Hermann Balck vs Sam Manekshaw

Balck commanded the 11th Panzer Division on the Eastern Front. He led the division in the battles of the Don River bend and the Chir River, where it conducted successful counterattacks against Soviet forces.

Balck commanded the 48th Panzer Corps during the German defense against the Soviet Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive. His corps conducted a mobile defense that temporarily halted the Soviet advance, though the front ultimately collapsed.

Balck was appointed commander of the 4th Panzer Army on the Eastern Front. He led the army during the defensive battles in Galicia and Poland, attempting to contain the Soviet summer offensives.

Balck commanded Army Group G during the Battle of the Bulge, the German offensive in the Ardennes. His army group was tasked with secondary operations in Alsace, which failed to achieve their objectives.

Manekshaw served in the Burma Campaign during World War II. He was wounded in action and awarded the Military Cross for gallantry, gaining combat experience that shaped his later career.

Manekshaw was appointed Chief of Army Staff in 1969. He oversaw the modernization of the army and prepared it for the 1971 war, despite political pressure to act earlier.

As Chief of Army Staff, General Manekshaw led the Indian Army to a decisive victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war. The campaign resulted in the creation of Bangladesh and the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops.

Manekshaw was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal, the first Indian army officer to receive this five-star rank. The promotion recognized his leadership in the 1971 war and his long service.