Albert Ehrenreich Gustav von Manstein (24 August 1805 in Willkischken – 11 May 1877 in

Flensburg Flensburg (; Danish language, Danish and ; ; ) is an independent city, independent town in the far north of the Germany, German state of Schleswig-Holstein. After Kiel and Lübeck, it is the third-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein. Flensburg's ...

) was a Prussian general who served during the Austro-Prussian War and the

Franco-Prussian War The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the War of 1870, was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the North German Confederation led by the Kingdom of Prussia. Lasting from 19 July 1870 to 28 Janua ...

. He was the adoptive grandfather of Erich von Manstein.

Biography

Manstein entered the 3rd Infantry Regiment in 1822. In 1841 he was promoted to first lieutenant and he became an

adjutant Adjutant is a military appointment given to an Officer (armed forces), officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of “human resources” in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed ...

on the staff of the I Army Corps. By 1864 he had been promoted to the rank of Major General () and given command of the 6th Infantry Division, which he led during the

Second Schleswig War The Second Schleswig War (; or German Danish War), also sometimes known as the Dano-Prussian War or Prusso-Danish War, was the second military conflict over the Schleswig–Holstein question of the nineteenth century. The war began on 1 Februar ...

in the Battle of Dybbøl and at Als. During the Austro-Prussian War he commanded the reserve of the First Army, which he led during the battle of Königgrätz and for which he was awarded the

Pour le Mérite The (; , ), also informally known as the ''Blue Max'' () after German WWI flying ace Max Immelmann, is an order of merit established in 1740 by King Frederick II of Prussia. Separated into two classes, each with their own designs, the was ...

. In 1867, Manstein was given command of IX Corps and was promoted to General der Infanterie in 1868. When the Franco-German War started in August 1870, IX Corps became part of the Second Army of Prince Friedrich Karl. Manstein and his Corps distinguished themselves at Gravelotte. After the fall of the Second Empire, Manstein fought in the Loire Valley in the campaigns at Orleans and

Le Mans Le Mans (; ) is a Communes of France, city in Northwestern France on the Sarthe (river), Sarthe River where it meets the Huisne. Traditionally the capital of the Provinces of France, province of Maine (province), Maine, it is now the capital of ...

. For his services during the war he was awarded 100.000

thaler A thaler or taler ( ; , previously spelled ) is one of the large silver coins minted in the states and territories of the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburg monarchy during the Early Modern period. A ''thaler'' size silver coin has a diameter o ...

s. He retired in 1873.

Honours and awards

Kingdom of Prussia The Kingdom of Prussia (, ) was a German state that existed from 1701 to 1918.Marriott, J. A. R., and Charles Grant Robertson. ''The Evolution of Prussia, the Making of an Empire''. Rev. ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1946. It played a signif ...

: ** Knight of the Order of the Red Eagle, 1st Class with Oak Leaves and Swords, ''1864''; Grand Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords on Ring (50 years), ''3 October 1872'' **

(military), ''21 April 1864''; with Oak Leaves, ''20 September 1866'' ** Service Award Cross **

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire (1871–1918), and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). The design, a black cross pattée with a white or silver outline, was derived from the in ...

(1870), 1st Class with 2nd Class on Black Band ** Grand Commander's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, with Swords and in Diamonds, ''16 June 1871'' ** Knight of the Order of the Black Eagle, ''29 July 1873'' * : Knight of the Military Order of Maria Theresa, ''1864'' * : ** Grand Cross of the Ludwig Order ** Military Merit Cross * Mecklenburg: ** Grand Cross of the House Order of the Wendish Crown, with Golden Crown ** Military Merit Cross, 1st Class (

Schwerin Schwerin (; Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch dialect, Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch Low German: ''Swerin''; Polabian language, Polabian: ''Zwierzyn''; Latin: ''Suerina'', ''Suerinum'') is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Germ ...

) ** Cross for Distinction in War ( Strelitz) * : Knight of the Order of St. George, 4th Class, ''27 December 1870''

Footnotes

References

* Howard, Michael, ''The Franco-Prussian War: The German Invasion of France 1870–1871'', New York: Routledge, 2001. . *Poten, Berhard von: ''Manstein, Albrecht Ehrenreich Gustav v.'' in ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' (ADB). Band 20, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1884, S. 248. {{DEFAULTSORT:Manstein, Albrecht Gustav Von 1805 births 1877 deaths People from Pagėgiai Municipality Military personnel from East Prussia German untitled nobility Generals of Infantry (Prussia) Prussian military personnel of the Second Schleswig War Prussian people of the Austro-Prussian War German military personnel of the Franco-Prussian War Recipients of the Pour le Mérite (military class) Recipients of the Iron Cross (1870), 1st class Knights Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa Recipients of the Order of St. George of the Fourth Degree