Manstein entered the German Army in 1906 and emerged from World War I as an experienced staff officer. By the start of World War II, he was a major general and chief of staff to General Gerd von Rundstedt, whose Army Group South figured so prominently in conquering Poland. As the Wehrmacht geared up to attack France, Manstein proposed surprising the Allies with an armored drive through the Ardennes. He demonstrated his talent for handling troops during the fall of France by commanding the 38th Corps, the first German formation to cross the River Seine.

Promoted to lieutenant general, Manstein led the 56th Panzer Corps in Operation Barbarossa. In late June 1941, he sliced through 200 miles of Soviet territory in four days, establishing bridgeheads over the Dvina River. Elevated to head the 11th Army in September, he overran the Crimea and captured Sevastopol in July 1942. This victory earned him a field marshal's baton. After the Soviets encircled the German 6th Army at Stalingrad, Hitler put Manstein in charge of Army Group Don in November 1942 with orders to relieve the city. Not even Manstein could prevent the Red Army from capturing Stalingrad in February 1943, and a battered Army Group Don retreated west of the Donets River. Manstein then turned on the Soviets with a masterful counterattack in March and retook Kharkov.

The Red Army regained the initiative in the summer of 1943. Hitler insisted that German troops stand their ground to the last man, but Manstein argued that the Wehrmacht should withdraw before heavy enemy thrusts, accumulate reserves, and counterattack once the Soviets outran their supply lines. An inflexible Fuhrer dismissed Manstein on March 30, 1944. The Allies tried Manstein for war crimes after the war. He served three years in prison. After his release, he settled in Bavaria, wrote his memoirs, and died on June 10, 1973.

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