History: Blitzkrieg (“Lightning War”)

1. What is Blitzkrieg?

Blitzkrieg literally means “lightning war” in German.

It was a new style of warfare used by Germany at the start of World War II, designed to win quickly by overwhelming the enemy with speed and coordination.

2. How Blitzkrieg worked

Blitzkrieg combined three main forces working together:

1. Tanks (Panzer divisions)

   • Fast-moving, powerful, and able to break through enemy lines

2. Aircraft (Luftwaffe)

   • Bombed enemy positions, supply lines, and communication centers

   • Provided air support for the advancing troops

3. Infantry

   • Followed tanks to secure captured territory

Key idea:
Everything moved fast and coordinated, so the enemy couldn’t regroup or defend effectively.

3. Why it was effective

• Germany used Blitzkrieg to avoid long, drawn-out trench warfare like WWI

Key point:
The speed and shock of Blitzkrieg paralyzed enemy armies, making them surrender or retreat quickly.

4. Examples in early WWII

• Invasion of Poland (1939) → Poland defeated in 4 weeks

• Invasion of France and Low Countries (1940) → France fell in 6 weeks

• Norway and Denmark (1940) → swift occupation

⭐ SUPER IMPORTANT:
it was a new way of thinking about warfare.

6. BIG IDEA (why it matters for WWII)

Blitzkrieg allowed Germany to conquer large parts of Europe quickly, giving Hitler the illusion of invincibility early in the war.
It also shocked the Allies, showing that traditional defensive strategies were obsolete.