Erich von Manstein

Quotes

• “If Paulus's army had capitulated before the end, the Russians would have had the advantage of withdrawing forces against Paulus and against the southern front, where I had only two Romanian armies. Therefore, the resistance of the Sixth German Army, even to the death of the last man, was necessary.”
• “I tried at that time to relieve the Sixth Army, of which I was supreme commander, above Paulus, by counterattacks - but it was not possible. I gave the order finally for the Sixth Army to break out, but then Paulus said it was too late and not possible. Hitler did not want the Sixth Army to break out at any time, but to fight to the last man. I believe that Hitler said if the Sixth Army tried to break out, it would be their death.”
• “It has always been the particular forte of German leadership to grant wide scope to the self-dependence of subordinate commanders - to allot them tasks which leave the method of execution to the discretion of the individual. From time immemorial - certainly since the elder Moltke's day - this principle has distinguished Germany's military leadership from that of other armies.”
• “But it is a well-known maxim of war that whoever tries to hold on to everything at once, finishes up by holding nothing at all.”

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Key dates

Born

24 November 1887

Died

11 June 1973

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Wikidata facts

Instance of

human

Given name

Erich

Gender

male

Citizenship

Germany

Place of birth

Berlin

Place of death

Munich

Father

Eduard von Lewinski

Occupation

general field marshal

Languages spoken

German

Conflict

Battle of the Dnieper

Military branch

Imperial German Army

Military rank

general field marshal

Image

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-H01758, Erich v. Manstein.jpg

Convicted of

war crime

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