Erich Olboeter

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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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.

Commands

 * 15th (Heavy) Company, 1st SS Panzergrenadier Regiment LSSAH
 * 13th Company, LSSAH
 * 2nd (Motorcycle) Company, 1st SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion LSSAH
 * 5th (Heavy) Company, 1st SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion
 * 12th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion, 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend
 * III.(Armoured) Battalion, 26th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment, 12 SS