German Junkers Ju 87 “Stuka” dive-bomber. But during the war, two new revolutionary weapon systems were invented and saw initial combat use, the armored tank, and the combat aircraft. The tactic was based on Alfred von Schlieffen’s ‘Schlieffen Plan’ – this … Blitzkrieg relied on a military force be based around light tank units supported by planes and infantry (foot soldiers). In a blitzkrieg, troops in vehicles, such as tanks, made quick surprise strikes with support from airplanes. in Land Warfare (International Perspective) with honors and a graduate certificate in German Military Studies from the American Military University.... Disabled or abandoned French tanks after an engagement during the Battle of France. Blitzkrieg, meaning lightning war in German, is an offensive, fast attack strategy used extensively during World War II. Despite the draconian provisions of the Versailles treaty, the German armed forces operating under the new Nazi regime were able to secretly assemble a modern mechanized strike force incorporating tanks, artillery and aircraft. In World War II, Germany sought to defeat its opponents in a series of short campaigns in Europe. In many forms of the tactic, the attacking army will use its air squadrons and moblie artillery to bombard the target. Germany became embroiled in a long war, leading ultimately to its defeat in May 1945. Blitzkrieg, meaning 'Lightning War', was the method of offensive warfare responsible for Nazi Germany’s military successes in the early years of the Second World War. Corrections? Clausewitz proposed the “concentration principle,” the idea that concentrating forces against an enemy, and making a single blow against a carefully chosen target (the Schwerpunkt, or “center of gravity”) was more effective than dispersing those forces. The Storm of War Review of by Andrew Robert's attempts to answer the questions circling Hitler's defeat and why the The notion of war as a storm summons up the Nazi idea of a blitzkrieg, a lightning victory that would somehow resolve all of the political and economic problems of the German state. Germany proved unable to defeat the Soviet Union, which together with Great Britain and the United States seized the initiative from Germany. It was also called a ‘Lightning War’ and perfectly mimicked all the qualities of a typical bolt of lightning—incredibly swift, unpredictable, and overpoweri… I also got how the surrounding countries and Allies were preparing for a counterattack on Germany. A form of warfare used by German forces in World War II. Embark upon a historical journey of warfare in this quiz. The roots of the blitzkrieg are hard to pin as it is somewhat vague as to what exactly a blitzkrieg is. This performed two main tasks: it demoralised, depressed, and kept soldiers anxious; and secondly, it caused great damage by bringing down buildings, killing men, and wasting supplies. Blitzkrieg is most commonly associated with Nazi Germany during World War II even though numerous combatants used its techniques in that war. These tactics resulted in the swift German conquest of France in 1940 (see fall of France). Popular accounts often make much of a German doctrine of Blitzkreig or Lightning War that the Nazi regime masterfully deployed against the Western powers during the opening stages of WW2. Combined forces of tanks, motorised infantry and artillery penetrated an opponent’s defences on a narrow front, bypassing pockets of resistance and striking deep into enemy territory. Hitler seizes upon it as the way to use modern weapons technology in Germany's tradition of fighting fast, short wars to overcome the stalemate of trench warfare. This content is available in the following languages. For example, Poland was among the first few countries that succumbed to the German lightning war tactic. The immediate context of the Dunkirk evacuation was Germany’s invasion of the Low Countries and northern France in May 1940. Determined to avoid a repea Blitzkrieg (German: ‘lightning war’), military tactic calculated to create psychological shock and resultant disorganization in enemy forces through the employment of surprise, speed, and superiority in materiel or firepower. Blitzkrieg in German means literally "Lightning War". Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Those tactics were remarkably economical of both lives and matériel, primarily for the attackers but also, because of the speed and short duration of the campaign, among the victims. Germany did not defeat Great Britain, which was protected from German ground attack by the English Channel and the Royal Navy. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. In the first phase of World War II in Europe, Germany sought to avoid a long war. Germany successfully used the Blitzkrieg tactic against. Blitzkrieg, which means “lightning war” in German, had its roots in earlier military strategy, including the influential work of the 19th-century Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz. In t… As a result, Evans competed as Blitzkrieg II for a short time thereafter out of respect for Ross. From this book I got information about how the countries in the west like the United States were reacting to blitzkrieg. Despite the draconian provisions of the Versailles treaty, the German armed forces operating under the new Nazi regime were able to secretly assemble a modern mechanized strike force incorporating tanks, artillery and aircraft. 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