Walter Krueger

Walter Krueger (born Jan. 26, 1881, Flatow, West Prussia [now Złotów, Pol.]—died Aug. 20, 1967, Valley Forge, Pa., U.S.) was a U.S. Army officer whose 6th Army helped free Japanese-held islands in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. He was regarded as one of the foremost tacticians in the U.S. armed forces.

Brought to the United States as a child in 1889, Krueger volunteered as an enlisted man during the Spanish-American War (1898) and was soon promoted to second lieutenant of infantry in the regular army (1901). In World War I he served in Europe as chief of the tank corps, American Expeditionary Force; he then attended several service schools and served with the War Department general staff. As U.S. participation in World War II evolved, he was placed in charge of the Southern Defense Command (May 1941–January 1943). By this time he had gained a wide reputation as a skilled tactician and trainer of troops.

Early in 1943 Gen. Douglas MacArthur gave General Krueger command of the newly activated U.S. 6th Army in Australia and New Guinea. In December his forces invaded New Britain and in April 1944 occupied Hollandia, capital of Dutch New Guinea. By land-hopping and leapfrog techniques that proved so suitable for island reconquest, Krueger’s advance during six months’ time measured more than 2,000 miles (3,200 km) to the Philippine Islands; he then led his troops in that campaign successfully, followed by the occupation of Japan (1945).

Britannica Quiz

Pop Quiz: 17 Things to Know About World War II

Krueger retired with the rank of general in July 1946. His memoirs, From Down Under to Nippon, appeared in 1953.