What was Manstein, one of the three great generals of the German army, doing when Berlin fell in World War II? Where did he go?
Erich von Manstein was born in Berlin on 24 November 1887. He was born into a prestigious family of the Eight Classics of Zheng'er, and his father was a German artillery general. Growing up in such a military family, Manstein was destined to grow up to be a soldier, and at the age of 19 he had already graduated from the Berlin Army Officer School and the Berlin Military Academy at the age of 21! During the First World War, he served as an aide-de-camp and division chief!
After the end of World War I, he served as a staff officer in the Wehrmacht! It wasn't until Hitler came to power that Manstein's military prowess was brought into play again!
Then World War II broke out, Manstein participated in military operations in Austria, Czechoslovakia, Sudetenland and other military operations!
But what really made Manstein famous was the Battle of France, which preceded Hitler's adoption of his famous "Manstein Plan."
The Germans set out from the rugged and forested Ardennes Mountains, and unprepared the French, because of Manstein's plan, germany defeated the French at the lowest cost and in the shortest time.
The whole world did not expect that in just 40 days, France, which claimed to be the world's first army, lost to the "Manstein Plan". Since then, Manstein's great name has resounded on the world military stage!.
After the battle of France, Manstein was appreciated by Hitler, and immediately added him to the rank of knight, appointing Manstein as the commander of the German 56th Panzer Army.
World War II grew with Hitler's ambitions, and then in June 1941, the Soviet-German War broke out, and Manstein's performance on the battlefield was even more prominent, he defeated several times the Soviet troops on the Crimean Peninsula and captured the Crimean Peninsula.
He then successfully resisted the counteroffensive organized by the Soviet army, and also captured more than 170,000 Soviet troops, and after Manstein's great achievements, Hitler promoted him to the rank of field marshal. It was also Manstein's brightest moment!
But then, due to Hitler's overreach, the differences between Manstein and Hitler grew. The Soviet-German battlefield underwent a series of micro-operations by Hitler, and after entering the winter, the German army's superiority in the battlefield suddenly took a sharp turn!
But after the Battle of Stalingrad, Manstein briefly regained the initiative in the war through his outstanding military prowess.
However, Hitler continued to intervene in Manstein's command, leading the Soviets to regain the initiative on the battlefield.
Dissatisfied with Hitler's command according to his own imagination, Manstein suggested that Hitler only engage in politics, not interfere in military command, and let professional people do professional things, which made Hitler very faceless.
Finally, shortly after the Battle of Kursk, Manstein succeeded in becoming the backstabber of the German defeat on the Eastern Front. Removed from office by Hitler!
After Manstein's dismissal, he began a life of rest at home until he was captured by the British after the surrender of Germany. After the war, Manstein was also sentenced to 18 years in prison for the war, but after three years in prison he was released from prison and later held the position of military adviser in the Army of the Federal Republic of Germany until his death in 1973 at the age of 86.