Helped by his defensive successes, he thus gained Hitler's full trust and confidence; the Führer called him "my best field marshal" and (after Operation Bagration) "the saviour of the Eastern Front".
Ved hjælp af sine defensive succeser fik han således Hitlers fulde tillid, og føreren kaldte ham "min bedst feltmarskal" og (efter operation Bagration) "Østfrontens redningsmand".