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Manstein, von Lewinski von, Fritz Erich

Date of birth:
November 24th, 1887 (Berlin/Prussia, Germany)
Date of death:
June 10th, 1973 (Irschenhausen/Bavaria, Germany)
Buried on:
Tombstone Erich von Manstein
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 16th, 1939
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 21st, 1939
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General der Infanterie (Lieutenant-General of Infantry)
Unit:
Kommandierender General XXXVIII.Armeekorps
Awarded on:
July 19th, 1940
The following wartime excerpt (dated 30.08.1940) describes why Manstein received the Knight’s Cross…

“General der Infanterie von Manstein had previously shown great merit while serving as the chief of staff of a Heeresgruppe during the Polish campaign. While operating in the same role in the western theatre he played a decisive role in enabling our victory at the lower Somme river through his role in the preparation of our operations. He was later appointing as the commanding general of an Armee-Korps. In this latter capacity he repeatedly contributed to our successes in the West due to his leadership in the foremost lines during the course of the fighting near the Somme, Seine and Loire rivers.”

31st Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 11th, 1941
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 12th, 1941
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 31st, 1941
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General der Infanterie
Unit:
Kommandeur 11.Armee
Awarded on:
November 25th, 1941

Royal Decree no. 3258 dated 25 November 1941.
Ordinul Mihai Viteazul Clasa 3
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 19th, 1942
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 20th, 1942
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 2nd, 1942
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall
Unit:
Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd
Awarded on:
March 14th, 1943
Awarded for his famous “Backhand Blow” during the Third Battle of Kharkov, which saw the Germans retake this important city and finally stabilize the southern sector of the Eastern front for the first time since the formation of the Stalingrad pocket.

209th Award.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 20th, 1943
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 4th, 1943
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshall)
Awarded on:
November 24th, 1943
Krimschild in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalfeldmarschall
Unit:
Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Süd
Awarded on:
March 30th, 1944
Awarded for his command of Heeresgruppe Süd during the retreat battles from the Donez to the Polish border. In this time Manstein’s operational brilliance resolved many a crisis and was a major contributor in preventing the collapse of the front despite the very difficult fighting conditions.

59th Award.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern

Sources