Heinz Guderian (June 17, 1888 - May 14, 1954) was the well known "Panzer General" of the German Army during World War II, and one of the founders of the concept of blitzkrieg. He was pivotal in the development of German tanks between the wars and first wrote many of the principles of tank combat, most famous being the book Achtung Panzer!. Guderian was also one of the few people who dared to argue with Hitler.

Guderian was born in the old German West Prussian town of Kulm, now inside Poland. He was from an old military family, his father being a Prussian General. From 1901 to 1907 Guderian attended various military schools. He entered the army in 1908 as an Ensign in the 10th Hanoverian Jäger Battalion commanded by his father. In 1911 Guderian joined the 3rd Telegraphen-Battalion (Wireless-Battalion) in the army signal corps and in 1913 married Margarete Goerne, with whom he had two sons.

During the World War I he served as a Signals officer and later as a General Staff officer. World War I experience was crucial for shaping of his later views, for there he learned the futility of static warfare and the advantages of proper battlefield radio communications.

After the war, Guderian stayed in the newly reorganized 100.000 man German Army (Reichswehr) set by the Versailles Treaty, where he specialized in Motorized warfare. Fluent in both English and French, he studied and was greatly influenced by J.F.C. Fuller and to a lesser extent by B.H. Liddell Hart, he also translated their works into German. Guderian also took interest into the writings of the young French officer Charles de Gaulle.

In World War II he first served as the commander of the XIX Army Corps in the Polish campaign and the invasion of France. He commanded Panzer Group 2 in Operation Barbarossa and from October 5 1941 the Second Panzer Army. He was relieved of his command in December 1941 for ordering his army to withdraw in an attempt to save it from destruction, against Hitler's no withdrawals policy, he was then transferred to the reserve pool of the Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH, or Army General Staff).

After the German defeat at Stalingrad, Guderian was recalled to active service and on March 1, 1943 became the Inspector-General of the Armoured Troops. On July 21, 1944 he became the Chief of the OKH. After bitter arguments with Hitler he was dismissed and sent on leave on March 28, 1945.

Guderian was not charged with any war crimes during the Nuremberg Trials, as his actions and behavior were considered consistent with that of a professional soldier.

Guderian's son, Heinz Günther Guderian also became a prominent General in the postwar German Bundeswehr and NATO.

Quotes

• "Whenever in future wars the battle is fought, armored troops will play the decisive role.."
• "If the tanks succeed, then victory follows."
• "There are no desperate situations, there are only desperate people."
• "The engine of the tank is a weapon just as the main-gun."
• "It is decisive to completely destroy Warsaw."
• "It is sometimes tougher to fight my superiors than the French."
• "Don't tickle with the fingers...smash with the fist."

Books

• Achtung Panzer! (1937, reissued by Cassell Academic , 2000) ISBN 0304352853
• Panzer Leader (transl. of Erinnerungen eines Soldaten) (New York: Dutton , 1952, reprint DaCapo Press , 2001) ISBN 0306811014

Reference

• Kenneth Macksey , Guderian: Panzer General (1992, revision of Guderian, Creator of the Blitzkrieg, 1976)