General der Panzertruppe Heinz Guderian

Heinz Guderian was born on June 17th of 1888 in Culm (at that time belonging to Germany, West-Prussia, now Poland, Chelmno) near the river Weichsel (Vistula / Wisla), south of Gdansk (Danzig). From 1901 to 1907, he was educated in military schools and in the Military-Academy of Berlin. As an Ensign he joined the Jäger- Battalion Nr. 10 (comparable to a Ranger- or Light-Infantry Battalion), commanded by his father. After successfully attending war school at Metz (which was at that time occupied by Germany) in 1908, he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, backdated to 1906 and went again to the Jäger-Battalion. In 1911, Heinz fell in love with Margarete Goerne, but his father thought that his son was too young to marry and sent Heinz for special instruction to Telegraphen-Battalion Nr. 3 (Wireless-Battalion). After finishing the course in 1913, Heinz married Margarete. They had two sons, both fought during the World War II with the Panzertruppen. The elder, Heinz Günther later became Major-General in the Bundeswehr.