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Crüger, Arved

Date of birth:
June 25th, 1911 (Pillau/East Prussia)
Date of death:
March 22nd, 1942 (over Malta, Mediterranean)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Arved Crüger wss killed over Malta on 22nd March 1942. At that moment he was Kommandeur van Kampfgeschwader 77 with the rank of Major.

Promotions:
1st October 1931: Gefreiter;
1st April 1932: Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier;
1st June 1933: Fähnrich;
1st February 1934: Oberfähnrich;
3rd January 1935: Leutnant;
4th January 1936: Oberleutnant;
1st October 1939: Hauptmann;
1st October 1940: Major.

Career:
1st April 1931 - 4th October 1932: Infanterie Regiment 2;
5th October 1932 - 10th June 1933: I. / Lehrgang der Infanterie Schule;
11th June 1933 - 9th July 1933: Infanterie Regiment 6;
10th July 1933 - 6th March 1934: II. / Lehrgang der Artillerie Schule;
?: Flieger-Ausbilduings-Regiment 24 Olinitz;
15th April 1939 - 15th September 1939: 10. / Lehrgeschwader 2;
16th September 1939: Staffelkäpitan 3. / Kampfgeschwader 30;
16th September 1939 - 30th June 1940: 3. / Kampfgeschwader 30;
1st July 1940: Gruppenkommodore Ergänzungsgruppe 4;
1 Juli 1940 - 3rd October 1940: Ergänzungsgruppe 4;
4th October 1940: Gruppenkommodore II. / Lehrgeschwader 1;
4th October 1940 - 9th November 1940: II. / Lehrgeschwader 1;
10th November 1940: Gruppenkommodore III. / Kampfgeschwader 30;
10th November 1940 - 31st August 1941: III. / Kampfgeschwader 30;
1st September 1941: Geschwaderkommodore Schnellkampfgeschwader 210;
1st September 1941 - 3rd January 1942: Stab / Schnellkampfgeschwader 210;
4th January 1942: Geschwaderkommodore Zerstörergeschwader 1;
4th January 1942 - 12th March 1942: Zerstörergeschwader 1;
13th March 1942: Geschwaderkommodore Kampfgeschwader 77;
13th March 1942 - 22nd March 1942: Stab / Kampfgeschwader 77.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Flieger-Ausbilduings-Regiment 24
Awarded on:
May 20th, 1935
Flugzeugführerabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:
Flieger-Ausbilduings-Regiment 24
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1938
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:
10. / Lehrgeschwader 2
Awarded on:
August 25th, 1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:
Staffelkäpitan 3. / Kampfgeschwader 30
Awarded on:
September 30th, 1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Staffelkäpitan 3. / Kampfgeschwader 30
Awarded on:
January 17th, 1940
Magyar Érdemrend Lovagkeresztje
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Staffelkäpitan 3. / Kampfgeschwader 30
Awarded on:
March 17th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Staffelkäpitan 3. / Kampfgeschwader 30
Awarded on:
May 4th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Staffelkäpitan 3. / Kampfgeschwader 30
Awarded on:
May 6th, 1940
Ordinul Coroana Romaniei Ofiter
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:
Staffelkäpitan, 3. Staffel, I. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 30 "Adler", Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
June 19th, 1940
The following wartime excerpt (dated 30.08.1940) describes why Crüger was awarded the Knight’s Cross…

“Hauptmann Arved Crüger has served as a shining example of personal bravery to the crews of his Gruppe during both the most recent winter months as well as in the current operations in the west. Through this he has led them to many glorious feats of arms.”

By this time he had flown just 26 sorties.

According to the Vorläufiges Besitzzeugnis and the Soldbuch, the awarding data is 19th June 1940, some sources uphold the awaridng date of 14th June 1940.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Gruppenkommodore III. / Kampfgeschwader 30
Awarded on:
May 19th, 1941
Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Geschwaderkommodore Schnellkampfgeschwader 210
Awarded on:
October 15th, 1941
Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Gold

Sources

Photo