Burstyn's father Adolf Burstyn came from a Jewish family in Lviv, but Burstyn converted to Catholicism[1] along with his spouse Juliane (née Hoffman).[2] Burstyn was initially christened "Günther," but in later life chose to omit the umlaut and use the name "Gunther".[3]
Invention of the tankedit
In 1911, he produced and patented the first design of a cross-country fighting vehicle with swivelling gun turret (a tank), based on the gun turrets from naval warships and armoured vehicles using the then decade-old combustion engine.[4] He called his tank the Motorgeschütz (literally "motor-gun"). His draft design, more advanced than some of the tank designs of World War I, was rejected both by Austria-Hungary and by the German Empire and no prototype was ever produced. He later sought to patent his design, but was told that it might infringe existing patents, so he dropped all plans to do so.[5]
The vehicle would have been 3.5m long, 1.9m wide and 1.9m tall. It would have been armed with a light rapid firing cannon (30-40mm calibre) and possessed a road speed of 29 km/h and an off-road speed of 8 km/h. The vehicle would have been powered by a 60 hp truck engine. The four auxiliary wheels could be raised and lowered; the rear would be able to assist in traction while the front pair could be pivoted for steering. The vehicle was envisioned as being used to attack enemy machinegun nests and supporting infantry attacks, as well as attacking enemy artillery positions.[6]
On March 31, 1941, Burstyn was able to personally present his tank innovations to Adolf Hitler. Burstyn was awarded the War Merit Cross, 1st and 2nd class, with Swords.[7]
At the end of the war (April 1945), he committed suicide because he feared Soviet captivity.[citation needed]
^Daniela Angetter, Ewald Angetter: Gunther Burstyn (1879–1945). Sein „Panzer“ – eine bahnbrechende Erfindung zur falschen Zeit am falschen Ort. (=Österreichisches biographisches Lexikon. Schriftenreihe Band 11) Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien 2008, ISBN978-3-7001-6530-9
^Angwetter, D.& E.;Gunther Burstyn. Verlag Der Österreichischen Akademie Der Wissenschaften, 2008.
Malnig, Helmut W. (2009) "Der erste Kampfpanzer der Welt: Gunther Burstyn und sein "Motorgeschütz" " [The world's first battle tank: Gunther Burstyn and his "motorized gun"], Truppendienst, 309 (3) [in German]. Available at: Austrian Federal Army: Truppendienst
Austrian patent no. 53,248 (filed: 1911 March 1 ; issued: 1912 April 25).
German patent no. 252,815 (issued: 1912 February 28).
(Anon.) (1922) "Who invented the tank?" Army Ordnance, 4: 36.
gunther, burstyn, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, november,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Gunther Burstyn news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Gunther Adolf Burstyn 6 July 1879 in Bad Aussee Steiermark 15 April 1945 in Korneuburg Lower Austria was an inventor technician and officer of the Austro Hungarian Army He is best known for his Motorgeschutz the first detailed concept of a modern tank Oberleutnant Gunther BurstynModel of the Motorgeschutz at the Austrian Museum of Military History Contents 1 Personal life 2 Invention of the tank 3 World War II 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksPersonal life editBurstyn s father Adolf Burstyn came from a Jewish family in Lviv but Burstyn converted to Catholicism 1 along with his spouse Juliane nee Hoffman 2 Burstyn was initially christened Gunther but in later life chose to omit the umlaut and use the name Gunther 3 Invention of the tank editIn 1911 he produced and patented the first design of a cross country fighting vehicle with swivelling gun turret a tank based on the gun turrets from naval warships and armoured vehicles using the then decade old combustion engine 4 He called his tank the Motorgeschutz literally motor gun His draft design more advanced than some of the tank designs of World War I was rejected both by Austria Hungary and by the German Empire and no prototype was ever produced He later sought to patent his design but was told that it might infringe existing patents so he dropped all plans to do so 5 The vehicle would have been 3 5m long 1 9m wide and 1 9m tall It would have been armed with a light rapid firing cannon 30 40mm calibre and possessed a road speed of 29 km h and an off road speed of 8 km h The vehicle would have been powered by a 60 hp truck engine The four auxiliary wheels could be raised and lowered the rear would be able to assist in traction while the front pair could be pivoted for steering The vehicle was envisioned as being used to attack enemy machinegun nests and supporting infantry attacks as well as attacking enemy artillery positions 6 World War II editAt the beginning of World War II Burstyn supported the NSDAP citation needed On March 31 1941 Burstyn was able to personally present his tank innovations to Adolf Hitler Burstyn was awarded the War Merit Cross 1st and 2nd class with Swords 7 At the end of the war April 1945 he committed suicide because he feared Soviet captivity citation needed See also editLancelot de MoleReferences edit Burstyn Motorgeschutz Daniela Angetter Ewald Angetter Gunther Burstyn 1879 1945 Sein Panzer eine bahnbrechende Erfindung zur falschen Zeit am falschen Ort Osterreichisches biographisches Lexikon Schriftenreihe Band 11 Verlag der Osterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften Wien 2008 ISBN 978 3 7001 6530 9 Angwetter D amp E Gunther Burstyn Verlag Der Osterreichischen Akademie Der Wissenschaften 2008 See Malnig Helmut W 2009 Der erste Kampfpanzer der Welt Gunther Burstyn und sein Motorgeschutz The world s first battle tank Gunther Burstyn and his motorized gun Truppendienst 309 3 in German Available at Austrian Federal Army Truppendienst Austrian patent no 53 248 filed 1911 March 1 issued 1912 April 25 German patent no 252 815 issued 1912 February 28 Anon 1922 Who invented the tank Army Ordnance 4 36 The Burstyn Tank Landships com The Burstyn Tank Landships com Burstyn Gunther Austria forum in German Retrieved 14 December 2013 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gunther Burstyn http www doppeladler com kuk burstyn htm Biography in German Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gunther Burstyn amp oldid 1189638295, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
