Heinz Guderian (17 June 1888 – 14 May 1954) was a German general during World War II who is considered one of the pioneers of modern armored warfare. He was a highly influential theorist of armored warfare and mechanized forces, and he played a significant role in the development of the German Panzer forces. Guderian's ideas and tactics, which emphasized speed, surprise, and the concentration of armored forces, were instrumental in the early successes of the German military during the war. In German, he is known as Heinz Wilhelm Guderian, and in French, he is referred to as Heinz Guderian. His contributions to military theory and practice continue to be studied and debated by historians and military strategists.