To be honest Kai, all Manstein did was buy the Germans a few months. At this stage (early 1943) it was apparent that the Germans had the Tiger by the tail but couldnt let it go. I take your well-made point about the German losses in 1941 but in 1942 they were still able to take the offensive albeit in one army group area only. After Stalingrad the entire southern Flank was in disarray and losing 300,000 men has gotta hurt. And we all know what happened in Operation Citadel...............