Günther Burstyn
Encyclopedia
Gunther Burstyn was an inventor, technician, and officer of the Austro-Hungarian Army
.
At imperial military maneuvers in 1906, Burstyn demonstrated an armored car
, which frightened the emperor's horses. An annoyed Emperor Franz Josef
said "such a thing would never be of military value."
In 1911, he designed the first cross-country tank
with swiveling turret, based on American agricultural tractors, which he called the Motorgeschütz (literally motor-gun). The draft design, more advanced than some of the tank designs of the First World War, was rejected both by Austria-Hungary and by the German Empire. He later sought to patent his design, but was told that it might infringe existing patents, so he dropped all plans. In 1941 Günther Burstyn was awarded with the War Merit Cross
.
At the end of the war he committed suicide because he feared Soviet captivity, as endured by other German inventors like Ferdinand Porsche
.
Austro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
.
At imperial military maneuvers in 1906, Burstyn demonstrated an armored car
Armored car (valuables)
A common meaning of armored car is as an armored van or truck, used in transporting valuables, such as large quantities of money . The armored car is a multifunctional vehicle designed to protect and ensure the well being of the transported individuals and/or contents...
, which frightened the emperor's horses. An annoyed Emperor Franz Josef
Franz Josef
Franz Josef or Franz Joseph is a given name.People known solely by the name:* Franz Joseph I of Austria , Emperor of Austria, Apostolic King of Hungary and King of Bohemia...
said "such a thing would never be of military value."
In 1911, he designed the first cross-country tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
with swiveling turret, based on American agricultural tractors, which he called the Motorgeschütz (literally motor-gun). The draft design, more advanced than some of the tank designs of the First World War, was rejected both by Austria-Hungary and by the German Empire. He later sought to patent his design, but was told that it might infringe existing patents, so he dropped all plans. In 1941 Günther Burstyn was awarded with the War Merit Cross
War Merit Cross
The War Merit Cross was a decoration of Nazi Germany during the Second World War, which could be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel...
.
At the end of the war he committed suicide because he feared Soviet captivity, as endured by other German inventors like Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche was an Austrian automotive engineer and honorary Doctor of Engineering. He is best known for creating the first hybrid vehicle , the Volkswagen Beetle, and the Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK, as well as the first of many Porsche automobiles...
.
Name
Burstyn was christened "Günther," but in later life chose to drop the umlaut and use the name "Gunther."External links
- Austro-Hungarian Burstyn Tank - pre WW1 Tank Project at www.landships.freeservers.com