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Pantherstellung Project

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  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Willow Oaks Compound / Model Bunker
Pantherstellung Project
Posted by razorboy on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 7:32 PM

I am planning a Pantherstellung Dio., Gothic Line - Italy.  I have numerous photos but have not been able to find any unit histories. 

 

Were these manned by artillery personnel, panzertruppen or something else?  I have figures that will work either way but I need to know for sure. 

Thanks for any help you can provide.

razorboy

  • Member since
    September 2005
Posted by Kykeon on Thursday, May 22, 2008 12:30 AM

 The crew who operated these Panther-turret bunkers were specially trained men who formed part of a Festungs (Panther-Turm) Kompanie, normally made up of 12 turrets. The turrets of the Hitler Line in the Liri Valley (later known as Panther Turm Kp 1.), were initially attached to the 15th Panzergrenadier Division, 10th Army, but when this division was relieved Kampfgruppe Straffner absorbed the Panther turret company. The 1st Fallschirmjager Division manned other turrets along the line, particularly around Piedmonte near Monte Cassino. A sister unit, Panther Turm Kp. 2, was established by the 14th Army to man positions on the west end of the Green Line and the central passes. Later in the war, companies 1209 and 1210 were also added.

Normally, the majority of the defensive positions were manned by ordinary artillerymen, grenadiers, infantrymen or quasi infantry like the Fallschirmjager. The Panther turret crews would be selected from these units and trained as Festung Kompanies.

An excellent and inexpensive reference for these installations is Osprey's German Defences in Italy in WW II, from which I paraphrased this info. Several photos plus a two page color illustration with cut-away view of a Panther Turm are included.

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Willow Oaks Compound / Model Bunker
Posted by razorboy on Thursday, May 22, 2008 3:43 AM

Thank You!

Excellent information!

rb

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