| General der Panzertruppe Heinz W. Guderian (June 17, 1888 – May 14, 1954) in a medium radio-equipped armored Hanomag half track (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251/3). Note, in the front, the radio operator at the “Enigma” encryption device. 1 soldier is keying in text while another writes down the results. “Enigma” machines were broken by the United Kingdom’s “Ultra” Secret Bletchley Park, which used Alan Turing’s (June 23, 1912 – June 7, 1954) improvements to Polish efforts and built the “Bombe” which cracked German codes. Much of the German radio traffic was encoded with “Enigma” machines. German officers referred to 251s as SPW – Schützenpanzerwagen (“armored infantry vehicle”) in their daily orders and memoirs. Guderian commanded XIX. Armeekorps during the Battle of France. He enjoyed a close relationship with Führer und Reichskanzler Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) that afforded him men and material for his armored forces. This led to animosity with other Nazi German Heer (“Army”) commanders, who resented the favoritism shown to Guderian. Guderian’s corps spearheaded the drive through the Ardennes and over the Meuse River. He led the attack that broke the French lines at the Battle of Sedan. Guderian’s panzer group led the “race to the sea”, ending with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and French forces trapped at Dunkirk. A British counter-attack at Arras on May 21 slowed down the German advance and allowed the BEF to establish defenses around points of evacuation, while Hitler, conscious of potential reverses and of allowing unsupported armor into urban fighting, issued the order to halt. A general resumption of the attack was ordered on May 26, but by that time the Allied forces rallied, offering stiff resistance. On May 28, with his losses mounting, Guderian advised the abandonment of the armored assault in favor of a traditional artillery-infantry operation. Guderian was then ordered to advance to the Swiss border. The offensive started at the Weygand Line on June 9 and finished on June 17 with the encirclement of the Maginot Line defenses and the remaining French forces. General der Panzertruppe Heinz W. Guderian (June 17, 1888 – May 14, 1954) in a medium radio-equipped armored Hanomag half track (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251/3). Note, in the front, the radio operator at the “Enigma” encryption device. 1 soldier is keying in text while another writes down the results. “Enigma” machines were broken by the United Kingdom’s “Ultra” Secret Bletchley Park, which used Alan Turing’s (June 23, 1912 – June 7, 1954) improvements to Polish efforts and built the “Bombe” which cracked German codes. Much of the German radio traffic was encoded with “Enigma” machines. German officers referred to 251s as SPW – Schützenpanzerwagen (“armored infantry vehicle”) in their daily orders and memoirs. Guderian commanded XIX. Armeekorps during the Battle of France. He enjoyed a close relationship with Führer und Reichskanzler Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) that afforded him men and material for his armored forces. This led to animosity with other Nazi German Heer (“Army”) commanders, who resented the favoritism shown to Guderian. Guderian’s corps spearheaded the drive through the Ardennes and over the Meuse River. He led the attack that broke the French lines at the Battle of Sedan. Guderian’s panzer group led the “race to the sea”, ending with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and French forces trapped at Dunkirk. A British counter-attack at Arras on May 21 slowed down the German advance and allowed the BEF to establish defenses around points of evacuation, while Hitler, conscious of potential reverses and of allowing unsupported armor into urban fighting, issued the order to halt. A general resumption of the attack was ordered on May 26, but by that time the Allied forces rallied, offering stiff resistance. On May 28, with his losses mounting, Guderian advised the abandonment of the armored assault in favor of a traditional artillery-infantry operation. Guderian was then ordered to advance to the Swiss border. The offensive started at the Weygand Line on June 9 and finished on June 17 with the encirclement of the Maginot Line defenses and the remaining French forces. General der Panzertruppe Heinz W. Guderian (June 17, 1888 – May 14, 1954) in a medium radio-equipped armored Hanomag half track (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251/3). Note, in the front, the radio operator at the “Enigma” encryption device. 1 soldier is keying in text while another writes down the results. “Enigma” machines were broken by the United Kingdom’s “Ultra” Secret Bletchley Park, which used Alan Turing’s (June 23, 1912 – June 7, 1954) improvements to Polish efforts and built the “Bombe” which cracked German codes. Much of the German radio traffic was encoded with “Enigma” machines. German officers referred to 251s as SPW – Schützenpanzerwagen (“armored infantry vehicle”) in their daily orders and memoirs. Guderian commanded XIX. Armeekorps during the Battle of France. He enjoyed a close relationship with Führer und Reichskanzler Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) that afforded him men and material for his armored forces. This led to animosity with other Nazi German Heer (“Army”) commanders, who resented the favoritism shown to Guderian. Guderian’s corps spearheaded the drive through the Ardennes and over the Meuse River. He led the attack that broke the French lines at the Battle of Sedan. Guderian’s panzer group led the “race to the sea”, ending with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and French forces trapped at Dunkirk. A British counter-attack at Arras on May 21 slowed down the German advance and allowed the BEF to establish defenses around points of evacuation, while Hitler, conscious of potential reverses and of allowing unsupported armor into urban fighting, issued the order to halt. A general resumption of the attack was ordered on May 26, but by that time the Allied forces rallied, offering stiff resistance. On May 28, with his losses mounting, Guderian advised the abandonment of the armored assault in favor of a traditional artillery-infantry operation. Guderian was then ordered to advance to the Swiss border. The offensive started at the Weygand Line on June 9 and finished on June 17 with the encirclement of the Maginot Line defenses and the remaining French forces. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0391.jpg |
| Image Size | 2.97 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 4117 x 5758 |
| Photographer | Erich Borchert |
| Photographer Title | Kriegsberichter |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | June 1, 1940 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | |
| Country | France |
| Archive | Bundesarchiv |
| Record Number | 101I-769-0229-12A |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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