Date of birth:

February 29th, 1915 (Mülheim/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Date of death:

September 16th, 1987 (Mülheim/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Nationality:

German

In service from April 1st 1933.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unteroffizier

Awarded on:

April 1st, 1937

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel

Awarded on:

September 30th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel

Awarded on:

June 26th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel

Awarded on:

July 2nd, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel

Awarded on:

July 15th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel

Awarded on:

February 8th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel (Warrant Officer)

Unit:

1./Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502

Awarded on:

March 29th, 1943

Award 339/9.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Zugführer 1. / schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502 / 8.Jäger-Division / XXVIII.Armee-Korps / 18.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord

Awarded on:

April 16th, 1944

On the 07.04.1944 Bölter and another Tiger tank of his unit destroyed 22 Soviet tanks in the area south of Pskov, a total of which Bölter was personally responsible for 15. After taking on additional ammunition he went on to destroy 2 artillery pieces and 2 anti-tank guns. By doing this he and his comrade prevented a penetration into the German frontline and provided major relief to the hard-pressed 8. Jäger-Division.

Bölter would receive the Knight’s Cross for this action as well as his personal total of 89 tanks destroyed.

2969th Award.
Submitted on April 11th 1944.
Preliminary document end decoration on April 24th to Heeresgruppe Nord.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

1. / schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502

Awarded on:

July 15th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Awarded on:

August 3rd, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant

Unit:

1. / schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502

Awarded on:

September 1st, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (Second-lieutenant)

Unit:

Führer 1. / schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502 / 81.Infanterie-Division / I.Armee-Korps / 16.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord

Awarded on:

September 10th, 1944

Awarded for his actions south of Riga in the middle of August 1944. Bölter found himself in combat along the Memel river with 5 Tigers and 50 Grenadiers. However here they were only able to contain a Soviet bridgehead. On the next day Bölter spotted a Soviet tank assembly area and thrust into the Soviet forces as they were advancing on his own initiative despite the lack of infantry support. While doing so he destroyed 4 tanks (his 92nd-95th kills), 7 anti-tank guns and a battalion of 300 infantry. This stopped the hostile attack before it got started. Leutnant Bölter was then wounded on the following day for the 7th time during the war.

581st Award.
Submitted on September 6th 1944.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Wilco Vermeer
• Photo: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
  
• - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1997.
  - WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 2004.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
  - Federl, C., Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Panzerdivisionen 1939-1945, VDM Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken, Germany, 2000
  - Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer, Elite of the Third Reich - The Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-45: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, England, 2003
  - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001
  - Haupt, W., Die 81. Infanterie-Division – Geschichte einer schlesischen Division, Nebel Verlag GmbH, Eggolsheim, Deutschland, 2006
  - Die Ritterkreuztraeger der Deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS