Blitzkrieg: the Strategy

Blitzkrieg means 'Lightening War'. The strategy developed as a result of improved technology and the increasing ease with which combined land, air and sea assaults could be combined.

German tactics were developed by soldiers such as General Guderian. Guderian developed his tactics based on experiences of the First World War, evidence of tactical successes in conflicts in the inter-war years and from military exercises conducted by the German forces. The strategy he developed can be viewed as either revolutionary or as a natural evolution of tactics deployed in the latter stages of the First World War.

In brief, the Blitzkrieg strategy included the following features:

• Combine land and air assaults to maximise destruction to enemy positions.
• Use paratroopers to secure important positions behind enemy lines.
• Strike fortifications hard and decisively with artillery, air raids or paratrooper assaults: whichever is most appropriate to the location.
• Strike quickly and decisively on land using mechanised divisions.
• Support mechanised assault with close air support from fighter bombers.
• Draw enemy attention to areas through feigning assaults in areas: thus reducing resistance in the primary intended area of assault.
• Assaults to work in pincer movements, encircling enemy forces and forcing subjugation due to lack of supplies.

In the case of Poland this strategy required Army group North to encircle Polish forces in the Corridor. They would then move in a southerly direction towards Warsaw. Army Group South would advance in a north easterly direction. Upon reaching Warsaw the Polish forces would be encircled. The German forces could then apply pressure to the circle from all sides and ensure rapid surrender. To achieve this rapidly there would be a revolving sequence of air strike followed by tank supported land assault. Motorised divisions could then stream through channels that had been opened in enemy defenses.

Such a strategy requires air supremacy. The primary targets of the airborne bombardments would need to include fighter bases as any sustained defese from the air would place the land forces in an extremely precarious position. Thus the strategy relied on the Luftwaffe providing bombers with the intention of eliminating Polish airstrips and defesive positions along with fighters to engage any enemy aircraft.