Editing Erich von Manstein (section)

==Early life==
Manstein was born '''Fritz Erich Georg Eduard von Lewinski''' in [[Berlin]] into the noble [[Lewinski family]], the tenth son of a [[Prussia]]n [[aristocrat]] and [[artillery]] general, [[Eduard von Lewinski]] (1829–1906), and Helene von Sperling (1847–1910). His father's family had [[Kashubians|Kashubian]] ancestry and was entitled to use the [[Brochwicz coat of arms]] (Brochwicz III).{{sfn|Kosk|2001|p={{Page needed|date=October 2012}}}} Hedwig von Sperling (1852–1925), Helene's younger sister, was married to Lieutenant General Georg von Manstein (1844–1913); the couple was unable to have children, so they adopted Erich. They had previously adopted Erich's cousin Martha, the daughter of Helene's and Hedwig's deceased brother.{{sfn|Melvin|2010|p=10}}

Manstein's biological and adoptive fathers were both Prussian generals, as were his mother's brother and both his grandfathers (His paternal grandfather, [[Albrecht Gustav von Manstein]], had led a corps in the [[Franco-Prussian War]] of 1870–71, and maternal grandfather, [[Oskar von Sperling]], was the chief of staff of [[First Army (Franco-Prussian War)|First Army]]). Sixteen relatives on each side of his family were military officers, many of whom rose to the rank of general. [[Paul von Hindenburg]], the future ''Generalfeldmarschall'' and [[President of Germany (1919–1945)|President of Germany]], was his uncle; Hindenburg's wife, Gertrud, was the sister of Hedwig and Helene.{{sfn|Lemay|2010|p=12}}

Manstein attended the Imperial ''Lyzeum'', a Catholic ''[[Gymnasium (school)|Gymnasium]]'' in [[Strasbourg]], from 1894 to 1899.{{sfn|Melvin|2010|p=13}} Then he entered the [[Cadet Corps|cadet corps]]. As a cadet, Manstein was reported to be intelligent and capable.{{Sfn|Lemay|2010|p=14}} In March 1906, after six years in the cadet corps in [[Plön]] and [[Lichterfelde (Berlin)|Groß-Lichterfelde]], he was commissioned into the Third Foot Guards Regiment (''Garde zu Fuß'') as an ensign. He was promoted to lieutenant in January 1907 and in October 1913 began the three-year officer training programme at the [[Prussian War Academy]]. However, Manstein only completed the first year of the programme, as when the [[First World War]] began in August 1914 all students of the academy were ordered to report for active service.{{sfn|Melvin|2010|pp=20–21, 23}} He never completed the remainder of his general staff officer training.{{sfn|Lemay|2010|p=14}}