Heinz Guderian

At the center Major General Heinz Guderian and Brigadier Semyon Krivoshein to th
e right.
Heinz Guderian (June 17, 1888
May 14, 1954) was a German WWII general and tank c
ommander, theorist of tank combat and one of the founders of blitzkrieg strategy
. He was not charged with any war crimes during the Nuremberg Trials since his a
ctions and behavior were ruled to be consistent with those of a professional sol
dier. Heinz Guderian died on May 14, 1954 at the age of 65, in Schwangau near Fss
en (Southern Bavaria) and is buried at the Friedhof Hildesheimerstrasse in Gosla
r.
Sourced
Nicht Kleckern sondern Klotzen! (Boot 'em, don't spatter 'em!)
This is Guderian's most famous quote, which has become a stock phrase. It is sai
d that Adolf Hitler was so impressed by the quote that he often used it. It roug
hly means "Don't do things by half." Quoted in "How Great Generals Win" - Page 2
27 - by Bevin Alexander - History - 1993
Es gibt keine verzweifelten Lagen, es gibt nur verzweifelte Menschen. (There are
no desperate situations, there are only desperate people.)
Quoted in "Die Deutschen gepanzerten Truppen bis 1945" by Oskar Munzel - Tanks (
Military science) - 1965
The engine of the Panzer is a weapon just as the main-gun.
Der Motor des Panzers ist ebenso seine Waffe wie die Kanone. (The engine of the
Panzer is a weapon just as the main-gun.)
Quoted in "Die Deutschen gepanzerten Truppen bis 1945" - Page 159 - by Oskar Mun
zel - Tanks (Military science) - 1965
Fahrkarte bis zur Endstation. (Ticket to the last station.)
Shouting to his Panzertroops when they were roaring past him, meaning that they
should go as far as they could. Quoted in "Panzerkrieg: The Rise and Fall of Hit
ler's Tank Divisions" - Page 83 - by Peter McCarthy, Mike Syron - Technology - 2
003
We have severely underestimated the Russians, the extent of the country and the
treachery of the climate. This is the revenge of reality.
Quoted in "Images of Kursk: History's Greatest Tank Battle, July 1943" - Page 7
- by Nikolas Cornish - History - 2002
If the tanks succeed, then victory follows.
Quoted in "Panzerkrieg: The Rise and Fall of Hitler's Tank Divisions" - Page 33
- by Peter McCarthy, Mike Syron - Technology - 2003
Logistics is the ball and chain of armored warfare.
Quoted in "Sword Point" - Page 141 - by Harold Coyle - 1988
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 mu
st evacuate those soldiers at once!
To Adolf Hitler, about the German army being cut off in Courland. Quoted in "Ins
ide the Third Reich: Memoirs" - Page 534 - by Albert Speer - National socialists
- 1971
Man schlgt jemanden mit der Faust und nicht mit gespreizten Fingern. (You hit som
ebody with your fist and not with your fingers spread.)
Meaning that you should concentrate your Panzers for one mighty push in one dire
ction and not distribute them over a large area. Quoted in "Die Deutschen gepanz
erten Truppen bis 1945" - Page 209 - by Oskar Munzel - Tanks (Military science)
- 1965
Make peace, you fools! What else can you do?
Response to General Keitel who phoned him in panic after the Allied breakthrough
in France and Belgium 1944. Quoted at footnote on page 1041 of "The Rise and Fa
ll of the Third Reich", Fiftieth Anniversary Edition.