Guderian’s corps smashed through the Ardennes, crushed the French lines at Sedan, and opened the way for his panzer group’s swift advance to the coast. This divided the allied armies, and should have ended in their complete destruction. Guderian’s request to destroy the encircled allied armies was denied, however, leading to Germany’s first great debacle of World War II, but the general’s theories had succeeded wildly. The invasion of France vindicated his life’s work by smashing Germany’s old enemy, and he’d earned Hitler’s personal favor. It was not to last.
The plan to invade the Soviet Union bore many of the Fuhrer’s personal fingerprints, and Guderian undercut his position by openly challenged the strategy’s weaknesses. Ultimately, Guderian swallowed his objections, and when Nazi Germany invaded Russia on June 22, 1941, he crossed into the Soviet Union commanding the aptly named Panzer Group Guderian. Initially, Guderian performed magnificently.
After capturing Smolensk, the military upgraded his Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves for his rapid conquest, and the tension between Hitler and Guderian eased. Shortly before the planned assault on the Moscow, however, Guderian received orders to break off and head south. His protests were ignored. Fuming, Guderian followed his orders and moved south where he played a major role in encircling the Soviet armies and capturing the city of Kiev. Moscow, he thought, would have to wait until after the oncoming winter passed.
Guderian’s new orders to proceed back to Moscow immediately appalled him. Guderian objected, pointing out that his army was exposed and vulnerable to attack. Unsurprisingly, he was ignored. The Soviet’s counter-attacked shortly after he arrived at Moscow, proving Guderian right, and he asked to withdraw, arguing that he could not hold his position.
High Command refused his request, and Guderian broke all military protocol by ignoring his commanders and arguing with Hitler personally. The Fuhrer, however, would not permit any form of retreat. Furious, Guderian disobeyed orders immediately, pulling his troops back. Unsurprisingly, Guderian was relieved of his command shortly thereafter.
Guderian was too talented for Germany to leave him on the sidelines, but a year passed before he was recalled to duty. Following the Nazi’s devastating defeat at Stalingrad, Hitler appointed him to the Inspector General of Armored Troops. The panzer divisions had suffered enormous losses throughout the fighting in the Soviet Union, and Hitler needed Guderian’s expertise to rebuild the armored forces.
In his new position, Guderian would advise Hitler personally on armored tactics and strategy, oversee design, production and the training of new panzer crews. Guderian would not, however, ever hold a combat command again.
Colonel-General Heinz Guderian had the vices of his virtues. Highly intelligent and well-educated, Guderian’s willingness to explore new ideas and theories contributed to his success as a combat general, and played a major role in the evolution of warfare. His brash manner, stubborn refusal to entertain people who disagreed with him, and persistence in arguing with superior officers, earned Guderian numerous enemies throughout the high command.
Many of the problems that stalled Guderian’s ideas throughout his career stemmed from the animosity his personality created with fellow officers, and his inability to temper his argumentative nature forced the general who developed the blitzkrieg into a desk job.