Description:

PRELIMINARY KNIGHTS CROSS AND GERMAN CROSS IN GOLD AWARD DOCUMENTS TO AN SS OFFICER
ERICH OLBOETNER (1917-1944) SS-Sturmbannfuhrer serving in the Waffen-SS, recipient of the Knights Cross. Olboeter was in the 13th Panzerjäger company under the command, and a protégé, of Kurt Meyer. He was given command of the 15th Company, 1st SS Panzergrenadier Regiment, LSSAH in 1941 at the start of Operation Barbarossa, and was awarded the Iron Cross, 1st Class. Olboeter was awarded the German Cross in Gold 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 Normandy campaign. Near Hirson, France, he drove over a land mine planted by the French Resistance and died of his wounds on Sep. 2 ,1944.
Rare D.S., a provisional award of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross awarded in the name of "Der Fuhrer" to SS-Sturmbannfuhrer Erich Olboeter, Commander III/ Pz.G.R. 26 "Hitler Jugend", issued at OKH Headquarters, 1p. 8vo., [Berlin], Aug. 2, 1944, signed by an unidentified generalleutnant. The document bears a tear from the bottom margin to the central horizontal fold and was at one time repaired on verso with cello tape - worthy of proper restoration. Accompanied by Olboeter's award of the German Cross in Gold, 1p. 8vo., [Berlin], Mar. 26, 1943, signed by JOACHIM KEITEL. Tear in the same location as previous document, and Keitel's signature has faded substantially. Finally, there is a German publication, 4pp. 4to., [n.p., n.d.], indicating the soldier's receipt of the German Cross in Gold (split horizontally). A rare grouping of award documents to the same soldier - worthy of restoration.

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July 7, 2015 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

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