WW2: Both Sides of The Wire | A Battle Guide Production Episode 8: Blitzkrieg - unstoppable German strategy or myth?
Sep 18, 2024
Explore the fascinating reality behind Blitzkrieg as its successes are scrutinized, questioning whether they stemmed from genuine innovation or Nazi propaganda. Discover the contributions from interwar military theorists and the evolution of strategies influencing Germany's rapid victories. Engage with the allure of annihilating victory in German military thought, and uncover the flexible decision-making that often dictated success. Finally, delve into misconceptions and the historical context that shaped this controversial doctrine.
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Core Mechanism Of Blitzkrieg
- Blitzkrieg describes fast armored penetrations that encircle and paralyze enemy command rather than destroy all forces.
- It relies on speed, lower-level initiative, and effective communications to create operational shock.
Guderian Is Not The Sole Father
- Guderian was influential but not the sole inventor of armoured warfare doctrine in Germany.
- Postwar narratives amplified his role while multiple officers and foreign thinkers shaped the idea.
Blitzkrieg Had International Roots
- Interwar thinkers across Britain, France, Germany and the USSR developed similar mobile-war concepts independently.
- Concepts like deep battle and Bewegungskrieg predate WWII and influenced multiple armies.