Guderian; Creator of the Blitzkrieg
Briar Cliff Manor, N.Y. Stein and Day, 1976. Book Club Edition. Hardcover. 262, [2] pages. Includes Comparative Table of Officers' Ranks in the German, British and American Armies, List of Illustrations, List of Maps, and Preface, Bibliography, and Index. Chapters include A Peculiar Fellow; Factors for the Future; The Blackest Days; The Search for a Saviour, The Creation of the Panzertruppe, Vindication in Poland, The Green Light through France; The Fate of a Hero; The Road to Lotzen, The Last in the Line, The Final Stand, and Seer, Technician, Genius or Germany's Best General? Some wear and slight discoloration to text. Red notation on bottom of spine. Some soiling, tears, and chips to dust jacket. Kenneth John Macksey MC (1 July 1923 – 30 November 2005) was a British author and historian who specialized in military history and military biography, particularly of the Second World War. Macksey was commissioned in the Royal Armoured Corps and served during the Second World War (earning a Military Cross under the command of Percy Hobart). Macksey later wrote the (authoritative) biography of Hobart. Macksey gained a permanent commission in 1946, was transferred to the Royal Tank Regiment in 1947, reached the rank of major in 1957 and retired from the Army in 1968. In Macksey's Guderian: Panzer General, he refuted the view of historian Sir Basil Liddell-Hart regarding Hart's influence on the development of German Tank Theory in the years leading up to 1939. Kenneth Macksey reveals Guderian as a brilliant rebel in search of ideals, and a general whose personality, genius, and achievements transcended those -- Information from the extensive Guderian family archives. Few historians are better qualified to write a study of Guderian than Macksey, a 24-year veteran of the Royal Tank Regiment and the author of several acclaimed works on armor and military technology. This is a probing and literate examination of a brilliant maverick in search of ideals, a general who had the ability to turn inspiration into reality. Guderian’s genius and achievements transcended those of even Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, says Macksey. No other general in World War II–and only a few in history–have managed to impress so wide and intrinsic a change upon the military art in so short a time, and left such a trail of controversy in their wake. Besides fashioning a comprehensive and intimate portrait of this outstanding officer, Macksey throws considerable light on German military leadership, strategy and tactics in World War II, and on the crucial campaigns in Poland, France and Russia. Macksey concludes that Guderian was a seer who visualized warfare of the future, a technician who created machinery that worked as near to perfection as is possible in war and a genius with an inspired ability to turn ideas into reality and action by powerfully influencing opinions, feelings, spirit and method. His last chief of staff, Colonel Wolfgang Thomale, called him “Germany’s best and most responsible general.”
Despite his uncompromising attitude and a tendency toward tactlessness and acid humor, Guderian was a man of exceptional intellectual integrity and honesty. Macksey believes that it is the transmitted warmth of Guderian, and his joy in camaraderie with others, that makes him “pre-eminent among great generals.” This was the man who could write tender letters to his wife, Margarete (“Gretel”), and who could pity Adolf Hitler, a man without “friendship with fine men, the pure love for a wife, affection of one’s own children.” Kenneth Macksey rates the highest praise for this incisive and rewarding biography.
Heinz Wilhelm Guderian (German: [7 June 1888 – 14 May 1954) was a German general during World War II who, after the war, became a successful memoirist. An early pioneer and advocate of the "blitzkrieg" approach, he played a central role in the development of the panzer division concept. In 1936, he became the Inspector of Motorized Troops. At the beginning of the Second World War, Guderian led an armoured corps in the Invasion of Poland. During the Invasion of France, he commanded the armoured units that attacked through the Ardennes forest and overwhelmed the Allied defenses at the Battle of Sedan. He led the 2nd Panzer Army during Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. The campaign ended in failure after the German offensive Operation Typhoon failed to capture Moscow, after which Guderian was dismissed. In early 1943, Adolf Hitler appointed Guderian to the newly created position of Inspector General of Armoured Troops. In this role, he had broad responsibility to rebuild and train new panzer forces but saw limited success due to Germany's worsening war economy. Guderian was appointed Acting Chief of the General Staff of the Army High Command, immediately following the 20 July Plot to assassinate Hitler. Guderian was placed in charge of the "Court of Honour" by Hitler, which in the aftermath of the plot was used to dismiss people from the military so they could be tried in the "People's Court" and executed. He was Hitler's personal advisor on the Eastern Front and became closely associated with the Nazi regime. Guderian surrendered to the United States forces on 10 May 1945 and was interned until 1948. He was released without charge and retired to write his memoirs. Entitled Panzer Leader, the autobiography became a bestseller, widely read to this day. In his autobiography, Guderian portrayed himself as the sole originator of the German panzer force; he omitted any mention of his relationship with Hitler and the Nazi regime or of war crimes. Guderian died in 1954 and was buried in Goslar. A master of strategy and tactics, General Heinz Guderian was the officer most responsible for creating the Blitzkrieg in World War II. In person, he led the lightning campaigns by tank and aircraft that quickly put the greater part of Europe under Nazi domination. Guderian, a strong and energetic man, built the Panzer Force in the face of stolid opposition from the conservative elements of the German General Staff. Condition: Good / Fair.
Keywords: Heinz Guderian, WW2, Blitzkrieg, Panzer Force, German General Staff, Armored Warfare, Tanks, Brauchitsch, von Kluge, OKH, OKW, von Rundstedt, Panzertruppe, Lotzen
[Book #79635]
Price: $18.50