Albrecht Gustav von Manstein
Encyclopedia
Albert Ehrenreich Gustav von Manstein (24 August 1805 - 11 May 1877) was a Prussian general who served during the Austro-Prussian War
and the Franco-German War. He was the adoptive grandfather of Erich von Manstein
.
Manstein entered the 3rd Infantry Regiment in 1822. In 1841 he was promoted to first lieutenant and he became an adjutant
on the staff of the I Army Corps. By 1864 he had been promoted to the rank of Major General
(Generalleutnant) and given command of the 6th Infantry division, which he led during the Second Schleswig War 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
.
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
. For his services during the war he was awarded 100.000 thaler
. He retired in 1873.
Austro-Prussian War
The Austro-Prussian War was a war fought in 1866 between the German Confederation under the leadership of the Austrian Empire and its German allies on one side and the Kingdom of Prussia with its German allies and Italy on the...
and the Franco-German War. He was the adoptive grandfather of Erich von Manstein
Erich von Manstein
Erich von Manstein was a field marshal in World War II. He became one of the most prominent commanders of Germany's World War II armed forces...
.
Manstein entered the 3rd Infantry Regiment in 1822. In 1841 he was promoted to first lieutenant and he became an adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
on the staff of the I Army Corps. By 1864 he had been promoted to the rank of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
(Generalleutnant) and given command of the 6th Infantry division, which he led during the Second Schleswig War in the Battle of Dybbøl
Battle of Dybbøl
The Battle of Dybbøl was the key battle of the Second War of Schleswig and occurred on the morning of 18 April 1864 following a siege lasting from 7 April. Denmark suffered a severe defeat against the German Confederation which decided the war...
and at Als
Battle of Als
The Battle of Als was fought on 29 June 1864 during the Second Schleswig War between Denmark and Prussia. It was the last major engagement of the war, as the Prussians under General Herwarth von Bittenfeld secured Als after a night attack masterminded by the Chief of Staff Leonhard Graf von...
. During the Austro-Prussian War he commanded the reserve of the First Army, which he led during the battle of Königgrätz
Battle of Königgrätz
The Battle of Königgrätz , also known as the Battle of Sadowa, Sadová, or Hradec Králové, was the decisive battle of the Austro-Prussian War, in which the Kingdom of Prussia defeated the Austrian Empire...
and for which he was awarded the Pour le Mérite
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
.
In 1867 Manstein was given command of IX Corps and was promoted to General der Infanterie
General of the Infantry (Germany)
General of the Infantry is a rank of general in the Imperial Army, Reichswehr or Wehrmacht - the second-highest regular rank. The same rank spread to the Imperial Russian Army and the Defence forces of Finland between the world wars...
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
Battle of Gravelotte
The Battle of Gravelotte was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War named after Gravelotte, a village in Lorraine between Metz and the former French–German frontier.-Terrain and armies:...
. After the fall of the Second Empire, Manstein fought in the Loire valley in the campaigns at Orleans and Le Mans
Battle of Le Mans
The Battle of Le Mans was a Prussian victory during the Franco-Prussian War which ended French resistance in western France.-Background:After the victory at the Battle of Orleans , Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia marched his army further to the west towards Le Mans. Antoine Chanzy had under his...
. For his services during the war he was awarded 100.000 thaler
Thaler
The Thaler was a silver coin used throughout Europe for almost four hundred years. Its name lives on in various currencies as the dollar or tolar. Etymologically, "Thaler" is an abbreviation of "Joachimsthaler", a coin type from the city of Joachimsthal in Bohemia, where some of the first such...
. He retired in 1873.