Heinrich Gottfried Otto Richard von Vietinghoff-Scheel
Date of Birth: 06.12.1887 - Mainz, Großherzogtum Hessen und bei Rhein (German Empire)
Date of Death: 23.02.1952 - Pfronten, Landkreis Ostallgäu, Bayern (West Germany)
Buried: Stadtfriedhof Pfrontenried-Berg, Landkreis Ostallgäu, Bayern (West Germany)
Parents: Generalleutnant Heinrich Otto Konrad von Vietinghoff-Scheel (01.01.1857 - 13.05.1917) and Leona Gräfin von Schmettow (23.08.1861 - 00.00.1942), married 26.02.1887
Spouse: Elfriede Wagner (07.03.1892 - 04.02.1989), married 06.01.1920
Children: 1 daughter (1921) and 1 son (1926)
Religion: Evangelical
Height: 180cm (5'11")
Hair color: Dark brown
Eyes color: Brown
Promotions:
27.01.1907 Leutnant mit Patent vom 14.06.1905
19.06.1914 Oberleutnant
24.07.1915 Hauptmann (G)
01.02.1922 neues RDA vom 24.07.1915 (3) erhalten
01.03.1926 Major (1)
01.02.1931 Oberstleutnant im Generalstab (3)
01.04.1933 Oberst im Generalstab (19)
01.04.1936 Generalmajor (10)
01.03.1938 Generalleutnant (8)
01.06.1940 General der Panzertruppe (5)
17.09.1943 Generaloberst mit RDA vom 01.09.1943 (1)
Career:
06.03.1906 Entered the military as Fähnrich
01.10.1911 Bataillonsadjutant
01.12.1912 Regimentsadjutant
01.07.1916 Ordonnanzoffizier im Stab des Grenadierregiments 2
01.10.1916 im Generalstab der 2. Armee
16.12.1916 im Generalstab des Feldheeres
01.07.1919 im Großen Generalstab
01.10.1919 im Reichswehrministerium
01.10.1923 im Infanterieregiment 8
01.01.1924 im Stab des Gruppenkommandos 1 (Berlin)
01.10.1924 Chef der 1. / Infanterieregiment 9 (Potsdam)
01.02.1927 im Stab des Infanterieführers II (Schwerin)
01.10.1928 im Wehramt (Berlin)
01.04.1931 Kommandeur des I. / Infanterieregiment 14 (Meiningen)
01.03.1933 Leiter der Wehrmachtsabteilung im Reichswehrministerium (Berlin)
01.04.1934 Leiter der Landesverteidigungsabteilung im Wehrmachtsamt (Berlin) [laut Stellenbesetzung]
01.07.1935 im Stab der 3. Kavalleriedivision (Weimar)
15.10.1935 Kommandeur der 1. Schützenbrigade (Weimar)
12.10.1937 Inspekteur der Panzertruppen und für Heeresmotorisierung (Berlin)
24.11.1938 Kommandeur 5. Panzer-Division (Oppeln)
23.10.1939 Kommandierender General XIII. Armeekorps
25.10.1940 Kommandierender General XXXXVI. Armeekorps
02.06.1942 - 08.08.1942 mit der stellvertretenden Führung 9. Armee beauftragt
01.09.1942 Führerreserve OKH (VIII)
06.12.1942 mit der stellvertretenden Führung 15. Armee beauftragt
09.12.1942 Oberbefehlshaber 15. Armee
05.08.1943 Führerreserve OKH (Chef OKW)
22.08.1943 mit der Führung 10. Armee beauftragt
25.08.1943 Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee
20.09.1943 - 28.09.1943 zugleich mit der stellvertretenden Führung der Heeresgruppe B beauftragt
24.10.1944 - 16.01.1945 mit der stellvertretenden Wahrnehmung der Geschäfte als Oberbefehlshaber Südwest beauftragt (stood in for Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring who was recovering from head injuries sustained in an automobile accident)
30.01.1945 Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Kurland in Latvia
11.03.1945 Oberbefehlshaber Südwest (also Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe C)
05.04.1945 - 07.04.1945 Generaloberst von Vietinghoff declares his willingness to participate in the special surrender in two detailed conversations with SS-Obergruppenführer Karl Wolff, highest SS and police leader and authorized general of the German Wehrmacht in Italy, after Wolff had fully informed him of the plans after returning to Italy from Switzerland. The Allied negotiators in Ascona are informed via intermediaries
23.05.1945 Captured in Bozen, Italy
02.03.1946 transferred to Island Farm Special Camp 11 from LDC (London District Cage)
01.04.1947 transferred to LDC from Island Farm Special Camp 11 to Allendorf on loan
30.09.1947 transferred to US custody for discharge
Awards and Decorations:
13.09.1914 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
23.04.1915 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.191_ Turkish Harp Madalyasi (Gallipoli Star)
00.00.191_ Wilhelm-Ernst-Kriegskreuz
00.00.191_ Ritterkreuz II.Klasse des Königlich Sächsischer Albrechtsordens
00.00.191_ Ritter III.Klasse zum Kaiserlicher Orden der Eisernen Krone mit Kriegsdekoration
00.00.191_ Militärverdienstkreuz III.Klasse
00.00.191_ Bulgarian Order of Military Merit, 5th Class
18.04.1918 Ritterkreuz des königlichen Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern
00.00.1918 Verwundetenabzeichen 1918 in Schwarz
00.00.19__ Hanseatenkreuz
05.07.1934 Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914-1918
02.10.1936 Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht III.Klasse (12 Jahre)
02.10.1936 Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht I.Klasse (25 Jahre)
21.09.1939 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
28.09.1939 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
24.06.1940 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #85, as General der Panzertruppe and Kommandierender General XIII. Armeekorps. The following wartime excerpt (dated 30.08.1940) describes why Vietinghoff received the Ritterkreuz: “General von Vietinghoff, gen. von Scheel’s skillful and swift leadership was a key factor that helped his Armeekorps to create and hold a major bridgehead south of the Ardennes Canal in a timely fashion. During this combat General von Vietinghoff hurried between each of his subordinate units in order to provide them with their necessary instruction and to ensure their proper coordination both with each other and the Panzer-Divisionen. His clear commands to his subordinated Divisionen and Korps artillery enabled the expansion of this important bridgehead on the afternoon of the very first day of battle. This in turn meant that, following the completion of the heavy bridges, this was (initially) the only bridgehead which permitted the employment of multiple Panzer and motorized Divisionen for a decisive breakthrough of the enemy’s Aisne Position (made strong via both nature and man-made efforts). 3 Panzer/motorized Divisionen were committed through the bridgehead on this first day due to the actions of Vietinghoff and his men
00.00.1941 Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber
22.04.1942 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold #111/1
00.08.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
16.04.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #456, as Generaloberst and Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee. Vietinghoff's award justification for the Eichenlaub reads as follows: "Generaloberst von Vietinghoff, commander-in-chief of an army on the southern Italian front, directed the withdrawal movements of his forces in southern Italy and their multiple defensive battles against successive Allied offensive operations. The army's successful defense of its positions for six months against overwhelming Allied superiority in land, naval and air forces can be largely credited to the leadership of the commander-in-chief."
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Heinrich von Vietinghoff was born in Mainz, Grand Duchy of Hesse into a family of Westphalian Uradel. His military career was strongly supported by his parents, Artillery Lt. Gen. Heinrich Otto Konrad von Vietinghoff gen. Scheel (1857–1917) and Leona von Vietinghoff gen. Scheel (nee von Schmettow) (1861–1942). He joined the army at the age of 15, lying about his age in the first few years!
On 24 November 1938, Heinrich Vietinghoff was appointed commander of the 5th Panzer Division and took part in the invasion of Poland under Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb. He was promoted to General in June 1940 after which he led the German XLVI Panzer Corps in the invasion of Yugoslavia.
During Operation Barbarossa, his Corps was part of Army Group Centre under Field Marshal Fedor von Bock. As all commanders of the German corps on the Eastern Front during the invasion, Vietinghoff implemented the criminal Commissar Order. Vietinghoff also later served with General Heinz Guderian in the 2nd Panzer Army.
From December 1941 to August 1943, he was Commander-in-Chief of the German Fifteenth Army in France. In Italy from August 1943 he commanded German Tenth Army, which was responsible for the delaying actions through the successive defensive lines built across Italy. This involved opposing General Mark Clark and his Allied forces when they landed at Salerno in September 1943. Notable in this context were the defences on the Winter Line from November 1943 to May 1944 and the fighting in the autumn of 1944 on the Gothic Line.
Vietinghoff returned to Germany in May 1944 to receive the Eichenlaub for his Ritterkreuz from Adolf Hitler. While he was away General Harold Alexander, Supreme Allied Commander in Italy, ordered a new offensive at Monte Cassino. On 12th February the exhausted US Army at Cassino were replaced by the New Zealand Corps. Alexander now decided to use these fresh troops in another attempt to capture Cassino. General Bernard Freyberg, who was in charge of the infantry attack, asked for the monastery be bombed. Despite claims by troops on the front-line that no fire had come from the monastery, General Harold Alexander agreed and it was destroyed by the United States Air Force on 15th February, 1944.
Once the monastery had been bombed, the German Army moved into the ruins. As Basil Liddell Hart pointed out later in his book The Other Side of the Hill the bombing "turned out entirely to the tactical benefit of the Germans. For after that they felt free to occupy the ruins, and the rubble provided mud better defensive cover than the Monastery would have been before its destruction. As anyone with experience of street-fighting knows, it is only when buildings are demolished that they are converted from mousetraps into bastions of defence."
After the bombing the Germans were able to halt several attempts to capture Monte Cassino. It was not until troops led by General Wladyslaw Anders (Polish Corps) and General Alphonse Juin (French Corps) that the monastery was taken on 18th May, 1944.
On 25th October 1944 Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring was seriously injured when his car collided with a gun coming out of a side road. He was in hospital for three months and his overall command in Italy (Heeresgruppe C) was taken over by Vietinghoff. In January 1945, on Kesselring's return, he left Italy to command Army Group Courland in East Prussia. When Kesselring was moved in March 1945 to command German Army Command West (OB West) in France, Vietinghoff returned as the supreme German commander in Italy.
At the end of April 1945, he made contact with the Allied forces and on 29 April, his representative General Karl Wolff signed on his behalf at the Royal Palace in Caserta the instrument of surrender on 2 May 1945 at noon. Afterwards he spent two and a half years in British captivity at Bridgend Island Farm (Special Camp XI) among high-ranking German prisoners. He was released in September 1947.
After the war Vietinghoff was a member of the expert group dealing with the question of German rearmament. In October 1950 he wrote the Himmerod memorandum, named after the Himmerod Abbey where it was written, on behalf of the Adenauer government, on West German contributions to European defence. He died on 23 February 1952 in Pfronten.
Heinrich von Vietinghoff as an Oberstleutnant i.G. in 1932. The picture was taken by Willy Römer.
Heinrich von Vietinghoff as an Oberst i.G. in 1933.
Two
Wehrmacht generals, from left to right: Generalleutnant Heinrich von
Vietinghoff and General der Kavallerie Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von
Weichs. This photo was most likely taken on October 26 1939 in Trier,
Western Germany, during the handover ceremony for Commander of XIII.
Armeekorps from Von Weichs to Von Vietinghoff. In the invasion of Poland
which took place one month previously, this German Army Corps was in
charge of three divisions: 10. Infanterie-Division, 17.
Infanterie-Division, and 221. Infanterie-Division (for some time,
Leibstandardte SS Adolf Hitler was also subordinated to XIII.
Armeekorps)
General
der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff smoking. There is no
information about when and where this picture
was taken, but at least after he received the 1939 spange for his 1914
Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse on 28 September 1939 as Kommandeur 5.
Panzer-Division, but before he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen
Kreuzes on 24 June 1940 as Kommandierender General XIII. Armeekorps.,%20Heinrich%20von%20Vietinghoff%20(2nd%20from%20right)%20&%20Herbert%20Loch%20at%20right.jpg)
From
left to right: two unknown officers, Oberst i.G. Rudolf Hofmann (Chef
des Generalstabes XIII. Armeekorps), Generalleutnant Heinrich von
Vietinghoff (Kommandierender General XIII. Armeekorps), and
Generalleutnant Herbert Loch (Kommandeur 17. Infanterie-Division). The
picture was probably taken in the spring 1940 before the German invasion
of the West (Westfeldzug).
General
der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff (center, Kommandierender
General XIII. Armeekorps) with his two staff officers during map
discussion in 1940. At left is Oberst i.G. Rudolf Hofmann (Chef des
Generalstabes XIII. Armeekorps), while at right is Oberstleutnant i.G.
Anton Glasl (Ia Erster Generalstabsoffizier XIII. Armeekorps). These
three people would later become Ritterkreuzträger (recipients of the
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes): Vietinghoff on 24 June 1940 and 16
April 1944 (Eichenlaub), Hofmann on 7 May 1945, and Glasl on 11 October
1943. Other pictures from this occasion can be seen HERE.
Heinrich von Vietinghoff (centre) with his driver. There is no information about when or where this picture was taken.
Heinrich von Vietinghoff as a General der Panzertruppe with added Ritterkreuz.
The Wehrmacht generals sat in the Krolloper (Kroll Opera House) during the Reichstagssitzung (Reichstag session) on July 19 1940, where Germany had just won the war over France and England in the Battle of France, and several new Marshals were appointed by Hitler with other generals in the lower rank. For the identification based on numbers: 1: Hans-Günther von Kluge (promoted to Generalfeldmarschall), 2: Fedor von Bock (promoted to Generalfeldmarschall), 3: Gerd von Rundstedt (promoted to Generalfeldmarschall), 4: Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb (promoted to Generalfeldmarschall), 5: Wilhelm List (promoted to Generalfeldmarschall), 6: Johannes Blaskowitz (promoted to Generaloberst), 7: Ernst Busch (promoted to Generaloberst), 8: Georg von Küchler (promoted to Generaloberst), 9: unknown admiral, 10: Alfred von Vollard Bockelberg (General der Artillerie), 11: Curt Ludwig Freiherr von Gienanth (General der Kavallerie z.V.), 12: Ewald von Kleist (promoted to Generaloberst), 13: Friedrich "Fritz" Fromm (promoted to Generaloberst), 14: Franz Halder (promoted to Generaloberst), 15: Walter Heitz (General der Artillerie), 16: Adolf Strauß (promoted to Generaloberst), 17: unknown, 18: unknown, 19: unknown, 20: Walther von Reichenau (promoted to Generalfeldmarschall), 21: Alexander von Falkenhausen (Char. General der Infanterie), 22: Werner Kienitz (General der Infanterie), 23: Hermann Hoth (promoted to Generaloberst), 24: Sigismund von Förster (Generalleutnant), 25: unknown, 26: unknown, 27: Richard Ruoff (General der Infanterie), 28: Erich Hoepner (promoted to Generaloberst), 29: unknown, 30: Emil Leeb (General der Artillerie), 31: Alfred Streccius (bearded, Charakter als General der Infanterie), 32: unknown, 33: Friedrich Olbricht (General der Infanterie), 34: Curt Haase (promoted to Generaloberst), 35: Georg Hans Reinhardt (General der Panzertruppe), 36: Rudolf Schmidt (General der Panzertruppe), 37: Heinrich von Vietinghoff (General der Panzertruppe), 38: Erich von Manstein (hand on nose, General der Infanterie), 39: Georg Stumme (General der Kavallerie), 40: unknown, 41: unknown, 42: unknown, 43: Joachim von Kortzfleisch (Generalleutnant), 44: unknown, and 45: unknown. The one who gave the "Hitlergruß" (Nazi salute) is Ewald von Kleist, who stand after his name is mentioned from the loud spaker. Additional Information: BTW, the rank in the brackets is the rank when this photo was taken (July 19, 1940) and not their last rank! Other pictures from this occasion can be seen HERE.
From left to right: Admiral Günther Lütjens (Flottenchef), Generaloberst Franz Halder (Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres), General der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Kommandierender General XIII. Armeekorps), Generalmajor Otto von Knobelsdorff (back to the camera, Kommandeur 19. Infanterie-Division), and Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch (Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres). There is no information about when or where this photo was taken, but at least after the end of the war on the Western Front in 1940, possibly during war manoeuvre
This photograph of Akira Takiguchi's personal collection shows, from
left to right: General der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff-Scheel
(Kommandierender General XXXXVI. Armeekorps [motorisiert]) and Major im
Generalstab Joachim Sadrozinski (Ia Operationsführer XXXXVI. Armeekorps
[motorisiert]). They are chatting in front of an Omnibus which
functioned as the Befehlswagen (Command Vehicle) of the Corps. Note: ①
unit marking of the corps, ② carmine color trouser stripe for general
staff officers, ③ deep red color stripe for generals, and ④
"Befehlswagen Ia" (command vehicle for the operation officer). There is
no information when and where this photo was taken, but most likely in
Russia in the summer of 1941 during Unternehmen Barbarossa. In the
German invasion of the Soviet Union, XXXXVI. Armeekorps (motorisiert)
operates in the central sector of the Eastern Front and is under the
command of Heeresgruppe Mitte. Von Vietinghoff became Commander-General
of XXXXVI. Armeekorps (motorisiert) from 1 November 1940 to 10 June 1942
(when the motorized infantry corps was upgraded to a panzer corps),
while Sadrozinski became Head of Operations of XXXXVI. Armeekorps
(motorisiert) from October 1940 to May 1942.
This photograph by SS-Bildberichter Friedrich Zschäckel show the Ritterkreuz award ceremony for SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Paul Hausser (Kommandeur SS-Division "Reich"), which was held on 8 August 1941 on the Eastern Front during Unternehmen Barbarossa. The one who presented the medal was General der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Kommandierender General XXXXVI. Armeekorps). Even though he was a "Reich" Divisionskommandeur, Hausser was not the first person from this unit to receive this prestigious medal, but in fact was the seventh! The six men who preceded him were as follows: SS-Oberführer Georg Keppler (15 August 1940), SS-Oberführer Felix Steiner (15 August 1940), SS-Hauptscharführer Ludwig Kepplinger (4 September 1940), SS-Obersturmführer Fritz Vogt (4 September 1940 ), SS-Sturmbannführer Fritz Witt (4 September 1940), and SS-Hauptsturmführer Fritz Klingenberg (14 May 1941). Other pictures from this occasion can be seen HERE.
From
left to right: General der Infanterie Gotthard Heinrici
(Kommandierender General XXXXIII. Armeekorps) and General der
Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Kommandierender General XXXXVI.
Armeekorps). The picture was probably taken in the autumn of 1941 when
both Army Corps were under the command of 4. Armee (Hans-Günther von
Kluge). The picture was taken from the photo album of XXXXVI.
Panzerkorps, courtesy of Akira Takiguchi.
From the color slide group of XXXXVI. Armeekorps (motorisiert): Generalfeldmarschall Günther von Kluge (rightmost, Oberbefehlshaber 4. Armee) and General der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff (shaking hands with Kluge, Kommandierender General XXXXVI. Armeekorps), autumn of 1941. The Horch 901 kfz 21 Kommandeurwagen vehicle is Vietinghoff's with a commander pennant.
From the color slide group of XXXXVI. Armeekorps (motorisiert): General der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff in the Horch 901 kfz 21 Kommandeurwagen. The picture was probably taken in 1941.
General der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff examining a map with one of his officer. He is wearing the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes which he received on 24 June 1940 as Kommandierender General XIII. Armeekorps. There is no information about when and where this picture was taken.
General der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff (center, mit der stellvertretenden Führung 9. Armee beauftragt) in an inspection tour to the operational area of 1. Panzer-Division around Rzhev, central sector of the Eastern Front. At left is Generalmajor Walter Krüger (Kommandeur 1. Panzer-Division). The picture was taken on 6 August 1942 during Unternehmen Seydlitz. In the aftermath of the Soviet winter counteroffensive of 1941–1942, substantial Soviet forces remained in the rear of the German Ninth Army. These forces maintained a hold on the primitive forested swamp region between Rzhev and Bely. On 2 July 1942, the Ninth Army launched Operation Seydlitz to clear the Soviet forces out. The Germans first blocked the natural breakout route through the Obsha valley and then split the Soviet forces into two isolated pockets. The battle lasted eleven days and ended with the elimination of the encircled Soviet forces.
General der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff.
General der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff (3rd from right, Oberbefehlshaber 15. Armee) during the inspection tour to the German fortifications in northern France. Fifth from right with hand raised is General der Panzertruppe Adolf Kuntzen (Kommandierender General LXXXI. Armeekorps). The picture was probably taken in the spring of 1943. Other pictures from this occasion can be seen HERE.
General der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff (with moustache, Oberbefehlshaber 15. Armee) during a briefing on the Channel coast, 3 May 1943. The officer wearing ledermantel (leather mantel) in front of him is General der Infanterie Ernst Dehner (Kommandierender General LXXXII. Armeekorps). Other pictures from this occasion can be seen HERE.
This picture was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Damm-Jensen in the first half of 1943 when General von Vietinghoff visiting the newly created SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Hohenstaufen" in Ypres, Belgium. The guests and Divisionstab were entertained by the the Musikzug in the terrace of the château that being used as Division's HQ. From left to right: SS-Obersturmbannführer Thomas Müller (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 20 "Hohenstaufen"), SS-Hauptsturmführer Wilfried Schwarz (Adjutant SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Hohenstaufen"), Generalmajor Rudolf Eibenstein (Kommandeur 16. Flak-Division), SS-Obersturmbannführer Gustav Wiehle (Kommandeur SS-Artillerie-Regiment 9 "Hohenstaufen"), SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Wilhelm "Willi" Bittrich (Kommandeur SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Hohenstaufen"), SS-Sturmbannführer Walter Harzer (Ia SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Hohenstaufen"), and General der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Oberbefehlshaber 15. Armee). Other pictures from this occasion can be seen HERE.
Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt (center, Oberbefehlshaber West) is greeted by two Kriegsmarine officers, from left to right: Konteradmiral Friedrich Rieve (Kommandierender Admiral Kanalküste) and Konteradmiral Hans-Udo von Tresckow (Seekommandant Seine-Somme). Behind Rundstedt is General der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Oberbefehlshaber 15. Armee). The picture itself was taken in France, summer 1943.
Three Wehrmacht generals in the podium. From left to right: General der Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee),
General der Panzertruppe Dr.jur. Alfred Ritter von Hubicki
(Befehlshaber Sonderstab II in Oberkommando des Heeres), and General der
Infanterie Friedrich Siebert (Chef des Wehrmacht-Streifendienstes in
Oberkommando der Wehrmacht). No information about the date or place, but
possibly in the autumn of 1943..jpg)
Generaloberst
Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee) gives a smile to a
Luftwaffe soldier at an observation post near Napoli/Naples, Italy,
September 1943. The optical device in front of him is a 10x80
Flakfernrohr. Due to allied bombing, the Flakfernrohr were primarily
used for identifying attacking aircraft and directing the large 4m
rangefinders, searchlights and cannons of the anti-aircraft batteries.
They also proved useful on the battlefield, and a version with 20-deg
inclined eyepieces was produced for use at sea. A single half of the
10x80 binocular served as Z.F. (Zielfernrohr) 10x80, a sight for the
8.8cm artillery
Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring (left, Oberbefehlshaber Süd) and
Generaloberst Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee) in
the car on the Italian front. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter
Lüthge (Propaganda-Kompanie 699) in September 1943. At the Battle of
Salerno in September 1943, Kesselring launched a full-scale
counterattack against the US Fifth Army landings there with
Generaloberst Vietinghoff's Tenth Army. The counterattack inflicted
heavy casualties on the Allies, forced them back in several areas, and,
for a time, made Allied commanders contemplate evacuation. The short
distance from German airfields allowed Luftflotte 2 to put 120 aircraft
over the Salerno area on 11 September 1943. The German offensive
ultimately failed to throw the Allies back into the sea because of the
intervention of Allied naval gunfire which decimated the advancing
German units, stubborn Allied resistance and the advance of the British
Eighth Army. On 17 September 1943, Kesselring gave Vietinghoff
permission to break off the attack and withdraw. Other pictures from this occasion can be seen HERE.
German
generals in the Italian Front. From left to right: General der
Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee),
Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring (Oberbefehlshaber Südwest und
Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe C), General der Panzertruppe Fridolin von
Senger und Etterlin (Kommandierender General XIV. Panzerkorps),
Generalleutnant Siegfried Westphal (Chef des Generalstabes
Oberbefehlshaber Südwest), and Generalleutnant Wilhelm Raapke
(Kommandeur 71. Infanterie-Division). The picture was taken in 1943-1944.
Generaloberst Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee) talking on the phone at his desk in the Italian Front, December 1943. Between December 1943 and May 1944, 10. Armee fought defensive battles at Gargliano and Sangro, followed by defensive battles at Monte Cassino.
Generaloberst Heinrich von Vietinghoff at his desk in the Italian Front, 1944. This picture was taken at least before April 1944 when Vietinghoff received the Eichenlaub to his Ritterkreuz.
This picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Vinzenz Engel, and it shows
German commanders from the 10. Armee during war conference in the
Cassino front, Italy, January 1944. From left to right: Generaloberst
Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee); General der
Panzertruppe Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin (Kommandierender General
XIV. Panzerkorps); Generalleutnant Wilhelm Raapke (Kommandeur
71.Infanterie-Division); unknown staff officer; and Generalleutnant
Dr.rer.pol. Friedrich "Fritz" Franek (Kommandeur 44.
Infanterie-Division). The latter is wearing the Ritterkreuz des
Militär-Maria-Theresien-Orden (Austro-Hungary's highest award for
bravery in World War I) which shown under his Ritterkreuz des Eisernen
Kreuzes.
From left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring
(Oberbefehlshaber Südwest und
Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe C) and Generaloberst Heinrich von
Vietinghoff (Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee). The picture was taken by
Kriegsberichter Dohm in the Italian Front on 12 February 1944 when
Kesselring just finishing the war conference with his subordinate
officers from 10. Armee. Other pictures from this occasion can be seen HERE.
Generaloberst Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee) in the Italian front, April 1944. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Gutjahr from PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) 699.
This
picture was taken by Kriegsberichter
Gutjahr of PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) 699, and it shows Generaloberst
Heinrich von Vietinghoff (center, Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee) inspects
camouflaged Pantherturm in
the Italian front, April 1944. From 1943 onwards, Panther tank turrets
were mounted in fixed fortifications; some were normal production
models, but most were made specifically for the task, with additional
roof armour to withstand artillery fire. Two types of turret
emplacements were developed; the Pantherturm III – Betonsockel — on a
concrete base, and the Pantherturm I – Stahluntersatz — on a steel base.
These turrets were built into a larger structure in which they could
house ammunition and crew quarters. A total of 182 of these were
installed in the fortifications of the Atlantic Wall and Siegfried Line
(Westwall), 48 in the Gothic Line and Hitler Line, 36 on the Eastern
Front, and two for training and experimentation, for a total of 268
installations by March 1945. With barely any part other than the turret
itself showing above ground, a well camouflaged position could dominate a
vast swathe of ground, or vital approaches to towns or other
objectives, and would prove extremely costly to approach. Other pictures from this occasion can be seen HERE.
Generaloberst Heinrich von Vietinghoff in a Hoffmann postcard series Nr. R 296.
Generalfeldmarschall
Albert Kesselring (second from right, Oberbefehlshaber Südwest und
Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe C) during a conversation with General der
Panzertruppe Heinrich von Vietinghoff (left, Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee)
on the Italian front, June 1944. German officers visible in the
background is, from left to right: Generalleutnant Siegfried Westphal
(Chef des Generalstabes Oberbefehlshaber Südwest) and Generalleutnant
Hans Röttiger (Chef des Generalstabes Heeresgruppe C). The picture was
taken by Kriegsberichter Otfried Schmidt.
From
left to right: Generaloberst Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee), Generalmajor Alfred-Hermann Reinhardt (Kommandeur 98.
Infanterie-Division), and unknown officer. This picture was taken in the
Italian Front, September 1944. In August and September 1944 the 98th
Infantry Division was used in the fighting for Rímini. She then withdrew
fighting through the Apennines to the Senio.
Generaloberst Heinrich von Vietinghoff as a temporary Oberbefehlshaber
Südwest (October 1944 - January 1945), replacing Generalfeldmarschall
Albert Kesselring. In this picture, he is wearing a Luftwaffe tropical
tunic converted for a Heer general! On 25 October 1944 Kesselring was
seriously injured when his car collided with a gun coming out of a side
road. He was in hospital for three months and his overall command in
Italy was taken over by Vietinghoff. In January 1945,
on Kesselring's return, Vietinghoff left Italy to command Heeresgruppe
Kurland in
East Prussia. When Kesselring was moved in March 1945 to command
Oberbefehlshaber West (OB West) in France, Vietinghoff returned as the
supreme German commander in Italy. Other pictures from this series can be seen HERE.
Generaloberst
Heinrich von Vietinghoff (wearing ledermantel) in a
picture supposedly taken on late 1944 or early 1945 in Tirol, Austria.
From 24 October 1944 - 16 January 1945, he was "mit der
stellvertretenden Wahrnehmung der
Geschäfte als Oberbefehlshaber Südwest beauftragt" (stood in for
Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring who was recovering from head
injuries sustained in an automobile accident). The Ritterkreuzträger at
left is Major Karl-Walter Lapp (Kommandeur Tiroler Standschützen), who
received the Ritterkreuz on 14 August 1944 as Kommandeur Ski-Bataillon
82. There's a very interesting and detailed chapter on the Tiroler
Standschützen in Roland Kaltenegger's "Spezialverbände der Gebirgstruppe
1939-1945" (2004), a highly recommended book with many photographs of
both the Standschützen and on Karl-Walter Lapp. Many high dignitaries
visited Major Lapp and his Tiroler at the training grounds by the Alpini
Barracks in Gossensaß. Among others were Generals like Generaloberst
Heinrich von Vietinghoff, General der Gebirgstruppe Valentin Feuerstein
as well as the Gauleiter of Tirol-Vorarlberg Franz Hofer.
SS-Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler (as Chef of the Ersatzheer) and
SS-Obergruppenführer Karl Wolff were also among the visitors as well as
Reichsjugendführer Baldur von Schirach.
Ritterkreuzträger
of German units in Courland pocket (Latvia) with their
Commander-in-Chief von Vietinghoff, February-March 1945. From left to
right: unknown Wehrmacht officer (not Ritterkreuzträger), Oberfeldwebel
Ludwig Bellof (Flugzeugführer in 1.Staffel / Nachtschlachtgruppe 3.
Ritterkreuz on 28 January 1945), Major Franz Dutter (Führer
Grenadier-Regiment 2 / 11.Infanterie-Division. Ritterkreuz on 20 March
1944), Generaloberst Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Oberbefehlshaber
Heeresgruppe Kurland. Ritterkreuz on 24 June 1940 and Eichenlaub on 16
April 1944), Oberfeldwebel der Reserve Walter Süß (Zugführer in
Stabskompanie / Grenadier-Regiment 273 / 93.Infanterie-Division.
Ritterkreuz on 9 June 1944 and Eichenlaub on 24 January 1945), unknown
Kriegsmarine officer (hidden), and Stabsgefreiter Adolf Teuwsen
(Machinengewehr Schütze 1 in 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon /
Luftwaffen-Jäger-Regiment 25 / 13.Luftwaffen-Feld-Division. Ritterkreuz
on 14 May 1944).
Generaloberst
Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Oberbefehlshaber Südwest und Oberbefehlshaber
Heeresgruppe C) is questioned by U.S. Captain Ralph C. Opperman,
interpreter for Lieutenant-General Lucian K. Truscott, after the
capitulation of all German forces in Italy. At the end of April 1945,
Vietinghoff made contact with the Allied forces and on 29 April, his
representative SS-Obergruppenführer Karl Wolff signed on his behalf at
the Royal Palace in Caserta the instrument of surrender on 2 May 1945 at
noon. Afterwards he spent two and a half years in British captivity at
Bridgend Island Farm (Special Camp XI) among high-ranking German
prisoners. He was released in September 1947.
Gero
von Schulze-Gaevernitz (2nd from left) visited German headquarters in
Bolzano on May 12, 1945, to express his thanks for the German officers'
cooperation during the surrender of the southern front. Enjoying a
relaxed moment in the courtyard of SS headquarters are, left to right:
General der Panzertruppe Hans Röttiger (Chef des Generalstabes
Heeresgruppe C), Gero von Schulze-Gaevernitz (German emigrant and
assistant of Allen Dulles in Europe), Generaloberst Heinrich von
Vietinghoff-Scheel (Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe C), and
SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Karl Wolff (Höchster SS
und Polizeiführer "Italien"). In the background: SS-Sturmbannführer
Eugen Wenner (Adjutant Höchster SS und Polizeiführer Karl Wolff ) and
SS-Standartenführer Dr. Eugen Dollmann (Verbindungsmann Höchster SS und
Polizeiführer "Italien" beim Oberbefehlshaber Süd). Schulze-Gaevernitz
was awarded the U.S. Medal of Freedom in 1945 for his skillful
negotiations in Ascona, Switzerland, for the surrender of a million Nazi
forces in World War II, with specific reference to Italy (Operation
Sunrise). Photograph by T. S. Ryan. Other pictures from this occasion can be seen HERE.
Vorläufiges Besitzzeugnis (Preliminary Certificate) for the award of the Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for Generaloberst Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee), dated 13 May 1944.
Source :
Bundesarchiv photo archive
Bayerische Staasbibliothek photo archive
Bildarchiv Reichskommissariat Norwegen photo archive
Corbis Historical photo archive
NARA photo archive
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
Edgar Alcidi photo collection
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