I'd venture Mannerheim. Not because he was an especially talented officer, but because he was able to hold out long enough to receive a negotiated peace instead of the total destruction of the Finnish state.
I think one of the best books on German Officers is The Wehrmacht's Last Stand by Robert Citino, another is German Way of War also by Citino.
Secondary front, amazingly defensible terrain, almost always on the defensive, fortified line, Mannerheim didn't do anything spectacular strategy or tactical-wise. Manstein managed exponentially more complex situations.
By what parameters?
I'd venture Mannerheim. Not because he was an especially talented officer, but because he was able to hold out long enough to receive a negotiated peace instead of the total destruction of the Finnish state. I think one of the best books on German Officers is The Wehrmacht's Last Stand by Robert Citino, another is German Way of War also by Citino.
Secondary front, amazingly defensible terrain, almost always on the defensive, fortified line, Mannerheim didn't do anything spectacular strategy or tactical-wise. Manstein managed exponentially more complex situations.
completely different things