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Heinz Guderian
Person page: Heinz Guderian →
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(11)
1940
May
13
Key event
The breakthrough at Sedan
On 13 May 1940, after eight hours of bombing, Guderian’s infantry crossed the Meuse at Sedan and Rommel at Dinant. On 15 May they broke into open country.
20
The Germans reach the English Channel
On 20 May 1940 Guderian's tanks took Abbeville and that evening reached the sea at Noyelles. The Allied armies in Belgium and Flanders were cut off.
1941
July
09
The Germans take Vitebsk
On 9 July 1941 Hoth's tanks broke into Vitebsk. The Germans crossed the Dvina and the Dnieper, opening the Battle of Smolensk and the road to Moscow.
August
12
Hitler changes the direction of the offensive
On 12 August 1941 Hitler supplemented Directive No. 34; on 21 August he turned Guderian's tanks to Ukraine. The march on Moscow was delayed over a month.
September
10
The encirclement at Kiev
On 10 September 1941 Guderian's tanks entered Romny while Kleist prepared to strike from Kremenchuk. On 15 September the pincers closed near Lokhvytsia.
October
10
The Vyazma and Bryansk pockets
In early October 1941 the Germans encircled the main forces of three fronts defending Moscow at Vyazma and Bryansk. On 9 October Berlin proclaimed victory.
November
03
The Germans take Kursk
On the night of 2–3 November 1941 the defenders left Kursk, taken by the German 2nd Army. On the Moscow axis Bock’s advance was stuck in mud and at Tula.
December
02
The Germans at Khimki
On 2 December 1941, some authors say, a German patrol reached Khimki outside Moscow. In the bitter cold the attacks of Army Group Centre were collapsing.
1943
March
01
Guderian becomes Inspector General of Armoured Troops
On 1 March 1943 Heinz Guderian, removed from command in December 1941, returned to service as Inspector General of Armoured Troops with sweeping powers.
1945
January
19
Hitler's order of 19 January
After the loss of Warsaw, Hitler ordered commanders from division level upwards to report every intended retreat, attack or abandonment in advance.
March
20
Heinrici replaces Himmler
On 20 March 1945 Hitler gave command of Army Group Vistula to General Gotthard Heinrici, a master of defence, in place of Himmler, to hold the Oder.