On 25 December 1941 he was appointed the Supreme Commander of the 2nd Panzer Army which later took part in Operation Citadel and in January 1942 he was promoted to Generaloberst.
On 25 December 1941 he was appointed the Supreme Commander of the 2nd Panzer Army (replacing the sacked General Guderian). In January 1942 he was promoted to Generaloberst.