführer Krügel significantly aided the divisional command. Over the whole time period he showed outstanding fighting spirit and tactical acumen.”

651st Award - based on a recommendation dated 31.10.1944 and signed by Div. Kdr. Joachim Ziegler
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
posthumously

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