Heinz Guderian
| Heinz Guderian | |
|---|---|
Heinz Guderian on the Eastern Front, July 1941
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| Nickname(s) |
Schneller Heinz (Fast Heinz) Hammering Heinz |
| Born |
17 June 1888 Kulm, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire (now Chełmno, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland) |
| Died | 14 May 1954 (aged 65) Schwangau, Bavaria, West Germany |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany (after 1945) |
| Years of service | 1907–54 |
| Rank | Generaloberst |
| Commands held |
2. Panzer Division XVI. Armeekorps XIX. Armeekorps Panzergruppe Guderian/Panzergruppe 2/2. Panzerarmee |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
| Relations | Heinz-Günther Guderian |
World War II
▪ Invasion of Poland
° Battle of Tuchola Forest
° Battle of Wizna
° Battle of Brzesc Litewski
° Battle of Kobryn
▪ Battle of France
° Battle of Sedan
▪ Operation Barbarossa
° Battle of Bialystok-Minsk
° Battle of Smolensk
° Battle of Kiev (1941)
° Battle of Bryansk
° Battle of Moscow
Heinz Wilhelm Guderian (German: [ɡuˈdeʀi̯an]; 17 June 1888 – 14 May 1954) was a German general (colonel-general from 1940) during World War II, noted for his success as a leader of Panzer units in Poland and France and for partial success in the Soviet Union.
Guderian had pioneered motorized tactics in the pre-war army, while keeping himself well informed about tank development in other armies. In particular, he promoted the use of radio communication between tank-crews, and devised shock-tactics that proved highly effective. In 1940, he led the Panzers that broke the French defences at Sedan, France, leading to the surrender of France. In 1941, his attack on Moscow was delayed by orders from Hitler with whom he disagreed sharply. After the German defeat at the Battle of Moscow he was transferred to the reserve. This marked the end of his ascendancy.
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Wikipedia