Why was the German attack on Poland called the "Blitzkrieg"?

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Wikilatief - Was it really lightning attack?

Yes compared to PD I, Blitzkrieg really moves as fast as lightning.

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It was then that the greatest war in human history broke out after the German military invaded Poland.

In addition to marking a new armed conflict in the world, The German attack on Poland also showed the world a new military tactic that had never been practiced in those days.

During World War I (1914-1918), it was a static war theater in the form of trench warfare. 

The soldiers survive in the trenches of the defense and try to seize the trenches of their opponents.

To seize the trenches the soldiers must traverse the "no man's land" and that's when they become an easy target for the opponent's machine gun. The casualties could reach thousands of people in a single wave of attacks.

On September 1, 1939, the Germans showed off an all-new war tactic called the Blitzkrieg or Lightning War.

In blitzkrieg, there is no known static defense in the form of trenches or fortresses. The best defense in this strategy is the combined forces that keep moving while carrying out attacks.

Of course, an attack like this requires constantly moving war machines, air-controlled fighters and large infantry troops that continue to maneuver. 

This kind of attack will surprise the enemy, difficulty coordinating so that it is easily cornered. This is what made the Germans at that time easily crush Poland.

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Success infuriated Poland, with the same tactics Germany destroyed Belgium, the Netherlands and France in 1940. 

The Blitzkrieg was also used by legendary general Erwin Rommel during the war in Africa.

World War I was dominated by trench warfare. Thousands of soldiers were on standby in the trenches for days, sheltering from artillery. 

When the general ordered an attack, they came out of the trenches in crowds attack enemy lines with bayonets. 

So close, machine guns beat them all. Battles like this dominated WWII (Somme, Paschendale, etc.). Thousands of victims died just to shift the front lines for just a few miles.

After WWII, tank technology, armored cars and fighter aircraft were developed rapidly. 

Germany eventually developed an assault tactic that relied on front-row tanks and mechanical infantry and was given air umbrella bombers. 

Not only beating from the front, this style of attack is also carried out by circling the enemy's position from two sides and finally cutting their back path.

This kind of attack left the Wehrmacht's enemies in shock, in shock, unable to react and consolidate. So this tactic is called Blitzkrieg.

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This tactic became a mainstay of Nazi Germany, so that it could rule Europe.

The blitzkrieg principles were used in many of the tactics used post-WWII. The shock and awe that U.S. troops carried out during the invasion of Iraq in 2003 also used the principles of blitzkrieg.

Heinz Guderian

The Germans began to develop this lightning war tactic between 1918-1939 to avoid deadlocks like the one that occurred during World War II.

This blitzkrieg strategy depends heavily on the availability of light tank units supported by the fighters and infantry. 

The basis of his tactics was the doctrine of the "Schlieffen Plan" outlined by Imperial German Military Commander Alfred von Schliefen, whose point was a war tactic aimed at achieving victory quickly.

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The doctrine was later developed by a German army officer, Heinz Guderian who believed modern technologies such as bombers and tanks would improve German military maneuverability.

As mentioned above, this German blitzkrieg tactic is indeed very surprising. After destroying Poland. The Germans transferred their troops to Western Europe.

On 10 May 1940, the Germans transferred their troops to France, Belgium and the Netherlands. 

France at that time was not only supported by a strong military, but also had a network of Maginot Line fortresses along its border with Germany.

However, once again the Germans with their blitzkrieg tactics were able to break through the Maginot Line, which had previously been claimed to be impenetrable, and immediately penetrated into French territory.

And in just one month on June 14, 1940, German troops occupied Paris followed by a ceasefire agreement between France and Germany on June 22, 1940.

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The fate of Belgium and the Netherlands is not much difference from France. These two countries are powerless to withstand the pace of Germany's blitzkrieg. 

France, the Netherlands and Belgium were German colonies until the allied release in 1944.

End of Blitzkrieg

Unfortunately, no matter how perfect a strategy there must be weaknesses. And the weakness of the blitzkrieg was unknown until Germany declared war on the Soviet Union. 

In 1941, the Germans staged Operation Barbarossa to invade the Soviet Union. At First, the blitzkrieg strategy was successful and almost destroyed the Red Bear's armed forces.

Stuka hatchlings destroyed Soviet air bases. Meanwhile, a powerful German tank force easily besieged and destroyed the soviet tank divisions.

On the 17th day of Operation Barbarossa, Germany captured 300,000 Russian soldiers, while 2,500 tanks, 1,400 artillery weapons and 250 aircraft were destroyed or seized. 

In the eyes of many Russians already on the brink of defeat, and Moscow seems destined to fall into German hands.

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Unfortunately, in the midst of the advance, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler had other thoughts. He ordered the Heinz Guderian-led Central Panser Division to move to seize Kiev. Why was the German attack on Poland called the "Blitzkrieg"?