Page "Blitzkrieg" Paragraph 109

Guderian argued that the tank was the decisive weapon of war.

" If the tanks succeed, then victory follows ", he wrote.

In an article addressed to critics of tank warfare, he wrote " until our critics can produce some new and better method of making a successful land attack other than self-massacre, we shall continue to maintain our beliefs that tanks — properly employed, needless to say — are today the best means available for land attack.

" Addressing the faster rate at which defenders could reinforce an area than attackers could penetrate it during the First World War, Guderian wrote that " since reserve forces will now be motorized, the building up of new defensive fronts is easier than it used to be ; the chances of an offensive based on the timetable of artillery and infantry co-operation are, as a result, even slighter today than they were in the last war.

" He continued, " We believe that by attacking with tanks we can achieve a higher rate of movement than has been hitherto obtainable, and — what is perhaps even more important — that we can keep moving once a breakthrough has been made.

" Guderian additionally required that tactical radios be widely used to facilitate co-ordination and command by having one installed in all tanks.