Heinz Guderian: Blitzkrieg or Lightning War

Heinz Guderian

Heinz Guderian was the father of a world changing military strategy that used rapid advancing armored units in World War II. He pushed hard for the idea that tanks should not only be used to support infantry but should be the “speerspitze” or spearhead of the German armed forces (Alexander pg 31). This strategy named Blitzkrieg or “lightening war” in English was the complete reverse of traditional military thinking in the first part of the 20th century. His military strategy would to lead the German army into stunning victory and would cause the allies reeling to catch up. Heinz Guderian’s blitzkrieg was almost lost in pages of history do to the extreme disapproval in the German high command, only his resolve and complete dedication to this revolutionary idea would keep it alive.

Heinz Guderian was a German general in the Second World War, but the seeds of his idea were planted a decade earlier. Guderian in 1931 was promoted in rank and become the inspector of the Motorized troops in the German Army. It was here that he began his studies of the tank and its potential on the battlefield. He gained confidence in his idea with the readings of English military strategist like Basil Liddell Hart and John Fuller. These men viewed tanks much like Napoleon Bonaparte’s use of his Calvary; these fast moving men on horseback would work their way into the rear of the enemy causing the line to decay and fail. This concept was applied to the tank and Guderian saw the future of warfare as fast paced decisive combat. He saw that advancements in technology since World War I enabled the ability for fast moving armored units to be supported from the air and thus giving them the scope, and range to move deep into enemy territory(Ail...

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...plans and tactics were used was from is utmost dedication and resolve in the face of adversity.

Works Cited

Ailsby, Christopher. The Third Reich Day by Day. St. Paul, MN: Zenith Press, 2001. Print.

Alexander, Bevin. Inside the Nazi War Machine: How Three Generals Unleashed Hitler's Blitzkrieg upon the World. NAL Caliber, 2010. Print.

Boot, Max. War Made New: Weapons, Warriors, and the Making of the Modern World. Gotham, 2007. Print.

Foley, Robert T. World Wars: Blitzkrieg. Web. Feb. & March 2014. .

Jackson, Julian. THE FALL OF FRANCE the Nazi Invasion of 1940. Oxford University, 2003. Print.

Shaw, Antony. World War II Day by Day. Paul, MN: Zenith Press, 2000. Print.

2014: History Channel, Blitzkrieg- World War II. Web. Feb. & March 2014.

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