(5 of 5)
He could reason that, after all, he had survived two of Hitler's rug-biting rages: one after the Moscow repulse, one in the 1938 "conquest" of Austria, when his tanks, all dressed up for the Führer's victory parade in Vienna, ran out of gas many miles away. Presumably he could survive a third, if need be. Guderian may also have it in mind that he used to be regarded as one of the "realistic" officers who demanded collaboration with Russia—a fact that might recommend him as a member of some future negotiating committee. Until such time Hitler could probably depend on him.
At any rate, he took up his new task with a brief radio speech, offering polite homage to Hitler, a tactful reference to the late Field Marshal von Hindenburg (still the idol of the Junkers) and even a hollow gesture to the despised civilians: "And now, people, to arms!"