Manstein was justifiably dubbed "the saviour of the Eastern Front" for his efforts in turning back the Russian tide. Hitler declared I SS Panzer Corps to be "worth 20 Italian divisions". Of more importance to those divisions, though, was the Führer's express order to General Zeitzler, his Army Chief of Staff, that "we must see that the SS gets the necessary personnel". And, in preparation for the summer campaign season, it was also to be given priority when it came to delivery of the latest Panzer V Panther tanks, much to the annoyance of the army. A combination of mud and exhaustion brought military operations to a halt on the Eastern Front in mid-March 1943. Both sides needed to reorganize and re-equip for the forthcoming campaign season.

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