Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein

Erich von Manstein (Commander-in-Chief of 11th Army) and the two senior Romanian Army commanders he served very closely with (and relied on heavily) during the conquest of the Crimea and the capture of Sevastopol, 1941-1942. Left to right: Manstein; General Gheorghe Avramescu, commander of the Romanian Mountain Corps; and General Petre Dumitrescu, commander of the Romanian 3rd Army.

14 March 1943: Awarded Oakleaves (No. 209).

Hitler visited Generalfeldmarschall von Manstein
at Saporozhne on the Dnieper river in the spring of 1943

30 March 1944: Relieved of command by Hitler and transferred to Leader Reserve. Also awarded Swords (No. 59) this same date. Not employed for the remainder of World War II.

August 1945: Surrendered to the British in Schleswig-Holstein.

2nd September 1946 transferred to Island Farm Special Camp 11 from LDC (London District Cage)
30th April 1948 transferred to Camp 231

Bridgend 13 August 1947

Dear Mr Jones

I thank you very much for the parcel you had the kindess to send me.
My friends and myself have thorough enjoyed the cake and the tomatoes
and I am very glad also abou the soap, the sugar and the "xxxxxx"
It was very kind of you and your wife to give all these things to me
from your own rations.
This demonstration of a christian mind and fraternity was the greatest
xxxx for me

Yours very sincerely

Manstein
Fieldmarshall

August 1949: Tried by British Military Court as a war criminal.

19 December 1949: Sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment, later reduced to 12 years.

May 1953: Released from prison.

1955: Published his memoirs Verlorene Siege (Lost Victories).

Manstein´s birthday 24th November 1971.
Left to right:
General der Infanterie a.D. Theodor Busse,
Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein,
General der Kavallerie a.D. Siegfried Westphal
General der Panzertruppe a.D. Walther Wenck

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross: 19 July 1940, General der Infanterie, Commanding General of XXXVIII Army Corps.
Oakleaves (No. 209): 14 March 1943, Generalfeldmarschall, Commander-in-Chief of Army Group South.
Swords (No. 59): 30 March 1944, Generalfeldmarschall, Commander-in-Chief of Army Group South.
Prussian Royal Hohenzollern House Order, Knight's Cross with Swords
Prussian Iron Cross, 1st Class (1914) with 1939 Bar
Prussian Iron Cross, 2nd Class (1914) with 1939 Bar
Medal for the Winter Campaign in Russia 1941/1942 ("East Medal")
Württemberg Friedrich Order, Knight 1st Class with Swords
Schaumburg-Lippe Cross for Faithful Service
Hamburg Hanseatic Cross
Cross of Honor for Combatants 1914-1918
Armed Forces Long Service Award, 1st Class (25-year Service Cross)
Armed Forces Long Service Award, 3rd Class (12-year Service Medal)
Austrian Military Merit Cross, 3rd Class with War Decoration
Turkish War Medal ("Iron Crescent")
Wound Badge in Black - World War I award
Crimea Shield in Gold (special version of the standard bronze shield worn only by Manstein and Romanian Marshal Ion Antonescu)
Luftwaffe Combined Pilot/Observer Badge in Gold with Diamonds
Romanian Order of Michael the Brave, 2nd Class 16 July 1942 (Royal Decree No. 2029).
Romanian Order of Michael the Brave, 3rd Class: 25 November 1941 (Royal Decree No. 3258).
Bulgarian Order of St. Alexander, 2nd Class – pre-World War II award without swords

Movie Portrayals:

Die Stunde der Offiziere (2003 TV), Dietrich Hollinderbäumer