Achtung-Panzer

Amongst the military literature of the 20th Century, Achtung-Panzer is a most rare commodity the distilled thoughts and strategic theories of an outstanding soldier as they were just two years before he was charged with putting them into practical action.In this first English translation carrying the annotations of a modern commentator, the fascination for historians, military professionals and students of land warfare will be in how Guderian is seen to have learned the lessons of the 1914-18 conflict and developed his conviction that the efficient use of armoured formations held the key to success in any future battle. Most apparent is his independence of mind for, although much of his policy came from the doctrines of the national education and military training establishment, his words show a cavalier readiness to consider alternatives where the accepted norm did not attract him.

The movement of a land army in fully motorized formations was not a dream to Heinz Guderian - he saw it as a necessity. He was convinced of this long before he wrote Achtung-Panzer! and the book represents how the theories of this doctrine would be practised on the battlefield.

Hitler's personal enthusiasm for modern mechanized technology provided inspiration for Guderian, but the air and sea forces often seemed to get priority. His superior,General Lutz, urged Guderian to write this book as part of their campaign for more funds. Thus, readers will find examples of the author seeking advantage points over competitors for national support; they will not, however, find much national chauvinism and may well be surprised by the regular praise of the British and French in respect of tank development.Although many of the points made by Guderian in this treatise were being echoed by his equivalent experts in other nations, it was the man from East Prussia who was first to mastermind their application. This fact alone marks this volume as essential reading for those studying the evolution of land warfare and the years of German armour supremacy in the first part of World War Two.

Heinz Guderian
Hardcover with d/w, Brockhampton Press, 1999

Near Fine/Near Fine