Heinrich von Vietinghoff

Heinrich Gottfried Otto Richard von Vietinghoff, otherwise Scheel was a German ColonelGeneral of the German Army during the Second World War. He was also a recipient of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves . He is best known for commanding the German and Italian troops in Germanoccupied Italy in 1945.

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, otherwise Scheel and Leona von Vietinghoff, otherwise Scheel . He joined the army at the age of fifteen, exaggerating his age in the first few years.

Source: Wikipedia