He was the son of World War II General Heinz Guderian.

Born in Goslar in what was then the Prussian Province of Hanover, Heinz Günther Guderian entered the German Army as an officer cadet on 1 April 1933.

He graduated from the General Staff College in 1942 and served as a staff officer in various armored units until being assigned as the Operations Officer for the 116th Panzerdivision ("The Greyhounds") in May 1942, a position he held until the end of the War.

[citation needed] After the creation of the Bundeswehr, Guderian returned to the army and was given command of Panzerbattalion 3 (later 174) and, later, Panzerbrigade 14.

He also served in a variety of staff assignments, culminating in service as Inspector of Panzer Troops — the same job his father held during World War II — for the Bundeswehr.