Blitzkrieg

Blitzkrieg is a military tactic of an all-mechanized and armored force concentrating its attack on a small section of the enemy front. Then, when the latter is pierced, the assault is concentrated on its flank. Blitzkrieg is a German word which means “lightning war” and was first used by the German Army in World War II. Designed to hit hard and move on instantly, Blitzkrieg is based on speed, surprise, co-ordination and movement, using fast tanks and supported by planes and infantry soldiers. This tactic was designed by Heinz Guderian, a German army officer who had written a military book which was called "Achtung Panzer." It got into the hands of Hitler.

Having spent four years fighting a static war, Adolf Hitler was spellbound. Guderian told him that he could get to the French coasts in a matter of weeks if they attacked France following the Blitzkrieg tactic, which was summarized by Guderian as “Nicht kleckern, klotzen!,” “Don’t fiddle, hit hard.” In the Blitzkrieg, the Germans referred to a “Schwerpunkt” or focal point, which was a center of gravity upon which all the effort was concentrated, using ground troops, armored vehicles, and planes.

In Blitzkrieg, a specific target is selected. Then bombers are sent to soften up the enemy, destroying rail lines and communication centers. This was done in World War II when the German tanks were closing in on the Schwerepunkt and the planes withdrew at the last minute. In this way the enemy did not have time to recover as they were smashed by tanks and infantry.

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  1. [...] shattered by the German military tactic used for the first time in history which is known as Blitzkrieg (Lightning [...]

  2. [...] World War II were an effective and superior armored force. They were lethally used in the Blitzkrieg tactics and outclassed allied tanks in armor protection and fire [...]

  3. [...] During the Great War, Guderian served as a General Staff officer, which allowed him to get an overall view of battlefield conditions. Sometimes, he disagreed with his superiors and as a result he was transferred to the army intelligence department. After the war, he was appointed company commander of the 10th Jägger Battalion. Then he joined the ‘General Staff’-in-waiting, "in waiting" because the German General Staff was explicitly forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles. In 1927 Guderian rose to the rank of major and was transferred to the Truppenamt group for Army transport and Overseer of motorized tactics based in Berlin. This appointment put him at the center of the development of what would later become known as the blitzkrieg.  [...]