What were the main contribution of Manstein during WW2?

Question

And what happened to him in his final days?

Answer 1

Fritz Erich von Manstein was the tenth child of the aristocratic artillery officer General Eduard von Lewinski and Helene von Sperling. Upon his birth, he was given for adoption by his childless uncle Lieutenant General Georg von Manstein; "You got a healthy boy today", said the Lewinskis via telegraph. "Mother and child well. Congratulations." The adoption was officially recorded in 1896 upon the death of Eduard von Lewinski. In addition to his biological and adopted father as military men, two of Manstein's grandfathers had also been Prussian generals, as well as his mother's brother. It was expected of him when he joined the cadet corps in 1900, and became an ensign in the Third Foot Guards Regiment's Fusilier battalion in Mar 1906. He attended the War Academy in 1913, and upon the completion the following year he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. During WW1, Manstein served on both fronts. He was wounded on the Russian front in Nov 1914, and became a staff officer after his recovery for the remainder of the war.

Erich von Manstein passed away in Irschenhausen, Bavaria. He now rests eternally in Dorfmark. He left behind a legacy of being one of the ablest German generals of WW2, defeating numerically stronger Russians with superior maneuvers. Erich von Manstein and his wife Jutta Sibylle von Loesch had three children; his oldest son, Gero, was killed in battle on the Eastern Front in Oct 1942.

Answer 2

His main contribution was the stablization of the eastern front after the debacle at Stalingrad in 1942. Although he was unable to break the encirclement, he blunted the Red Army's nose. His biggest victory was at the 3rd Battle of Kharkov where he beat a Red Army 7 times his size. His strategic genius and his II SS Panzer Army under the tactical leadership of Paul Hausser at least delayed the Red onslought.