Achtung – Panzer!

Achtung – Panzer! (English: "Attention, Tank!" or, more idiomatically, "Beware the Tank!") by Heinz Guderian is a book on the application of motorized warfare. First published in 1937, it expounds a new kind of warfare; the concentrated use of tanks, with infantry and airforce in close support; later known as Blitzkrieg tactics. The book also acted as an argument against the continued use of cavalry given the proven effectiveness of the machine gun, and advances the theory of supplanting the cavalry role with mechanised infantry. It was never properly studied by the French or the English general staff, both of whom helped introduced the tank. ^[1]

The first half of the book focuses on the advent of positional or 'trench warfare' in World War I, and the subsequent development of the first tanks. Guderian describes the numerous technological and tactical developments regarding tanks, throughout the Great War and in the inter-war years. He discusses the effects of the Treaty of Versailles upon the German armed forces before detailing the recovery from the setbacks the Treaty caused in terms of development of mechanised forces. He then goes on to describe his beliefs about the future application of tanks in warfare and their relationship with other arms.^[2]

Cover image of Guderian's book "Achtung Panzer"

References

Sources

• Edwards, Roger. (1989) Panzer, a Revolution in Warfare: 1939–1945. London/New York: Arms and Armour. ISBN 0-85368-932-6.