Introduction The German invasion of Poland on September 1st 1939, was an experimental display of the most advanced and intense form of warfare the world had ever seen. With such a drastic use of power and with aspirations expanding so wide, the German “Wehrmacht”1, along with the Soviet Union and a small Slovak contingent, soon escalated a central European battle into a global conflict. The target of Poland, for such an experiment had been strategically chosen as a geographical and logistical advantage, a self-proclaimed repossession of pre-World War one land ownership, and an eastern front barrier with Germany’s newly established pact/ally (via the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact), the USSR. The concept of Blitzkrieg warfare had been developed by tactical lessons learned during and most influentially, toward the end of World War One. When combined with technological innovations developed until the advent of World War two, Nazi Germany would possess a devastating brainchild that would eventually grow into the Shock and Awe technique of combat that we see today.2 The execution of the invasion hailed the Germans with the overall victory they sought, however their technique of the experiment were far from calibrated. The invading German army received heavy and unanticipated losses from Polish defenders, even though Polish defense lines fell within two days of initial invasion. Motivated by the protection of their people and the sanctity of the newly established country of Poland
The carnage of world war one was the result of the clash between new technologies, but old strategies. Blitzkrieg warfare would be the first form of modern military tactics for it fully utilizes the technological advancements of that time. The term “Blitzkrieg” was not invented by the Germans, but by an English magazine that described the invasion of Poland (Showalter). While many accredit the invention of Blitzkrieg warfare to Heinz Guderian, Germany's Chief of Mobile Troops during WWII, it was actually invented far before that. In fact, it was developed right after WWI after seeing the devastating effects of trench warfare(Showalter). Ironically, the basis of Blitzkrieg warfare was also laid by German Field Marshall Alfred von Schlieffen of the famous Schlieffen plan of WWI(Showalter). The basic essence of Blitzkrieg warfare was built upon the belief that Germany was always going to be out resourced and out numbered in every war and thus in order to win it, the Germans must strike hard and fast and penetrate deep behind enemy lines(Showalter). Thus, Blitzkrieg warfare was the most effective military tactic of its time because it utilized all of the technology of its time, it not only utilized physical warfare, but also psychological warfare, and because Germany’s opponents were not prepared for this kind of warfare.
Prior to the onset of WWII, conditions throughout occupied Poland & Belarus varied greatly. In some areas, especially in eastern Poland, which the Soviet Union invaded in 1939, and subsequently "formally" annexed, the situation was particularly volatile.1
Ostkrieg is an important factor in this course. One of the course objectives is to identify the reasoning Germany had when attacking the Soviet Union. This includes an examination of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact of 1939. Additionally, the course objectives ask the students to analyze the relative ease in which Germany was able to move into Soviet territory without consequence.
Early in 1939, with Germany expanding into the Rhineland, an invasion of Poland was inevitable. German Generals Lewinski and Blumentritt understood that while Poland fielded a
It resulted in a great execution. It was very strategic. From hoaxes to technical tricks, the Allies were able to surprise and overwhelm the Germans. This attack was very significant to winning the war. It was the start of the end for the Nazis.
Blitzkrieg means "lightning war". Blitzkrieg was first used by the Germans in World War Two and was a tactic based on speed and surprise and needed a military force to be based around light tank units supported by planes and infantry (foot soldiers). The tactic was developed in Germany by an army officer called Hans Guderian. “Used to devastating effect in the first years of World War Two and resulted in the British and French armies being pushed back” (Trueman, 2003)
In the first phase of World War II in Europe, Germany sought to avoid a long war. Germany's strategy was to defeat its opponents in a series of short campaigns. Germany quickly overran much of Europe and was victorious for more than two years by relying on a new military tactic called the "Blitzkrieg" (lightning war). Blitzkrieg tactics required the concentration of offensive weapons (such as tanks, planes, and artillery) along a narrow front. These forces would drive a breach in enemy defenses, permitting armored tank divisions to penetrate rapidly and roam freely behind enemy lines, causing shock and disorganization among the enemy defenses. German air power prevented the enemy from adequately
I think that all of the events listed on the timeline are all very important. Of all the events listed on the timeline, which is located on page 648, I think that the 1939 Road to War- Germany invades Poland is the most interesting, or important. The book states, “On September 1, 1939, Hitler began World War II by invading Poland. On September 1, German forces used air and land attacks in Poland. According to history.com, the German invasion on Poland was a primer on how Hitler intended to wage war- what then became the “blitzkrieg” strategy. This is said to have been defined by the extensive bombing that Germany did to destroy the railroads, communication lines, air capacity, and much more. So, once Germany got into the country they moved
Blitzkrieg first started when Germany invaded Poland in September 1, 1939. Blitzkrieg in Germany means “Lightning war”. This gave the Germans an advantage at the outset. There were three elements of blitzkrieg in the warfare. The first element of blitzkrieg is about speed and surprise. The German soldiers were given modern tactics and weaponry which made Poland to fall back. The Polands tried to fight back but they couldn’t fight back because they were outdated with their weaponry and tactics.
The concept of Blitzkrieg originated from Germany’s failure from World War One, as an analysis of what Germany’s strategy lacked in the war in 1918 (Zabecki). The remaining German leaders determined that their lack of
George C. Marshall was a strategic visionary leader and an astute statesman. When Marshall was appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Army in 1939 he knew that transforming the Army at a time of “volatile and uncertain environment” was essential for “survival”. (Nelson, 1993) “The flames of conflict worldwide seemed about to get out of control. Europe stood on the verge of war.” (Nelson, 1993) That same day Germany invaded Poland and conducted what was known as the blitzkrieg. According to John T. Nelson’s, Strategic Leadership and the Challenges of Reconstituting the Army, he stated that Marshall envisioned the Army as a force that was fully manned, trained, and
By the summer of 1943, the German army was retreating to Poland. The city of Lublin fell, and Warsaw fell afterwards. Unfortunately, the Poles discovered that their “liberation” only meant that the Nazis were replaced by the Soviets.
The essential deterrent to the German intrusion power turned out to be the Polish capital of Warsaw, which did not surrender until September 27, after a drawn out attack. At this point, all of western Poland was immovably under German control.
How was one of the most crazy, power seeking, people on the planet ever defeated? In 1936 Adolf Hitler with the help of Joseph Goebbels, propaganda minister, Hermann Goering the general of the air force, and Heinrich Himmler who was in charge of the SS all began to annex the neighboring countries of Austria and Czechoslovakia. Soon after Hitler made a pact with Stalin, dictator of the Soviet Union. The Non-Aggression Pact that would allow Hitler to invade Poland. In 1939 he attacked Poland unleashing a Blitzkrieg or “Lightning War” that soon defeated the country. 1939 England and France declared war on Hitler and WWII had officially began. As Poland fell the last remnants in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, was completely defeated and crushed
Germany was not able to claim victory during World War II due to poor military guidance. Hitler’s military tactics led