Manstein informed him that an immediate counterattack on Kharkov would be fruitless, but that he could successfully attack the overextended Soviet flank with his five Panzer Corps, and recapture the city later.
Von Manstein meddelte ham, at et omgående modangreb mod Kharkov ville være frugtesløst, men at han med held kunne angribe de sårbare sovjetiske flanker med sine 5 panserkorps og generobre Kharkov senere.