Bio of Oberst Johannes Manitius (1889-1950)

Johannes "Hans" Manitius

Date of Birth: 12.05.1889 - Rittergut Nöbeditz, Kreis Weißenfels, Provinz Sachsen (German Empire)
Date of Death: 13.12.1950 - Hamburg (Germany)

Parents: Paul Manitius (manor owner) and Dorothea Diederichs
Siblings: Paul Manitius (killed in action on 10.03.1915 as a 17-year old Kriegsfreiwilliger in Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 32) and Heinrich Manitius (killed in action on 22.11.1917 as a Leutnant der Reserve also in Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 32, commanded to Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 99)
Spouse: Elsa Schönheit (married 04.08.1914)
Children: Johannes Manitius (13.11.1916. Missing in action 20.7.1944)

Promotions:
24.03.1909 Leutnant
18.06.1915 Oberleutnant
15.07.1918 Hauptmann
01.07.1935 Hauptmann (E) mit RDA vom 01.01.1930
01.11.1935 Major (E) (25)
01.03.1940 Oberstleutnant (E) (55)
01.12.1940 Oberstleutnant mit RDA vom 01.03.1940 (41b)
01.04.1942 Oberst (33)

Career:
24.03.1909 transferred from the main cadet establishment to Infanterie-Regiment 31
08.08.1914 Kompanieführer
08.11.1915 transferred to 108. Infanterie-Division
18.01.1917 Ordonnanzoffizier im Stab der 108. Infanterie-Division
10.01.1918 served in Feld-Artillerie-Regiment 243
11.06.1918 transferred to the staff of 233. Infanterie-Division
15.11.1918 Führer I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 161
10.01.1919 Kommandant Kriegsgefangenenlager Lockstedt
xx.03.1919 Stab Kommandantur von Hamburg
26.05.1919 Hilfsoffizier im Stab des I. Armeekorps
31.03.1920 left the military
01.04.1935 employed again as a supplementary officer candidate at the staff of II. Armeekorps (Stettin)
01.07.1935 Ausbildungsleiter Woldenberg
06.10.1936 Ausbildungsleiter Kyritz
01.12.1936 Ausbildungsleiter Berlin 3
26.08.1939 Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 386
05.09.1942 Führerreserve OKH (III)
01.10.1942 Kommandeur Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 257
25.01.1943 Kommandeur Grenadier-Ersatz-Regiment 523
01.08.1944 Kommandeur Lehrstabes 4 at the Infanterieschule

Awards and Decorations:
16.09.1914 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
27.01.1916 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.191_ Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz
00.00.191_ Lübeckisches Hanseatenkreuz
28.01.1918 Österreich-Ungarisches Militärverdienstkreuz III.Klasse mit der Kriegsdekoration
25.04.1935 Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914-1918
02.10.1936 Wehrmacht (Heer) Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis III.Klasse
26.11.1939 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
20.06.1940 1939 spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
03.04.1942 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Oberstleutnant and Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 386 / 218.Infanterie-Division and Ia Kampfgruppe Scherer
01.10.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
31.10.1942 Cholmschild
03.12.1943 Kriegsverdienstkreuz II.Klasse mit Schwertern

The staff of Kampfrguppe Scherer in the besieged Cholm, April 1942. Third from right is Generalmajor Theodor Scherer (Kommandeur), while second from right is Johannes Manitius (Ia Operationsoffizier). They were both receives the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for their tenacious defence of Cholm. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Richard Muck of PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) 501. After the war Muck published the book "Kampfgruppe Scherer: 105 Tage im Kessel von Cholm. Zeitgeschichte im Bild".

Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Oberst Johannes Manitius (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 386 / 218.Infanterie-Division and, at the same time, Ia Kampfgruppe Scherer) which were held at the besieged Cholm in the northern sector of the Eastern Front. The location of the ceremony was in front of a bunker, and at that time Kampfgruppe Scherer were still surrounded by Russian troops and isolated from other Wehrmacht units. As the result, the four officers of Kampfgruppe Scherer who won the Ritterkreuz got their medals from air shipments dropped by friendly aircraft! Awarding the medal is Generalmajor Theodor Scherer (Kommandeur Kampfgruppe Scherer). Manitius himself formally received the Ritterkreuz on 3 April 1942. On the same day he was promoted from Oberstleutnant to Oberst. Other pictures from the same series can be seen HERE.

Oberst Johannes Manitius (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 386 / 218.Infanterie-Division and, at the same time, Ia Kampfgruppe Scherer) posing for the camera after receiving the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, April 1942. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Richard Muck of PK (Propaganda-Kompanie) 501.

Oberst Johannes Manitius.

Source :
Bundesarchiv photo collection
"Kampfgruppe Scherer: 105 Tage im Kessel von Cholm. Zeitgeschichte im Bild" by Richard Muck
https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/pnd1017461880.html?language=en
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=235044
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/47279/Manitius-Johannes-Hans.htm
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/campaign_awards/shields/cholm_files/cholmbattle.htm