Explain how blitzkrieg tactics allowed Germany to conquer much of Europe rapidly in the early years of the war

What this dot point is asking

This dot point asks you to explain how Germany was able to conquer so much of Europe so quickly in the early years of the Second World War. You should be able to explain what blitzkrieg was, give examples of how it worked in Poland and France, and then explain where Germany's run of success was first checked, at the Battle of Britain. The key idea is that Germany's early victories were not just luck. They came from new, fast-moving tactics that overwhelmed enemies before they could organise a proper defence.

The answer

What blitzkrieg was

Blitzkrieg is a German word meaning "lightning war". It was a way of fighting designed to win quickly by hitting the enemy hard and fast before they could react. Instead of the slow trench warfare of the First World War, blitzkrieg used speed and surprise. Fast-moving tanks punched through the enemy's lines, aircraft bombed enemy positions and supply routes from above, and motorised infantry followed quickly to hold the ground. All these parts worked together to create shock and confusion, breaking the enemy's defence before it could form.

The fall of Poland

The first victim of blitzkrieg was Poland, invaded in 1939. German tanks and aircraft struck swiftly and drove deep into the country, while the Polish forces, with older equipment and slower tactics, could not cope with the speed of the attack. To make matters worse for Poland, the Soviet Union invaded from the other side, as the two had secretly agreed. Poland was overrun in a matter of weeks. This showed the world how effective and how fast the new German way of war could be.

The fall of France

The most stunning success came in 1940 with the fall of France. France had strong defences and a large army, and many expected a long war. But the Germans attacked through an area the French thought was too difficult for tanks, taking them by surprise. The fast-moving German forces broke through, raced behind the main French and British armies, and threw the defence into chaos. France, one of the great powers, was defeated in only about six weeks, an outcome that shocked the world.

The Battle of Britain: the first check

After France fell, Britain stood alone against Germany. To invade Britain, Germany first needed to defeat the British air force and control the skies. This led to the Battle of Britain in 1940, fought in the air between the German and British air forces. The British, helped by radar that gave early warning of attacks and by skilled pilots defending their home, held off the German air force. Because Germany could not win control of the skies, it had to give up its plan to invade Britain. This was Germany's first major check and showed that blitzkrieg could be stopped.

Why Germany's early success mattered

Germany's rapid conquests gave it control of much of Europe and made it look almost unbeatable. But it is important to see both sides. Blitzkrieg worked brilliantly against unprepared enemies on land, but it depended on speed and surprise. At the Battle of Britain, where Germany faced a well-organised defence across the sea that it could not simply rush, the tactic was blunted. This points forward to the later turning points of the war, when Germany's enemies learned how to resist and then defeat it.

Examples in context

Example 1. The unexpected route into France. The Germans attacked France through a hilly, wooded region that the French had believed was too difficult for tanks, so it was lightly defended. By striking where they were least expected, the Germans broke through and got behind the main Allied armies. This shows how surprise, a key part of blitzkrieg, helped bring down a great power in weeks.

Example 2. Radar in the Battle of Britain. During the Battle of Britain the British used radar to detect German aircraft approaching while they were still far away. This early warning let the British send their fighters to the right place at the right time instead of wasting them. It was an important reason the smaller British air force could hold off the larger German one, and it shows how a smart defence could blunt blitzkrieg.

Try this

• Cue. Explain what blitzkrieg was, naming the three parts (tanks, aircraft, infantry) and how they worked together.

• Cue. Describe how France was defeated so quickly in 1940, including the role of surprise.

• Cue. Explain why the Battle of Britain was Germany's first major check, mentioning radar and control of the skies.