Hasso von Manteuffel

Hasso-Eccard Freiherr von Manteuffel
Freiherr von Manteuffel in May 1944
Born	(1897-01-14)14 January 1897 Potsdam, Province of Brandenburg, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died	24 September 1978(1978-09-24) (aged 81) Reith, Tyrol, Austria
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany (to 1945)  West Germany
Years of service	1908–45
Rank	General der Panzertruppe
Commands held	Panzer-Grenadier-Division Großdeutschland
Battles/wars	World War I battle of Verdun World War II Operation Barbarossa Battle of Tunisia Battle of the Dnieper First Jassy–Kishinev Offensive First Battle of Târgu Frumos Lorraine Campaign Battle of Arracourt Battle of the Bulge Siege of Bastogne Battle of Berlin
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
Other work	Politician

World War I

World War II

Hasso-Eccard Freiherr von Manteuffel (14 January 1897 – 24 September 1978) was a German general during World War II. He was one of only 27 holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds, awarded by Nazi Germany for successful military leadership.

After the war, he was elected to the Bundestag (West German legislature) and was the spokesman for defense of the Liberal Party. A proponent of rearmament, he was responsible for coining the new name for the post-World War II German armed forces, the Bundeswehr.

Hasso von Manteuffel began his military career during the First World War. In 1919, he joined the Freikorps and then the newly created Reichswehr. In February 1937 he joined the Panzer Troop Command of the OKH, and in February 1939 became a senior professor at Panzer Troop School II in Berlin. During Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, Manteuffel commanded a battalion in the 7th Panzer Division, in the Army Group Centre.

In early 1943, Manteuffel was sent to Africa, where on 5 February he became the commander of the Division von Broich/von Manteuffel, serving in 5th Panzer Army. Here Manteuffel took part in the Battle of Tunisia. Manteuffel assumed command of the 7th Panzer Division on 22 August 1943 and was posted to the Eastern Front, which had by then collapsed following the Battle of Kursk and the resulting Soviet counteroffensive. The division retreated during the resulting Battle of the Dnieper.