Johannes "Hans" Bölter (29 February 1915 - 16 September 1987) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 16 April 1944 as Leutnant and Zugführer in 1.Kompanie / schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502. On 7 April 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 Ritterkreuz for this action as well as his personal total of 89 tanks destroyed.
Johannes Bölter received the Eichenlaub #581 for his Ritterkreuz on 10 September 1944 as Leutnant and Führer 1.Kompanie / schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502. The medal was 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.
Source :
Jim Haley photo collection
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/2454/B%C3%B6lter-Johannes.htm
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