us-005578-irn523244-irn523298
type: RecordSet
archival history: The box was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2005 by Irwin and Phillip Birnbaum, the nephews of Henry Birnbaum.
biographical history: Friedrich Wilhelm Krüger (1894-1945) was born in Strasbourg, Germany (now France) to Alfred (? – 1914) and Helene Glünder Krüger (?-1930). Friedrich Wilhelm had two brothers, one of whom, Walter (1890-1945), had a career that paralleled his own. The second brother may have served in the military. His father, Alfred was an Oberst [Colonel] in the German Army. Friedrich Wilhelm was educated at the Karlsruhe and the Prussian Main Military Academies. Following the outbreak of World War I and his graduation in June 1914, Friedrich Wilhelm was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the German Army. In August 1914, his father, Alfred, was killed in action. Friedrich Wilhelm was wounded three times and awarded the Iron Cross, 1st class. In 1920, he returned to civilian life, and in 1922, Friedrich Wilhelm Krüger married Elisabeth Rasehorn (1896-?). The couple settled in Berlin and had two children, while also raising three foster children. He became the director of a waste removal company in 1924. Four years later, in 1928, he left the company because he felt it was corrupt and became a self-employed businessman. During these years, he became friends with Kurt Daluege, commander of the SS (Schutzstaffel [Protection Squadron]) in Berlin. Krüger joined the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in November 1929, and entered the SS in February 1931. Originally, the SS was subordinated to the leadership of the larger, paramilitary SA (Sturmabteilung [Assault Division also known as the Stormtroopers]). Initially, the SS was designed as a security force for protecting Adolf Hitler and members attending Nazi Party meetings. The group transformed into a large, lethal, well-organized paramilitary unit after Heinrich Himmler became Reichsführer SS. In April 1931, Krüger transferred to the SA. He attained the rank of SA-Gruppenführer [Lieutenant General] by 1932 and joined the personal staff of Ernst Röhm, head of the SA. In 1932, Krüger also became a Nazi Party Member of Parliament in Berlin, a position th…
physical characteristics and technical requirements: Rectangular, dark brown, wooden box with attached lid. The exterior lid has a carved relief design with a slightly pebbled background featuring German text in 2 outlined rectangles on the left and right; the right also has a carved edelweiss flower, the symbol of German mountain troops. The lid and the body have carved, outlined, rectangular border designs with the SS double lightning bolt insignia at each corner. The center front underside of the lid has a triangular metal latch that fits into a slot on the base. The lid is attached by 2 metal, rear butt hinges. On the left front is a round key hole. The interior of the lid has an etched German inscription of 5 lines. The inside compartment has a wooden partition. Each compartment has a circular, wooden seal carved with the SS lightning bolt insignia attached to a loop of blue string nailed in 2 places to the base to hold any contents in place. exterior lid on left, carved : (SS insignia) / GENERAL- / KOMMANDO / V exterior lid on right, beneath carved flower, carved : (SS insignia) SS-GEBIRGS- / KORPS [(SS insignia)-MOUNTAIN- / CORPS] interior lid, etched : (SS insignia) – OBERGRUPPENFŰHRER / UND GENERAL DER POLIZEI / Friedrich Wilhelm Krüger / ZUR ERINNERUNG AN DAS V. (SS insignia) / GEB. KORPS / UND ZUR BETRACHTUNG IN BESINNLICHEN STUNDEN [TOP COMMANDER AND GENERAL OF THE POLICE Friedrich Wilhelm Kruger TO REMEMBER THE 5TH MT. CORPS AND FOR STUDY AND CONTEMPLATION] interior lid, etched beneath inscription : ABT. VI [DEPT.(?) 6]
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
date: 1944 August-1945 February, after 1945 May-1946
has or had holder: us-005578
has or had identifier: 1
has or had some members with language: deu
has record set type: Item
identifier: irn523298
is or was included in: us-005578-irn523244
record resource extent: overall: Height: 8.750 inches (22.225 cm) | Width: 12.380 inches (31.445 cm) | Depth: 8.880 inches (22.555 cm)
results or resulted from: 1
scope and content: Engraved commemorative box presented to SS Obergruppenführer [Lieutenant general of the SS] Friedrich Wilhelm Krüger by the troops of the 5th Mountain Corps in German-occupied Yugoslavia, which he commanded from August 1944 to February 1945. The box was used to hold Waffen-SS labeled photographs of the region where Krüger’s troops had served. From October 1939 to October1943, Krüger served as Höherer SS und Polizeiführer [Supreme SS and Police Leader] for the Generalgouvernement in occupied Poland, where he carried out Heinrich Himmler’s killing operations for Jews in the region. In 1943, Krüger was replaced due to a power struggle with Hans Frank, Governor General of Poland during the German occupation. At Krüger’s request, he was given command of divisions in the field, and committed suicide after Germany's surrender in May 1945. After Krüger’s death, the box was acquired by Henry Birnbaum, a United States soldier who served as a translator for the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg, Germany, from 1945-1946.
title: Engraved wooden box presented to a Lieutenant General of the SS by his troops