Product Description

Panzer attack was the secret of Hitler's early land successes. The man behind the strategy, and in command of the tanks, was Guderian. This is his manual of attack Based on Guderian's own First World War experiences, sharply told Still compulsory reading for tank commanders - everywhere

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #69576 in Books
• Published on: 1999-09-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 220 pages

About the Author
Born in 1888, Heinz Guderian served in World War One, came to Hitler's attention in 1935, was made corps commander of Panzer troops and promoted to General in 1938. His tanks were greatly successful in the invasions of Poland and France and, perceived as pro-Nazi, Guderian was much in favour. However, when the Russian invasion failed in the winter of 1941, Guderian was forced to resign, not to regain his position until 1944, when the war was all but lost. He died in Bavaria in 1954.

Customer Reviews

Blitz-read
This book was written in German and first published in 1937, but if you're expecting a turgid and dated account, think again! The writing is crisp and pacy, and soon sucks you in to the author's absolute passion for his subject.

This book describes the theory of "Blitzkrieg" as we now know it (although this word is a journalist's invention), and explains how the theory was developed. The tank engagements of the Great War are analysed in detail, and the contribution of other branches of the army, and to a lesser extent the air force, examined.

Guderian argues convincingly for the mechanization of infantry and artillery - in contrast to the narrow parochial arguments of the majority of his contemporaries, and considers supply, transport, paratroops (also untested in 1937), smoke and chemical weapons etc.

The most fascinating thing about this book is that although it reads like an incisive historical account, it was actually written BEFORE the start of the Second World War, when the arguments contained in the book were more or less pure theory.

There are perhaps a few places where Guderian exaggerates his case, but in the context of a still contraversial theory which had yet to be generally accepted, his sales pitch is remarkably restrained.

The maps tend to be sketch quality, however there are some nice black and white plates (about 40 photographs) mostly depicting early armour. These must have been added later as one of the photographs shows the 1940 paratroop drop on Rotterdam.

A thoroughly remarkable book that predicted the future with remarkable accuracy.

Fantastic!
This book is a great buy for anyone with even a passing interest in tank warfare. From those who do it for a hobby to the serious military historian, this book is recommended to anyone who either want to see why the German Panzers did so well in the 1939-1941 period, or wish to study how the tank became such a dominating force in land warfare for half a century, or simply want to read how the tank turned from a slow, unreliable, subbordinate arm of the army to the fast, decisive force it became. The editor's introduction is helpful in giving pointers for Guderian's main points, as well as clarifying for the confused reader what Guderian was saying. A must-buy for any budding military historian.

A classic
Guderian puts across what at the time were revolutionary ideas in an easily read book, written in just a few weeks. This is an excellent insight into the thinking of probably the most influencial tatician of the 20th Century and accuratly predicts methods that became commonplace in conflicts from France in 1940 to the Iraqi desert in 1991 and 2003.