I have just finished reading “Panzer Leader: The memoirs of Panzergeneral Heinz Guderian“, a fascinating book about the man behind the Blitzkrieg tactics that revolutionized modern warfare.

The general himself describes the events during the 1930′s, in building up Germany’s armored force, the invasion of Poland in 1939, France in 1940, and the disastrous events on the Eastern front during 1941-1945. He was relieved of his duties twice because of lengthy and heated arguments with the OKH/OKW and with Hitler himself. Guderian was an outspoken man, who was not a member of the Nazi party and who disagreed with the Nazi ideals, but still fought as a soldier and officer during the wars started by the Nazis.

The book offers an insightful view into the German army, the Wehrmacht, and the military and political leadership during these years. Not everyone comes out looking good in the progress; least of all the clique around Hitler himself: Göring, Goebbels, Bormann, Himmler, Keitel and Jodl.

I met my friend Johan the other day over a plate of sushi, and we talked about Guderian and how it all seemed to go downhill after the fateful decision of diverting the 2nd Panzer Armee down towards Kiev instead of Moscow. But in the end, Johan suggested it was all for the better; had Guderian been given free hands, the Germans might actually have defeated the Russians and won the war.