Heinz Guderian

Heinz Guderian (June 17th, 1888 with Kulm, nowadays Chełmno in Poland - Schwangau in Bavaria May 14th, 1954) was a German general officer.

He is known like the creator of Panzer of the Nazi Germany during the Second world war and one of the founders of the doctrines of the lightning war (of [[Blitzkrieg]]) for the tanks by his book of Achtung Panzer! (1937). It was one of the rare people who dared to discuss the decisions and to defend her point of view on strategic subjects with Adolf Hitler while the other members of the German High command did not dare outward journey against the Führer.

Youth

It resulted from an old military family Prussian and his/her father was general. From 1901 to 1907 it followed several military academies before entering to the army like teaches in the battalion hanovrien ordered by his father. In 1911 it was transferred in the third battalion from telegraphy. In 1913, he married Margarete Goerne with which he had two wire.

First World War and Inter-war period

During the First World War, it was used as officer of indication then for the staff. It is there that it included/understood the futility of the war of distinct and advantages of a good radio communication on the battle field.

After the war, it remained with the new reorganized force of one hundred thousand men installation by the Traité of Versailles, the Reichswehr, where it specialized in the motorized war. Usually speaking the English and the French, it studied and was influenced by J.F.C. Fuller and to a lesser extent by Liddell Binder, which it translated. It was also interested by the doctrines developed by the young French officer Charles de Gaulle.

Second world war

During the Second world war, it starts by being useful as commander of XIX|19 E army corps in the countryside of Poland and France. He is the joint author of the plan Manstein with the general of the same name. It defends the idea that it was necessary to use the maximum of armoured tanks to bore the enemy lines.

It orders it XIX|19 E Panzerkorps at the head of the principal effort at the time of the Bored of Sedan and during the program of the 10 at May 28th, 1940 (Fall Gelb) which allowed then the invasion of France (of Fall Belch) of the 5 June 21st, 1940. During the invasion of lU.R.S.S. it is with the head of Panzergruppe 2 in the Opération Barbarossa which will be famous, starting from October 5th, 1941, in the second army panzer ( of 2. Panzer-army ). In December it is transferred in the reserve from [[Oberkommando of Heeres]].

Starting from March 1st, 1943, he is inspector-general of the armor-plated troops: under its impulse, the production of guns of attack will override that of tanks. The purpose of the gun of attack, at the same time very mobile, very protected and very armed was to break the Soviet attacks of tanks. Incorporated in motorized divisions ( panzergrenadieren ) and the units of infantry, it will allow for a great part, to avoid the rupture of the face in the east.

Starting from July 21st, 1944, he becomes chief of the staff of the army. He is put at the retirement on March 28th, 1945.

He is made prisoner by American the May 10th 1945 and is released the June 17th 1948 in spite of the protests of the Russian and Polish governments. He was not recognized, by the Procès of Nuremberg, culprit of war crimes, his actions having been considered to be coherent for a professional soldier.

His/her son Heinz Günther Guderian (August 23rd, 1914 - September 25th, 2004) was an officer of Wehrmacht then after the war, officer, Major Général and Inspecteur of the troops armor-plated of [[Bundeswehr]] and NATO.

Decorations

Quotations

“If the tanks succeed, then the victory follows. ”
“It does not have there desperate plights but only desperate people. ”

Books

  • Achtung Panzer! (1937, republished by Cassell Academic, 2000)
  • Panzer Leader (transl. of of Erinnerungen eines Soldaten ) (New York: Dutton, 1952, reprint DaCapo Close, 2001)

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