Lieutenant-General Willem Petrus Louw SSA SM (Bloemhof,[2]: 255  24 November 1920 – 4 July 1980)[1] was a South African military commander.

He joined the South African Army in the Special Service Battalion in 1938,[3]: 94  and served in Italy in World War II.

After enlisting as a private, he served as an NCO in the Technical Service Corps (SAOC)[2]: 255  and was seconded to the South African Infantry.

In 1943 he attended a Candidate Officers' course and was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the South African Army Armoured Corps.

[2]: 255  In 1966 he served as OC Northern Transvaal Command[3]: 94  as a Brigadier and Chief of the Army from 1967 to 1973,[4][3]: 94  and as Inspector-General of the South African Defence Force from 1973 to 1975.