Erich von Manstein

Born Erich von Lewinski of Polish extraction, von Manstein was adopted by his mother's sister and her husband and took their family name. He passed out of the Cadet Corps in 1906 and saw some service in France on the Western front during World War I before going into the War Academy.

From 1920 to 1937, von Manstein held various staff posts where he rose through the ranks of major, colonel and finally major-general.

Some historians, including Antony Beevor and Benoît Lemay, are of the opinion that Manstein had some Jewish ancestry. Manstein was the only Reichswehr officer who opposed the introduction of the Aryan paragraph in 1934. He sent a letter of protest to General Beck, commenting that anyone who had volunteered to serve in the armed forces had already proven their worth.

He first came into prominence in 1939 where he was promoted to general and commanded the 38th Infantry Corps where he masterminded the "Manstein Plan" for the invasion of France the next year.

The German invasion of the USSR in 1941 gave von Manstein what he most craved: the command of the 56th Panzer Corps from June 22 to September 13 until he was given command of the 11th Army Corp for the long campaign in the Crimea.

Von Manstein launched the siege and capture of Sevastopol (June 7-July 3, 1942) where he was promoted to field marshal.

His first job as field marshal was the command of Army Group Don in a relief drive to Stalingrad in December 12-23, 1942 which failed.

From February 20-March 18,1943, von Manstein's hour and the highlight of his military career had come when he skillfully launched a counter-attack against the Soviet armies in the Third Battle of Kharkov, recapturing the city, destroying three Soviet armies, and temporarily halting the Soviet advance.

But at the Battle of Kursk in July 4-17, 1943, he was defeated by superior Soviet numbers and afterwards fought a series of well-executed withdrawals, always against Hitler's orders never to give up an inch of ground.

In April 1944, Hitler, having apparently grown tired of this brilliant but troublesome field marshal, relieved von Manstein of his commands and forced him into retirement for the rest of the war. Von Manstein is remembered for being one of the very few German commanders who was prepared to confront Hitler. Unlike other German officers, he was one who put his views in perspective, spoke objectively, and refused to be browbeaten.

On February 24, 1950, von Manstein was tried and sentenced to 18 years in prison on two charges of war crimes on the Eastern Front, which was later commuted to 12 years.

But he was released on parole on May 6, 1953.

In 1959, he published his memoirs, 'Lost Victories' detailing all about his military career.