Dismissed (December 1941)

General Heinz Guderian

26^th December 1941

I was informed that Hitler had transferred me to the OKH officers’ reserve pool. My successor was to be General Rudolf Schmidt.

Heinz Guderian

Befuddled HQ (December 1941)

General Heinz Guderian

December 1941,

During Rastenburg airfield’s conference with Hitler, I described the situation of the 2^nd Panzer Army and 2^nd Army to Hitler and the officers of his entourage and about my decision for the withdrawal on 5^th December. When I spoke of my intention to withdraw both armies to the Susha-Oka position – which has already commenced and was approved by then Field-Marshal von Brauchitsch – Hitler shouted, “No! I forbid that!” I was certainly taken by surprise by his outburst of anger. I told him straight that the withdrawal has already commenced and reiterated the reasoning for withdrawal. He certainly did not get it. Here’s the conversation that ensued.

Hitler: “If that is the case they must dig into the ground where they are and hold every square yard of land!”

I: “Digging into the ground is no longer feasible in most places, since it is frozen to a depth of five feet and our wretched entrenching tools won’t go through it.”

Hitler: “In that case they must blast craters with the heavy howitzers. We had to do that in the First World War in Flanders.”

I tried to explain to him the shortage of ammunitions we are facing at the front but he failed to comprehend. He insisted on his order that we remain where we are.

Here stands a man who had never attended military school and does not understand the situation up front…

Heinz Guderian

Dire Situation (December 1941)

General Heinz Guderian

December 1941

I could not sleep well for the past few weeks. The situation here is grave.

December 5^th was the first time in this war that I gave the order for the advance units to withdraw and go into the defensive. Our flanks were exposed and the troops were immobile in this god-forsaken weather. Worse of all things, our attack was unsupported. I gave the orders and we withdrew to the general line of Upper Don-Shat-Upa.

Those ***German Vulgarities*** at the OKH and OKW, have totally no idea what’s going on up in the front. They keep sending us ridiculous orders and ignore all our requests and suggestions. Our attack on Moscow has come to a complete halt. All the sacrifices and endurance of our brave troops are in vain…

Heinz Guderian