Heinz Guderian (17 Jun. 1888 - 14 May 1954)
Guderian was the commander of the XIX Corps when the war began, leading them in the Battles of Wizna and Kobryn during the invasion of Poland. It was here when Guderian first tried his armoured divisions and the theory of blitzkrieg. He took an estate in Poland after the invasion. During the invasion of France, he led troops through the Ardennes, leading his panzer forces through the French defences at Sedan and later splitting the French and British forces in two.
In 1941, during the invasion of the Soviet Union, he led Panzergruppe 2, and from October he commanded the Second Panzer Army, capturing Smolensk and preparing to attack Moscow before he was ordered to attack Kiev. In December he was relieved of command following protestation at Hitler’s orders, and Field Marshal von Kluge’s claims that Guderian had withdrawn. He was then transferred to the reserves.
March 1943 saw Guderian’s return. Rommel suggested Guderian as a replacement for him in Africa, but this was refused. Guderian came back following defeat at Stalingrad, being appointed Inspector-General of Armoured Troops, reporting directly to Hitler on all aspects of armoured units. He became chief of staff of the army in July 1944 following the July 20 plot (which he was not part of) and he was finally dismissed in March 1945 after several arguments with Hitler. He surrendered to American troops in May.
For more information on Heinz Guderian:
Macksey, Kenneth. 2nd edn. Guderian: Panzer General (London: Greenhill Books), 2003.
Weir, William. 50 Military Leaders Who Changed the World (Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press), 2007.
In 1941, during the invasion of the Soviet Union, he led Panzergruppe 2, and from October he commanded the Second Panzer Army, capturing Smolensk and preparing to attack Moscow before he was ordered to attack Kiev. In December he was relieved of command following protestation at Hitler’s orders, and Field Marshal von Kluge’s claims that Guderian had withdrawn. He was then transferred to the reserves.
March 1943 saw Guderian’s return. Rommel suggested Guderian as a replacement for him in Africa, but this was refused. Guderian came back following defeat at Stalingrad, being appointed Inspector-General of Armoured Troops, reporting directly to Hitler on all aspects of armoured units. He became chief of staff of the army in July 1944 following the July 20 plot (which he was not part of) and he was finally dismissed in March 1945 after several arguments with Hitler. He surrendered to American troops in May.
For more information on Heinz Guderian:
Macksey, Kenneth. 2nd edn. Guderian: Panzer General (London: Greenhill Books), 2003.
Weir, William. 50 Military Leaders Who Changed the World (Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press), 2007.