Heinz Guderian citations

Heinz Guderian, né le 17 juin 1888 à Kulm et mort le 14 mai 1954 à Schwangau en Bavière, est un général de l'Armée de terre allemande de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Surnommé « Heinz le Rapide » , il est l'un des concepteurs de l'arme blindée allemande. Il a appliqué la doctrine de la guerre éclair , incluant l'utilisation intensive des chars d’assaut, lors des invasions de la France et de l’Union soviétique .

Tombé en disgrâce auprès de Hitler après son échec lors de la bataille de Moscou à la fin 1941, il est rappelé comme inspecteur de l'arme blindée en 1943, puis comme responsable du front de l'Est de juillet 1944 à mars 1945.

Prisonnier de guerre des Américains de 1945 à 1948, il est libéré sans être inculpé de crimes de guerre. Après sa libération, il devient un des conseillers pour l’organisation des forces blindées de la nouvelle armée de l'Allemagne de l'Ouest, la Bundeswehr, créée en 1955 un an après sa mort et membre à part entière de l‘Alliance atlantique.

✵ 17. juin 1888 – 14. mai 1954
Heinz Guderian photo
Heinz Guderian: 15   citations 0   J'aime

Heinz Guderian: Citations en anglais

“When the situation is obscure, attack.”

As quoted in Waging Business Warfare (1988) David J. Rogers, p. 236

“It's simply our duty to save these people, and we still have time to remove them! But it's useless to sacrifice men in this senseless way. It's high time! We must evacuate those soldiers at once!”

Arguing with Adolf Hitler about the German army being cut off in the Courland Pocket; as quoted in Inside the Third Reich : Memoirs (1971) by Albert Speer, p. 534

“There are no desperate situations, there are only desperate people.”

Es gibt keine verzweifelten Lagen, es gibt nur verzweifelte Menschen.
As quoted in Die Deutschen gepanzerten Truppen bis 1945 (1965) by Oskar Munzel

“Ticket to the last station.”

Fahrkarte bis zur Endstation.
Shouted to his Panzertroops as they were passing him, indicating that they should go as far as they could; as quoted in Panzerkrieg : The Rise and Fall of Hitler's Tank Divisions (2002) by Peter McCarthy and Mike Syron, p. 83

“You hit somebody with your fist and not with your fingers spread.”

Man schlägt jemanden mit der Faust und nicht mit gespreizten Fingern.
As quoted in Die Deutschen gepanzerten Truppen bis 1945 (1965) by Oskar Munzel, p. 209; this indicated the need to concentrate tank forces for one strong push in one direction and not distribute them over a large area.

“New weapons require new tactics. Never put new wine into old bottles.”

As quoted in Cavalry from Hoof to Track (2009) by Roman Jarymowycz, Ch. 16 : Cold Warhorse: Pegasus ex Machina

“If the tanks succeed, then victory follows.”

As quoted in Panzerkrieg : The Rise and Fall of Hitler's Tank Divisions (2002) by Peter McCarthy and Mike Syron, p. 33

“To imitate the ostrich in political matters has never been a satisfactory method of avoiding danger; yet this is what Hitler, as well as his more important political, economic and even military advisers, chose to do over and over again.”

On the failure of Hitler and his advisors to face realities of various situations, especially those of the military on the Eastern Front, in Panzer Leader (1952), Ch. 6 : The Campaign in Russia, p. 190
Contexte: To imitate the ostrich in political matters has never been a satisfactory method of avoiding danger; yet this is what Hitler, as well as his more important political, economic and even military advisers, chose to do over and over again. The consequences of this deliberate blindness in the face of hard facts were devastating; and it was we who now had to bear them.

“Actions speak louder than words. In the days to come the Goddess of Victory will bestow her laurels only on those who prepared to act with daring.”

Achtung-Panzer! : The Development of Armoured Forces, Their Tactics and Operational Potential (1937)

“Boot 'em, don't spatter 'em!”

Nicht Kleckern sondern Klotzen!
As quoted in How Great Generals Win (1993) by Bevin Alexander, p. 227; this statement became a stock phrase which Hitler often repeated. It is comparable to the adage "Don't do things by half."

“The engine of the Panzer is a weapon just as the main-gun.”

Der Motor des Panzers ist ebenso seine Waffe wie die Kanone.
As quoted in Die Deutschen gepanzerten Truppen bis 1945 (1965) by Oskar Munzel, p. 159

“We have severely underestimated the Russians, the extent of the country and the treachery of the climate. This is the revenge of reality.”

Letter to his wife (9 November 1941) on the German failures in Operation Barbarossa and the battles of the Eastern Front, quoted in Images of Kursk : History's Greatest Tank Battle, July 1943 (2002) by Nikolas Cornish, p. 6; also in The Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War (2009) by Andrew Roberts, p. 409

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