Günther Burstyn

Oberleutnant Gunther Burstyn

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.

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 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.

In 1941 Burstyn was awarded the War Merit Cross, 1st and 2nd class, with Swords.[1] At the end World War II (April, 1945) he committed suicide because he feared Soviet captivity.[2]

Name

Burstyn was christened "Günther," but in later life chose to omit the umlaut and use the name "Gunther."[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Burstyn, Günther". Austria-forum (in German). Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  2. ↑ http://gr8option.net/fourth/gunther_burstyn.html
  3. ↑ Angwetter, D.& E.;Gunther Burstyn. Verlag Der Österreichischen Akademie Der Wissenschaften, 2008.

External links

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