Johannes Bölter

Hauptmann Johannes Bölter (born February 19, 1915 in Mülheim an der Ruhr, North Rhine-Westphalia, died September 16, 1987 in Mülheim an der Ruhr) was a German Wehrmacht tank commander during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Johannes Bölter destroyed 139 tanks (some sources place his score as high as 144) during World War II. Together with Kurt Knispel, Otto Carius, Ernst Barkmann and Michael Wittmann he is considered to have been one of the most successful tank commanders in history.

Awards

 * Wound Badge
 * Black (2 July 1940)
 * Silver (8 February 1943)
 * Gold (3 August 1944)
 * Panzer Badge
 * Silver (26 June 1940)
 * II Class (15 July 1944)
 * III Class (1 September 1944)
 * Iron Cross
 * 2nd Class (30 September 1939)
 * 1st Class (15 July 1940)
 * German Cross in Gold (29 March 1943)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 16 April 1944 as Leutnant and platoon leader in the 1./schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502
 * 581st Oak Leaves on 10 September 1944 as Leutnant and leader of the 1./schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502