Hasso von Manteuffel was one of our gifted tank commanders, who, as a professional soldier and passionate rider, came into contact with the armored troops at a very early age. Under the creator of the armored troops, the later Colonel General Guderian, he implemented the first regulations for fast armored units. Initially serving as the commander of a rifle battalion, and then as regimental and brigade commander, he fought with the 7th Panzer Division - the famous Ghost Division of Erwin Rommel - in both the West and the East. Under his leadership, significant successes were achieved. With a battle group, he crossed the Moskva-Volga Canal at Jachroma and was close to the gates of Moscow. With his takeover of the 7th Panzer Division, the era of great tank raids in the vastness of the Soviet Union began. In both offense and defense, this division proved its mettle and was found everywhere.