“Unleashing Blitzkrieg: How Germany’s Lightning War Redefined Military Tactics”
Blitzkrieg is a military tactic invented by the Germans during World War II that focused on a single, organized, and overwhelming blow against an enemy. Since then, other countries have adopted this new and harsh brand of warfare to varying degrees of success.
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
This may have been the guiding principle for German military planners in the period between World Wars I and II. Germany considered their defeats after the Treaty of Versailles was ratified in 1918 and worked to improve its strategic performance going forward. Success in the future required putting offense first rather than languishing in the trenches like sitting ducks. Germany aspired to repair its image and change its approach to the Second World War. The use of blitzkrieg tactics during World War II altered how war would be fought in the future.
What is Blitzkrieg?
Blitzkrieg (pronounced ‘blit-skreeg’): A military tactic characterized by quick, concentrated attacks employing armored tanks, ground troops, and aerial bombardment to overwhelm an enemy from all flanks.
The German term blitzkrieg translates to “lightning war,” evoking images of nature’s brutal might at the height of a storm. Blitzkrieg was a full-frontal onslaught that engulfed the opponent in a haze of artillery from all directions. Blitzkrieg attacks, which are centered on the Concentration Principle attributed to Prussian military thinker Carl von Clausewitz, organize as many forces as possible to assault a single objective. The idea is to use speed to demolish the enemy while capitalizing on the element of surprise. Germany won win after victory despite incurring fewer casualties between its forces than in traditional warfare. Nonetheless, blitzkriegs were launched against cities as well as other centers of social activity, and the Germans were indifferent about civilian casualties.
The German Blitzkrieg in World War II
Defense was a key component of each military’s strategy during World War I. Although trench warfare gave armies plenty of time to set up their defensive fronts, the tactical drawback of digging trenches and the unclean conditions they created resulted in troops being buried partially alive. At each advance, the battlefield’s topography shifted, and the cascade of artillery turned the ground into a morass of bodies. Germany was prepared to modify its military tactics and reduce deaths this time around when the globe descended into chaos in 1939. On September 1, 1939, the initial of many blitzkriegs descended into Poland at 4:45 a.m. Hitler’s surprise invasion of Poland with 2,000 tanks, 900 bombers, and 400 fighter planes caught everyone off guard.
Triumphs of Blitzkrieg: Battles Where Germany’s Lightning War Prevailed
When Germany invaded Poland to start World War Two, they did it using blitzkrieg. Germany used the same surprise strategy to invade Norway, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands in the years that followed. The unanticipated savagery of the German onslaught forced British and French forces into a state of perpetual defense when they intervened to support the Italian invasion of North Africa. The prolonged bombing campaign known as “the Blitz” that was directed at British cities and towns may have been the most infamous application of blitzkrieg. Attacks of this kind brought common citizens closer to the front lines of battle. All facets of society were required to contribute to the war effort since World War II was a total war. No nation, business, sector, or individual could escape the reach.
For 57 nights straight beginning on September 7, 1940, London was attacked, causing tens of thousands of Londoners to take refuge in the London Underground System. For those who brought their own cups, the London Public Transport Board provided “twopenny lunches” along with tea and coffee.
Decoding the Success of German Blitzkrieg: The Lightning War’s Effective Tactics
The Third Reich’s defense forces, the Wehrmacht, had their reputation repaired thanks to the “Lightning War” strategy. After being defeated in World War I, German military forces retaliated with audacious invasions. Blitzkrieg utilized every Wehrmacht military branch and depended on surprise, speed, and ground covering. By recruiting both soldiers and sailors, Germany was able to free up enough resources to assure that any resistance would be put down.
Blitzkriegs used a predetermined strategy of attack, penetration, and encirclement. The Germans rushed like bees to a hive, dropping bombs and attacking the streets as they had time on their side. With Germany’s revived strategy, early engagements tended to go in their favor as the war came upon Europe. The blitzkrieg’s unexpected and unexpected character rendered nations unprotected as their soldiers attempted to gather in the middle of the night.
Breaking Ground with Blitzkrieg: Germany’s First Use of Lightning War in World War II
Its effectiveness was demonstrated in the 1940 invasion of France, where the German army was able to overcome the heavily fortified Maginot Line and trap the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in Belgium & Holland.
The Maginot Line was a series of heavily fortified defenses constructed by France along its border with Germany in the aftermath of World War I. It was intended to prevent a repeat of the German invasion that had devastated France in 1914. However, the Maginot Line was built on the assumption that any German attack would come through the heavily forested Ardennes region in the south, which was considered to be impassable for large military formations. This assumption was to prove fatal to the French defensive strategy.
The plan, known as the Manstein Plan after its architect, General Erich von Manstein, involved encircling and trapping Allied forces in the Low Countries. The plan relied on the rapid advance of armored units and airborne forces to secure bridges and other key infrastructure, allowing the German army to outmaneuver and surround the Allied forces.
In May 1940, Germany launched its invasion of France using a combination of fast-moving armored units, air power, and coordinated infantry attacks — the very essence of the Blitzkrieg strategy. The German forces bypassed the Maginot Line by attacking through the supposedly impassable Ardennes forest, which had been left undefended by the French.
The German army was able to make rapid progress through France, outflanking and encircling the Allied forces as they advanced. The BEF, along with a large number of French troops, became trapped in the port of Dunkirk, with their backs to the sea. However, the German advance was halted by the infamous “halt order” issued by German High Command, which prevented the German army from advancing further and encircling the trapped Allied forces.
The success of the Manstein Plan was due in large part to the effectiveness of Blitzkrieg tactics. The use of tanks, aircraft, and infantry working together in a coordinated manner allowed the Germans to quickly penetrate and break through enemy lines, disrupting their defenses and leaving them vulnerable to encirclement. The speed and agility of the German armored units, combined with the element of surprise, caught the Allies off guard and prevented them from mounting an effective defense.
In addition to the use of combined arms tactics, the effectiveness of Blitzkrieg was also due to the innovative use of communications and logistics. The Germans used radio communications extensively to coordinate their attacks and maintain situational awareness, allowing them to quickly adapt to changing circumstances on the battlefield. They also made use of supply drops and air support to keep their forces supplied and reinforced, even in the midst of enemy territory.
Despite the halt order, the success of the German invasion of France was due in large part to the effectiveness of the Blitzkrieg strategy. The use of tanks, aircraft, and infantry working together in a coordinated manner allowed the Germans to quickly penetrate and break through enemy lines, disrupting their defenses and leaving them vulnerable to encirclement. The speed and agility of the German armored units, combined with the element of surprise, caught the Allies off guard and prevented them from mounting an effective defense.
The effectiveness of the Blitzkrieg strategy was further demonstrated in the Battle of Sedan, where the German army broke through the French defenses in just a 3 days, compared to 2 weeks thought by the French. The German army was able to use the terrain to its advantage, launching a surprise attack across the Meuse River and overrunning the French defenses.
In conclusion,
Overall, however, the German use of Blitzkrieg was a game-changer in the history of warfare. Its speed and efficiency allowed Germany to conquer much of Europe in a matter of months, and it had a profound impact on military tactics and strategy for decades to come. The success of the Manstein Plan in Belgium and Holland was a testament to the effectiveness of Blitzkrieg, and it remains a significant example of military innovation and tactical brilliance.
