WW2 - General Heinz Guderian

After service as a staff officer in World War One, Heinz Guderian became first a signals, then a transport officer. It was this background, above all, which would lead to his emergence as the most innovative and effective of all German tank theorists.

Guderian worked on the development of Germany's first tanks when they were still prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles. After Hitler's renunciation of the Treaty, Guderian was promoted to General and appointed commander of one of Germany's first three Panzer divisions. His book on the theory of armoured warfare, 'Achtung Panzer' was influential in shaping Germany' s armoured forces.

Under the influence of British tank theorists, Guderian emphasised the independence of armoured formations. In battle, tank units were to be self-supporting, with their own artillery and motorised troops, rather than being dispersed to support infantry attacks.

In the invasion of Poland in September 1939, Guderian led the 19th Army Corps. As his theories demanded, the armour struck ahead of the mass of infantry, penetrating deep into enemy territory. The results were astonishing. Even where the Poles offered stiff resistance, speed and unremitting pressure by tank commanders, combined with tactical air support brought speedy victory.

In the May 1940 invasion of France, Guderian' s arguments were justified once more. Leading the 19th Panzer Corps, Guderian broke through French lines at Sedan, forced a crossing of the Meuse and struck out across France. The result was the cutting of Allied forces in two and ultimately, the British evacuation at Dunkirk and the Fall of France.

As Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union unfolded, Guderian's Second Panzer Group seemed to be heading for yet another dramatic series of victories. However, the Russian winter and the determined Soviet counterattacks of early December brought Guderian' s advance to a halt. After making a tactical withdrawal to improve his defensive position, he was dismissed by Hitler on Christmas Day 1941.

In March 1943, after the German disaster at Stalingrad, Guderian was recalled by Hitler and appointed Inspector of Armoured troops. Responsible for training, operations and tank production, Guderian wielded considerable power but met strong resistance to his reforms from political and military enemies.

After the Bomb Plot against Hitler in July 1944, Guderian unlike other senior commanders, did not fall under suspicion. He was promoted to Army Chief of Staff. Guderian held the position until March 28th 1945, when a heated argument with Hitler resulted in his dismissal.

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[DarknessOfWolf]

@zzhamstring Erwin Rommel... He refused to execute Jews and POWs captured in Africa when he commanded the Afrikacorps and generally disobeyed Hitler when he commanded him to do such atrocities and finally he committed suicide awaiting his execution on Hitler's orders...

[abhijitkaore]

I wonder what would have happened had Stauffenberg be successful and Guderian replace Hitler. Germany would still have to give up all the additional territories since allies had gained a lot of momentum till that time. But atleast Germany could have saved its faced as a murderous nation.

[cf80to01]

@silicon605 Here's the thing....I do know my military history. Here's another thing...don't get your military history (or any history for that matter) from the internet. I am sure you can post 100's of video's of crap, but they will just that. I can post a million video's that prove the world will end in 2012 and that aliens are sasquatches.....big fucking deal. If you want to argue REAL historical facts, let's debate.If you want to post horseshit, don't waste (pun intended) my time.

[712criminal]

im actually related to Hinez Guderian, he was born in eastern Prussia now Poland, he was born less than twenty miles from where my great great great grandfather was then he and his family moved to the Americas in the late 1800s, although my last name is not the same

[cf80to01]

@SuperBomber01 Indeed. That was my point.......a military that considered honour and loyalty such essential qualities allowed itself to use those atributes for pure evil.

[SuperBomber01]

@cf80to01 Even if Hitler was assassinated somehow, a possible internal strife between the SS and the military would have broken out. A good number of Germany's military staff also looked down on conspirators of the July 44 Plot as disloyal - this includes even the most able men, including Guderian and Manstein.

[SuperBomber01]

@zzhamstring von Rundstedt is said to have screamed at Hitler and other military officials "Make peace, you idiots!!!" during a meeting after the D-day landings, leading to his position being replaced - he was also commander of the Ardennes Offensive and dismissed in March 1945. Manstein also stood up against Hitler quite a lot regarding strategies at the Eastern Front, eventually being dismissed in early 1944. Many others were sacked/dismissed/transferred simply because they lost or retreated

[ericssson]

@TiagoAlmeidaCampos prussia is germany for fuck sake

[TiagoAlmeidaCampos]

The funniest is that HEINZ WILHELM VON GUDERIAN wasn't German in fact but Prussian by birth, and Armenian by blood... just like Austrian naturalized conductor HERBERT VON KARAJAN born in the Balkans but originally Armenian... I've read once that GUDERIAN met once before the WW2 CCCP Armenian Marshall IVAN BAGRAMIAN and Soviet Prime-Minister (some years later) ANASTAS MIKOYAN whose brother ARTEMI MIKOYAN invented with MIKHAIL GUREVICH the MIG aircrafts ("MI"koyan + "G"urevich)

[zzhamstring]

I admire Guderian for standing up to Hitler to speak his mind, even if it meant to be dismissed or relieved of command.

Some other generals & field marshalls had done this. I am unable to recollect who they are?