1939 5th September
Battle of Polish Corridor
The Battle had cost 150 killed from 4 Divisions
Second World War · permanent subject timeline
Heinz Guderian
German armoured-force commander and later senior army officer. This page combines historical context with 12 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database World War II battle archive.
Historical context
Heinz Guderian: overview and significance
What happened?
Heinz Guderian was a leading advocate and practitioner of concentrated armoured and motorized operations. He commanded panzer formations in Poland, France and the Soviet Union before later serving as Inspector General of Armoured Troops and Chief of the General Staff.
Why was it important?
Guderian became closely associated with the operational methods used in Germany's early victories. His later service also placed him inside the high command as German military fortunes deteriorated.
World History Database records
Heinz Guderian timeline
The records below are selected from the 797-record World War II battles archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.
1939
1940
1940 12th May
Battle of River Meuse
From Dinant to Sedan the Germans are within reach of the River Meuse
1940 12th May
Battle of River Meuse
Reaches Sedan
1940 13th May
Battle of River Meuse
Guderian crosses the River Meuse
1940 17th May
Battle of Montcornet
Manages to fend off de Gaulles attempt to break off his supply lines
1940 17th May
Battle of River Meuse
Ordered by Rundstedt to launch a "reconnaissance in force", undermines Hitler
1940 20th May
Battle of Dunkirk
Reaches the Channel Coast
1940 21st May
Battle of Dunkirk
An Allied counter-attack briefly stops the Germans
1940 24th May
Battle of Dunkirk
1st Panzer Division breaches the Aa Canal, 15 kilometers from Dunkirk
1940 24th May
Battle of Dunkirk
Hitler orders the left wing to stop, it is forbidden to cross the Aa
1940 26th May
Battle of Dunkirk
The "halt order" is lifted & the Panzers resume their advance
1940 4th June
Battle of Dunkirk
The French rearguard surrenders
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
Compiled and edited by World History Database.
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database Second World War records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
Imperial War Museums · National WWII Museum · Australian War Memorial
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