Erich von Manstein (24 Nov. 1887 - 9 Jun. 1973)
Upon Germany’s invasion of Poland, von Manstein became Chief of Staff of Army Group South. He was initially sceptical about the Polish mission, fearing a war on two fronts and preferring Poland to exist as a buffer between Germany and the USSR, however von Manstein followed orders and helped plan the invasion of Poland.
Following Poland’s surrender, von Manstein formalised plans for the invasion of France and the Low Countries. He devised the Manstein Plan, which although initially rejected, gained Hitler’s approval. After Paris fell, he spent time awaiting the invasion of Britain, which never came. He would remain in Paris or his home throughout 1940 until Operation Barbarossa began.
At first he was commander of the 56th Panzer Corps, in Army Group north, which were responsible for the invasion of Leningrad via the Baltic States. In September 1941, he was transferred to command the 11th Army in Ukraine, invading the Crimea. He would face heavy fighting in his attempts to capture the city of Sevastopol, and would finally capture the city on 4th July 1942, for which he would be promoted to Generalfeldmarschall.
After Sevastopol’s capture, von Manstein was seen as fit enough to capture Leningrad. The day of his arrival also saw the day of Soviet offensives. This destroyed the Germans’ own plans for an offensive and would prove a stalemate until Soviet forces later ended the German siege. However, by that time von Manstein had been sent to Stalingrad in an attempt to capture the city, and commanded Army Group Don.
It was here where von Manstein was charged with saving the 6th Army, trapped in Stalingrad. By December 1942, however, he recognised the impossibility of this and told Hitler that the 6th Army should break out. He ignored him. In turn, von Manstein sent an intelligence officer to tell the 6th Army to break out, in turn breaking Hitler’s orders. In February 1943, with Soviet counterattacks becoming more devastating, von Manstein became commander of the Army Group South.
He succeeded initially by defeating a counterattack and recapturing the city of Kharkov in March. However, von Manstein’s overstretched forces were defeated at Kursk. Due to his forces being undermanned and overstretched, von Manstein suffered further defeats as he retreat further and further westwards. His continuing arguments with Hitler about the Eastern Front, and unpopularity with Hitler’s close aides, led to his dismissal in March 1944.
For the remainder of the war he lived in his home in Germany, had eye treatment, and refused to take part in the July 20 Plot (though he did not betray it either). He surrendered to British forces in August 1945.
For more information on Erich von Manstein:
Forczyk, Robert. Manstein: Leadership – Strategy – Conflict (Oxford: Osprey Publishing), 2010.
Paget, Baron Reginald Thomas. Manstein: His Campaigns and His Trial (London: Collins), 1957.
Following Poland’s surrender, von Manstein formalised plans for the invasion of France and the Low Countries. He devised the Manstein Plan, which although initially rejected, gained Hitler’s approval. After Paris fell, he spent time awaiting the invasion of Britain, which never came. He would remain in Paris or his home throughout 1940 until Operation Barbarossa began.
At first he was commander of the 56th Panzer Corps, in Army Group north, which were responsible for the invasion of Leningrad via the Baltic States. In September 1941, he was transferred to command the 11th Army in Ukraine, invading the Crimea. He would face heavy fighting in his attempts to capture the city of Sevastopol, and would finally capture the city on 4th July 1942, for which he would be promoted to Generalfeldmarschall.
After Sevastopol’s capture, von Manstein was seen as fit enough to capture Leningrad. The day of his arrival also saw the day of Soviet offensives. This destroyed the Germans’ own plans for an offensive and would prove a stalemate until Soviet forces later ended the German siege. However, by that time von Manstein had been sent to Stalingrad in an attempt to capture the city, and commanded Army Group Don.
It was here where von Manstein was charged with saving the 6th Army, trapped in Stalingrad. By December 1942, however, he recognised the impossibility of this and told Hitler that the 6th Army should break out. He ignored him. In turn, von Manstein sent an intelligence officer to tell the 6th Army to break out, in turn breaking Hitler’s orders. In February 1943, with Soviet counterattacks becoming more devastating, von Manstein became commander of the Army Group South.
He succeeded initially by defeating a counterattack and recapturing the city of Kharkov in March. However, von Manstein’s overstretched forces were defeated at Kursk. Due to his forces being undermanned and overstretched, von Manstein suffered further defeats as he retreat further and further westwards. His continuing arguments with Hitler about the Eastern Front, and unpopularity with Hitler’s close aides, led to his dismissal in March 1944.
For the remainder of the war he lived in his home in Germany, had eye treatment, and refused to take part in the July 20 Plot (though he did not betray it either). He surrendered to British forces in August 1945.
For more information on Erich von Manstein:
Forczyk, Robert. Manstein: Leadership – Strategy – Conflict (Oxford: Osprey Publishing), 2010.
Paget, Baron Reginald Thomas. Manstein: His Campaigns and His Trial (London: Collins), 1957.