The Art of Blitzkrieg

Whether the term “blitzkrieg” (“lightning fire”) was actually used by German soldiers during the war or not is debatable. What is certain is that the German army used a form of attack that placed strategic planning over physical combat, mind over matter so-to-speak. Ingeniously utilizing the predictability of basic human nature, this type of attack was developed as a means to eliminate the enemy effectively without uselessly exhausting manpower.

As German aircrafts swarmed over unsuspecting troops, men that were laying in trenches waiting for a land war were completely taken off guard and were forced to scurry in order to gather enough men and take shelter in anticipation of another air raid. Often, foot soldiers didn’t stand a chance against numerous bombs that were falling from the sky. Adding the element of surprise to the mix, a second air raid never followed the first one. Instead, amidst dust, chaos, and confusion, German ground artillery began its mobile attack, seemingly coming from nowhere to finish what the air raid had started. Just in case the aircrafts and tanks hadn’t completely finished the job, German infantry began to move onto the battle ground in order to destroy whatever was left behind.

This form of attack was highly successful and an invaluable part of German warfare. The German army saw no need to waste time with ineffectual trench fighting, which would often take days and had very limited amounts of progression. Banking upon basic human nature, the Blitzkrieg was constructed for the sole purpose of keeping Germany’s foes on their toes.