Knowra Heinz Guderian Heinz Guderian Heinz Guderian was a German army officer who helped develop and command the Wehrmacht’s armored forces during World War II. His writings and battlefield leadership made him a prominent advocate of concentrated, mobile tank warfare.
Erwin Rommel : Erwin Rommel was a German field marshal who commanded forces in North Africa and Europe during World War II. Like Guderian, Rommel became associated with fast-moving German armored operations.
Blitzkrieg : Blitzkrieg is a popular name for rapid, concentrated military operations intended to disrupt an enemy before it can respond. Guderian became closely associated with the fast, coordinated campaigns later called Blitzkrieg.
Invasion of Poland : The Invasion of Poland began on 1 September 1939, when Germany attacked Poland, starting World War II in Europe. Guderian commanded German armored forces during the campaign that opened the European war.
Infantry tank : An infantry tank is an armored vehicle designed primarily to support infantry rather than operate in fast, independent formations. It represents the supporting role for tanks that Guderian opposed in favor of concentrated armored units.
Panzer Leader : Panzer Leader is Heinz Guderian’s memoir, first published in German in 1951. The memoir presents Guderian’s account of armored warfare, his career, and his disputes with Hitler.
Ludwig Beck : Ludwig Beck was a German general who resigned as chief of the General Staff in 1938 over Hitler’s war plans. Beck served as chief of the Army General Staff before Guderian held senior armored commands.
Panzer division : A Panzer division was a German combined-arms formation built around tanks and supported by infantry, artillery, and other units. Guderian advocated organizing tanks into concentrated formations rather than dispersing them among infantry.
Battle of France : The Battle of France was the 1940 campaign in which Germany defeated France and its allies in western Europe. Guderian’s corps advanced through the Ardennes and helped drive the German breakthrough.
Erich von Manstein : Erich von Manstein was a German field marshal and operational planner during World War II. Manstein’s role in planning the 1940 campaign offers a counterpoint to accounts centered on Guderian.
German rearmament : German rearmament was the expansion and modernization of Germany’s armed forces, especially under Nazi rule. Guderian’s advocacy and institutional work formed part of the expansion of Germany’s armored forces.
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