Heinrich von Vietinghoff Inspecting Pantherturm

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.

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.

Generaloberst Heinrich von Vietinghoff (Oberbefehlshaber 10. Armee) consolidates German blocking positions in the Italian front, April 1944. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Gutjahr from PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) 699.

Source :
https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/detail/02e50b30-025b-11e7-904b-d89d6717b464/media/a6e31815-f41d-975e-46de-3a7a9610f797?mode=detail&view=horizontal&q=vietinghoff&rows=1&page=1
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-313-1018-22,_Italien,_Heinrich_von_Vietinghoff_bei_Besichtigung.jpg
https://us.warlordgames.com/products/pantherturm-1
https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/germany/tanks-2-3/panther-tank/pantherturm-italy-heinrich-von-vietinghoff/