German Forces

Manstein.

Studio portrait (colour) of Erich von Manstein, wearing (at throat) the Knight's Crosss of the Iron Cross and the Cross of the (Romanian) Order of Michael the Brave (Second Class), and the ribbon with clasp of the House Order of the Royal House of Hohenzollern with Swords. This portrait may have been created to mark von Manstein's receipt of the Order of Michael the Brave (Second Class); he had previously received the same Order in the Third Class. If this is so, it may also explain the fact that he is wearing the Hohenzollern Order, awarded in WWI (the Romanian throne was occupied by a branch of the Royal/Imperial House of Hohenzollern at this time, and awarded its own version of the Hohenzollern Order). That having been said, there are numerous other photographs of von Manstein wearing the Hohenzollern Order in place of the Iron Cross Second Class ribbon (with or without 1939 clasp); in WWI, the Hohenzollern Order with Swords grade was awarded to commissioned officers only, and was regarded as ranking somewhere between the Iron Cross First Class and the Blue Max. Best regards, JR.