Erich Olboeter

Erich Olboeter
Born 26 July 1917
Eberswalde near Berlin, Germany
Died 2 September 1944(1944-09-02) (aged 27)
Hirson, France
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen-SS
Years of service 1934–44
Rank Sturmbannführer
Unit 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Iron Cross I Class
Iron Cross II Class
German Cross in Gold
Eastern Front Medal
Infantry Assault Badge
Wound Badge in Silver

Erich Olboeter (26 July 1917 — 2 September 1944) was a Sturmbannführer (Major) in the Waffen-SS during World War II, who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life

Erich Olboeter was born on 26 July 1917, in Eberswalde near Berlin. He joined the NSDAP aged sixteen in 1933 (party number 3,601,994). In September 1934, he volunteered to join the SS-VT. He was selected to become an officer and posted to the SS-Junkerschule in 1937. Upon graduation in March 1938, he was promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) and posted to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Regiment.[1][2]

World War II

During World War II, Olboeter was in the 13th Panzerjäger company under the command of Kurt Meyer (Olboeter was a protégé of Kurt Meyer and served under his direct command for most of the war). He was awarded his first combat decorations during the Battle of France; the Infantry Assault Badge and the Iron Cross II class in 1940.[1][2] He was given command of the 15th Company, 1st SS Panzergrenader Regiment, LSSAH in 1941 at the start of Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, and was awarded the Iron Cross (1st class) while in command.[1][2]

In March 1943, Olboeter was awarded the Wound Badge in Silver and the German Cross in Gold in 1943 while in command of the 5th (Heavy) Company, 1st SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion.[2] He was then posted to the newly formed SS Division, 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, in July 1943, initially in command of the 12th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion but later moved to command of III.(Armoured) Battalion, 26th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment. He was awarded the Knight's Cross during the Battle of Normandy in July 1944.[1][2]

Olboeter did not survive the war. Near Hirson, France, he drove over a land mine planted by the French Resistance and died of his wounds soon after in hospital, on 2 September 1944.[1][2]

Commands

[1]

Wehrmachtbericht reference

The daily Wehrmachtbericht (Wehrmacht propaganda report) noted the following:

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
29 June 1944 In diesem Abschnitt haben sich in den Kämpfen der letzten Tage die 12. SS-Panzerdivision "Hitler-Jugend" unter Führung von SS-Standartenführer Meyer, insbesondere die Kampfgruppen des SS-Sturmbannführers Olboetter, besonders ausgezeichnet.[3] In this section, in the battles of the last days, has the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth" under the command of SS-Standartenführer Meyer, especially the combat groups of SS-Sturmbannführer Olboetter, have especially distinguished themselves.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "frontkjemper".
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "sspzhj".
  3. ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 3, p. 141.

Further reading

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. 
  • Henschler, Henri; Fey, Willi (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2905-5. 
  • Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7. 
  • Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). The German Defeat in the East, 1944–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3371-7. 
  • Meyer Hubert (2005). The 12th SS: The History of the Hitler Youth Panzer Division. Stackpole Books, 2005.ISBN 0811731987.
  • Reynolds, Michael (1997). Steel Inferno: I SS Panzer Corps in Normandy. Spellmount. ISBN 1-873376-90-1.
  • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, 1 January 1944 to 9 May 1945] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2. 
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